At this point, NASCAR would likely settle for a mere single-digit decline in ratings.
Yet again, NASCAR on FOX saw a double-digit decline in overnight ratings. The Southern 500 drew a 3.6/7 overnight on FOX Saturday night, down 16% from a 4.3/9 last year, and the third NASCAR race of the season to dip below a 4.0 overnight rating.
The 3.6 overnight is the lowest for the Southern 500 since the race moved to broadcast in ’01, and is among the lowest overnights ever for a NASCAR race on FOX.
For the second straight week, NASCAR on FOX fell in the overnights to an NBA Playoff game airing at the same time. The 3.6 for the Southern 500 was outpaced by the 4.0 overnight Cavaliers/Hawks drew on ABC in the same timeslot. Still, in all likelihood, NASCAR will come out ahead in the final ratings.
So far this season, all eleven NASCAR races on FOX have seen a double-digit decline in overnight ratings.
Overnight ratings for NASCAR on FOX.
| Date | Event | Net | Rating | vs. ’08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., 2/15/09 | Daytona 500 | FOX |
8.0
|
-15%
|
| Sun., 2/22/09 | Auto Club 500 | FOX |
5.3
|
-13%
|
| Sun., 3/1/09 | Shelby 427 | FOX |
5.5
|
-11%
|
| Sun., 3/8/09 | Kobalt Tools 500 | FOX |
4.7
|
-16%
|
| Sun., 3/22/09 | Food City 500 | FOX |
4.1
|
-18%
|
| Sun., 3/29/09 | Goody’s Fast Relief 500 | FOX |
4.1
|
-16%
|
| Sun., 4/5/09 | Samsung 500 | FOX |
4.2
|
-11%
|
| Sat., 4/18/09 | Subway Fresh Fit 500 | FOX |
3.3
|
-18%
|
| Sun., 4/26/09 | Aaron’s 499 | FOX |
4.5
|
-13%
|
| Sat., 5/2/09 | Russ Friedman 400 | FOX |
3.7
|
-12%
|
| Sat., 5/9/09 | Southern 500 | FOX |
3.6
|
-16%
|
|
Average overnight rating
|
4.6
|
-14%
|
||
