The Chase For the Cup got off to a poor start on ABC.
Coverage of the first leg of the Chase For the Nextel Cup drew a surprisingly low number on Sunday afternoon. The Sylvania 300 drew a 2.8 overnight on ABC; there is no comparison to last year’s numbers available, as the 2006 edition of the race aired on cable. The 2.8 is not only the lowest overnight for a regularly scheduled Nextel Cup race this season (on broadcast or cable), but it is also the lowest overnight for NASCAR on network television since at least 2004.
The 2.8 rating put NASCAR behind NFL telecasts on FOX and CBS, and behind the final round of the Tour Championship on NBC, the final leg of the PGA Tour Playoffs.
Last year, eight Chase for the Cup races on NBC averaged a 4.0 overnight rating. Prior to Sunday, no Chase for the Cup race on network television had drawn less than a 3.4 overnight.
