Moved to a later spot on the calendar, NASCAR’s Auto Club 500 earned its lowest rating in over a decade.
FOX drew a 4.6 final rating and 8.080 million viewers for the March 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Auto Club 500, up 5% in ratings and 10% in viewership from the fifth race of last season (Bristol: 4.4, 7.357M), and up 2% and 10%, respectively, from the fifth race in 2009 (Bristol: 4.5, 7.365M).
Compared to last year’s Auto Club 500, which aired in February, the race was down 18% in ratings and 12% in viewership from a 5.6 and 9.151 million viewers.
This marks the lowest rated edition of the Auto Club 500 since 2000 (4.2, ABC), and the least-viewed since at least 2001 (viewership prior to 2002 was not available).
Ratings and viewership for the race have now declined in each of the past six seasons. As recently as 2005, the race drew a 7.9 rating and 12.709 million viewers.
Overnight ratings for Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 from Martinsville are available here.
Ratings For NASCAR From Fontana Since 1999
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011
|
Sun., 3/27/11 | Harvick | FOX |
4.4
|
8,080 |
|
2010
|
Sun., 2/21/10 | Johnson | FOX | 5.6 | 9,151 |
|
2009
|
Sun., 2/22/09 | Kenseth | FOX |
6.0
|
10,206
|
|
2008
|
Sun., 2/24/08 | Edwards | FOX |
6.2
|
10,916
|
|
2007
|
Sun., 2/25/07 | Kenseth | FOX |
6.7
|
11,707
|
|
2006
|
Sun., 2/26/06 | Kenseth | FOX |
7.4
|
12,523
|
|
2005
|
Sun., 2/27/05 | Biffle | FOX |
7.9
|
12,709
|
|
2004
|
Sun., 5/2/04 | Gordon | FOX | 6.1 | 9,817 |
|
2003
|
Sun., 4/27/03 | Ku. Busch | FOX | 5.3 | 8,279 |
|
2002
|
Sun., 4/28/02 | Johnson | FOX | 5.9 | 10,308 |
|
2001
|
Sun., 4/29/01 | Wallace | FOX | 5.4 | — |
|
2000
|
Sun., 4/30/00 | Mayfield | ABC | 4.2 | — |
|
1999
|
Sun., 5/2/99 | Gordon | ABC | 4.8 | — |
