NASCAR’s ratings slump has continued into another season.
Sunday’s Auto Club 500 drew a 5.0 overnight rating on FOX, down 6% from a 5.3 last year, and down 18% from a 6.1 for the rained-out 2008 race.
The 5.0 overnight is the lowest for the Auto Club 500 since it moved to its current February date in ’05, and the lowest for the race overall since ’03 (4.9).
The start of this year’s race was moved up by three hours, as part of NASCAR’s effort to return to traditional start times. The last time the race began in the afternoon, it drew a 6.2 overnight (2007).
Keep in mind that this year’s race aired opposite the Winter Olympics on NBC.
