After a dip in the overnights, the season finale of NASCAR on FOX mustered a modest increase in viewership.
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Sonoma (CA) earned 3.9 million viewers on Fox Sports 1 Sunday afternoon, up 5% from last year (3.7M) but down 17% from 2014, when coverage aired on TNT (4.7M). Ratings were not immediately available.
The slight increase in viewership marked a reversal from the overnight ratings, which were down 7% (2.4 to 2.2). Sunday’s race was the third on FS1 this season to post an increase in viewership after declining in the overnights.
Overall, FS1 posted increases in viewership for all-but-one of its Sprint Cup points races this season, excluding the washout at Pocono. Michigan was the only exception, slipping 2% on a day when breaking news took precedence over all else. By contrast, the FOX broadcast network suffered declines for seven of its eight races that could be compared to last year.
Despite the increase, Sunday’s race delivered the second-smallest audience for NASCAR at Sonoma since at least 2002. Last year’s race holds the bottom spot.
(Sun. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
