With the exception of a few races over the summer, 2009 has been a year of declining ratings for NASCAR — a trend that continued last week.
Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 drew a 3.2 rating and 5.3 million viewers on ABC, off 8% in ratings and viewership from a 3.5 and 5.7 million last year. The 3.2 rating is the second-lowest in the eight-year history of the race, ahead of only a 3.1 rating in ’07 — when the race featured several rain delays and eventually concluded on ESPN2.
This marks the 19th regularly scheduled NASCAR race of the season to have a decline in ratings.
Through Sunday, 25 NASCAR races have averaged a 4.2 rating and 6.8 million viewers on FOX, TNT, ESPN and ABC. This excludes the Coca Cola 600, Pennsylvania 500 and Heluva Good! at the Glen, each of which was postponed due to rain.
Ratings/viewership for Price Chopper 400 since ’01
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sun., 10/4/09 | Stewart | ABC |
3.2/-
|
5.3 mil
|
| 2008 | Sun., 9/28/08 | Johnson | ABC |
3.5/8
|
5.7 mil
|
| 2007* | Sun., 9/30/07 | Biffle | ABC |
3.1/7
|
4.8 mil
|
| 2006 | Sun., 10/1/06 | Stewart | NBC |
4.0/9
|
6.3 mil
|
| 2005 | Sun., 10/9/05 | Martin | NBC |
4.5/9
|
6.8 mil
|
| 2004 | Sun., 10/10/04 | Nemechek | NBC |
4.2/10
|
6.6 mil
|
| 2003 | Sun., 10/5/03 | Newman | NBC |
4.1/9
|
6.5 mil
|
| 2002 | Sun., 9/29/02 | Gordon | NBC |
4.4/10
|
7.0 mil
|
| 2001 | Sun., 9/30/01 | Gordon | NBC |
4.7/11
|
n/a
|
Sources: Jayski, Media Life Magazine, Sports Business Daily
