After pulling even last week, NASCAR ratings fell back to earth on Sunday.
The Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 drew a 3.3 rating and 5.2 million viewers on ABC last Sunday, down 8% and 9%, respectively, from last year’s race (3.6, 5.6 mil). Keep in mind that the conclusion of last year’s race aired on ESPN2; the complete race on both ABC and ESPN2 drew a 3.5 and 5.5 million.
This marks the lowest rated, least-viewed Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 since the race moved to broadcast in ’01.
Additionally, this is the fourth straight year that ratings and viewership have declined for the race. Overall, the race has shed approximately 2.5 million viewers since 2003.
Entering the final race of the season, 32 NASCAR races on FOX, TNT, ESPN and ABC have averaged 6.6 million viewers, down 8% from 7.2 million for the same races last year. This does not include the Coca Cola 600, Pennsylvania 500 or Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen, each of which was postponed due to rain.
Of those 32 races, 24 have had declines in ratings and 25 have had declines in viewership.
Ratings for Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 since ’01
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sun., 11/15/09 | Johnson | ABC |
3.3
|
5,172
|
| 2008 | Sun., 11/9/08 | Johnson | ABC |
3.6
|
5,657
|
| 2007 | Sun., 11/11/07 | Johnson | ABC |
3.8
|
6,038
|
| 2006 | Sun., 11/12/06 | Harvick | NBC |
4.7
|
7,302
|
| 2005 | Sun., 11/13/05 | Busch | NBC |
5.0
|
7,433
|
| 2004 | Sun., 11/7/04 | Earnhardt, Jr. | NBC |
4.9
|
7,422
|
| 2003 | Sun., 11/2/03 | Earnhardt, Jr. | NBC |
4.7
|
7,684
|
| 2002 | Sun., 11/10/02 | Kenseth | NBC |
4.4
|
6,684
|
| 2001 | Sun., 10/28/01 | Burton | NBC |
4.0
|
—
|
Source: ESPN
