ESPN finally cracked a 3.0 rating for NASCAR’s Chase For The Cup, but the numbers still remain well below previous years.
NASCAR’s Amp Energy Juice 500 drew a 3.1 U.S. rating and 5.177 million viewers on ESPN, down 24% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (4.1, 6.627 mil, ABC), and down 33% and 31%, respectively, from 2008 (4.6, 7.444 mil, ABC).
The race ranks as easily the highest rated, most-viewed Chase For The Cup race on ESPN this season. The network’s previous high was a 2.5 and 4.072 million for the Pepsi Max 400 on October 10.
That said, this marks the lowest rated Amp Energy 500 since 2000 (3.0), and the least viewed since at least 2001 (viewership prior to 2002 was not available).
Additionally, the race could not match the October 16 Bank of America 500, the only Chase race to air on broadcast network ABC (3.2, 5.345 mil).
This will be the first year since ESPN and ABC began televising races in 2007 that the Talladega race is not the highest rated of the Chase For The Cup.
Of the 28 NASCAR races that can be compared to last year, 23 have had declines in ratings and 22 have had declines in viewership.
Ratings For 2010 NASCAR Chase For The Cup Races
With Comparisons To 2009 and 2008
(Rating from ESPN)
