Ratings and viewership slipped for the third race in NASCAR’s Chase For the Cup.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Dover earned a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.8 million viewers on ESPN Sunday, down 4% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (2.4, 4.0M) but up 5% and 6%, respectively, from 2012 (2.2, 3.6M). The 2.3 rating is the second-lowest for the fall Dover race since at least 2000, ahead of only 2012.
The race is also tied as the third-lowest rated Chase For the Cup telecast ever. Despite a new playoff format, the first three races of this year’s Chase rank among the ten lowest rated since the event began in 2004.
ESPN has now aired the 24 lowest rated Chase races. The lowest rated non-ESPN Chase rating was a 2.8 for the 2004 race from Loudon on TNT.
Though there has been a slight turnaround in recent weeks, Sunday’s race continued a season-long trend of declines for NASCAR. Of the 25 races that can be compared to last year, 20 have had declines in ratings and 19 have had declines in viewership.
Lowest Ever NASCAR Chase For the Cup Ratings
| Rating | Frequency | Race |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2 | Twice | 2012 Loudon, 2012 Dover |
| 2.3 | Four times | 2014 Dover, 2014 Chicago, 2010 Loudon, 2010 Kansas |
| 2.4 | Six times | 2014 Loudon, 2013 Loudon, 2013 Dover, 2012 Martinsville, 2010 Dover, 2010 Martinsville |
| 2.5 | Four times | 2012 Texas, 2012 Kansas, 2010 Phoenix, 2010 Fontana |
| 2.6 | Five times | 2013 Texas, 2013 Kansas, 2012 Chicago, 2011 Dover, 2011 Kansas |
(Sun. numbers from ESPN)
