After setting a surprisingly low bar last year, NASCAR’s second race of the season failed to bounce back in the metered markets.
NASCAR Cup Series racing from Atlanta scored a 3.6 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, down a tick from last year (3.7), down 29% from 2015 (5.1), and the lowest for the second race of the season since at least 2000. The previous low was set last year.
The second race of the season — previously Phoenix, Fontana and Rockingham — has traditionally been NASCAR’s biggest TV draw outside of Daytona. It routinely topped a 6.0 overnight during NASCAR’s 2000s heyday and as recently as nine years ago had a 6.1 for rain-delayed coverage opposite the Academy Awards.
Keep in mind that with the slight decline in overnights, final ratings could still increase over last year’s 4.1.
Despite the lower numbers, NASCAR was the top sporting event of a weekend that also included the Duke-North Carolina college basketball game (2.6).
Greensboro N.C. was the top market with an 11.7 rating, followed by Greenville S.C. (10.8), Knoxville (7.7) and Charlotte and Indianapolis (7.4 in each). Despite the overall decline in metered markets, some of the biggest markets in the country posted double-digit increases, including a notable 59% jump in Chicago (from 1.7 to 2.7).
(Wknd. numbers from Fox Sports)
