NASCAR’s Chase For the Cup ended with another increase, but the numbers were among the lowest in the past fifteen years.
Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford 400 from Miami earned a 3.1 U.S. rating and 5.1 million viewers on ESPN, up 3% in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (3.0, 4.8M), but down 23% and 25%, respectively, from 2011 (4.0, 6.8M).
The 3.1 rating is the second-lowest in the history of the Ford 400, ahead of only last year. The three lowest rated editions of the race have occurred over the past four years (2010, 2012 and 2013).
With that said, this year marked just the second time since the Chase began in 2004 that ratings and viewership increased for the Ford 400. Ratings declined every year from 2005 to 2010, increased to a three-year high in 2008, and then dropped to a 14-year low last year.
In addition, the race earned the second-highest rating (tie) and viewership of this year’s Chase. Only the Charlotte race — the only telecast to air on broadcast network ABC — earned better numbers (3.4, 5.6M).
(Sun. numbers from ESPN)
