Though up from last year, NASCAR’s Chase For the Cup narrowly avoided tying a record low.
The 2013 NASCAR Chase For the Cup averaged a 2.8 U.S. rating and 4.5 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, up a tick in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (2.7, 4.2M), but down 13% and 6%, respectively, from 2011 (3.1, 4.8M).
The 2.8 average rating for this year’s Chase is the third-lowest in history of the event (10 seasons), ahead of only last year and 2010.
Despite the low numbers, however, this year’s Chase was only the third to have a year-over-year increase — along with 2005 and 2011. Seven of the nine Chase races that can be compared to last year had increases in ratings and viewership.
The October 12 Charlotte race, the only telecast of the Chase to air on broadcast TV, was the highest rated and most-viewed (3.4, 5.6M). The lowest rating of the Chase was a 2.4 for the New Hampshire and Dover races, with the New Hampshire race ranking as the least-viewed (3.7M).
The Chase opener from Chicago, which was delayed and postponed due to rain, earned a 1.8 and 2.7 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2. It was not factored into the overall averages.
(Chase averages from ESPN)
