After a series of double-digit declines to open the season, NASCAR’s ratings fell only slightly last weekend.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Las Vegas drew a 4.4 final rating and 7.2 million viewers on FOX last Sunday afternoon, down 4% in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (4.6, 7.7M). Compared to 2014, ratings dropped a tick and viewership increased a fraction of a percent (7.20M to 7.23M).
The 4.4 rating is tied as the lowest for NASCAR from Las Vegas since FOX began airing the race in 2001, matching 2010. Viewership was the third-lowest for the race dating back to 2002, ahead of 2014 and 2010.
One does not have to go back far to find much more impressive numbers for the Las Vegas race, including a 5.9 and 10.1 million in 2011, a 6.5 and 11.1 million in 2009 and a whopping 7.1 and 12.1 million in 2008.
Ratings and viewership have now dropped for every Sprint Cup telecast this season, including the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 qualifying, and the Duel at Daytona. It may be some solace for NASCAR that Sunday’s declines were the smallest of the season.
Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR easily topped the weekend sports slate — topping both the PGA Tour on NBC (2.6, 4.0M) and NBA on ABC (2.4, 3.7M) head-to-head.
(Sun. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
