Ratings for NASCAR’s Carfax 400 dropped to the lowest level in over a decade.
Sunday’s Carfax 400 drew a 3.1 U.S. rating and 4.917 million viewers on ESPN, down 11% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (3.5, 5.622 mil) and down 6% and 7%, respectively, from 2008 (3.3, 5.300 mil).
Excluding rainouts, this marks the lowest rated Carfax 400 since at least 1998 (ratings prior to 1999 were unavailable) and the least viewed since at least 2000 (viewership prior to 2001 was not available).
Additionally, the race ranks as the lowest rated, least-viewed NASCAR telecast of the season on ESPN.
Of the the 18 NASCAR races that can be compared to last year, 14 have had declines in ratings. Only the Subway Fresh Fit 600, Aaron’s 499, Southern 500 and Coke Zero 400 have had increases versus last year.
Sunday’s race was the sixth NASCAR telecast of the season to draw less than five million viewers. To put that in perspective, only two races all of last year drew less than five million.
Ratings/Viewership For Carmax 400 Dating Back to 1999
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sun., 8/15/10 | Harvick | ESPN |
3.1
|
4,917
|
| 2009 | Sun., 8/16/09 | Vickers | ESPN |
3.5
|
5,622
|
| 2008 | Sun., 8/17/08 | Edwards | ESPN |
3.3
|
5,300
|
| 2007* | Tue., 8/21/07 | Busch | ESPN2 |
1.3
|
1,799
|
| 2006 | Sun., 8/20/06 | Kenseth | TNT |
4.1
|
6,414
|
| 2005 | Sun., 8/21/05 | Mayfield | TNT |
4.5
|
6,865
|
| 2004 | Sun., 8/22/04 | Biffle | TNT |
3.9
|
6,167
|
| 2003 | Sun., 8/17/03 | Newman | TNT |
4.0
|
6,232
|
| 2002 | Sun., 8/18/02 | Jarrett | TNT |
4.3
|
7,312
|
| 2001 | Sun., 8/19/01 | Marlin | TNT |
3.3
|
5,363
|
| 2000 | Sun., 8/20/00 | Wallace | ESPN |
3.2
|
—
|
| 1999 | Sun., 8/22/99 | Labonte | ESPN |
4.0
|
—
|
