NASCAR got off to a less-than-spectacular start on ABC.
Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 drew a 3.5 final rating and 5.5 million viewers on ABC, down 17% in ratings and 19% in viewers from a 4.2/8 and 6.8 million in ’07 — the last time the race aired on ABC.
Compared to last year’s race, which was postponed to Sunday afternoon and aired on ESPN, Saturday’s race was up 40% and 39%, respectively, from a 2.5 and 4 million.
The 3.5 rating for Saturday’s race is tied as the second-highest for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 since 1999.
Final ratings for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 since ’99
Ratings and shares presented for races on broadcast; U.S. rating and cable rating (in parentheses) presented for races on cable
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sat., 9/12/09 | Hamlin | ABC | |
| 2008 | Sun., 9/7/08 | Johnson | ESPN | |
| 2007 | Sat., 9/8/07 | Johnson | ABC | |
| 2006 | Sat., 9/9/06 | Harvick | TNT | |
| 2005 | Sat., 9/10/05 | Busch | TNT | |
| 2004 | Sat., 9/11/04 | Mayfield | TNT | |
| 2003 | Sat., 9/6/03 | Newman | TNT | |
| 2002 | Sat., 9/7/02 | Kenseth | TNT | |
| 2001 | Sat., 9/8/01 | Rudd | TNT | |
| 2000 | Sat., 9/9/00 | Gordon | ESPN | |
| 1999 | Sat., 9/11/99 | Stewart | ESPN |
