Chase For the Cup: Ratings Continue to Rise From ’10 Lows

NASCAR’s Chase For the Cup continues to bounce back from last year’s extremely low levels, but the ratings are still well below par.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Hollywood Casino 400 from Kansas, the fourth race in the Chase for the Cup, earned a 2.6 U.S. rating and 4.173 million viewers on ESPN Sunday afternoon, up 13% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.742M), but down 19% and 21%, respectively, from 2009 (3.2, 5.252M, ABC).

The 2.6 rating is the second-lowest in the history of the race (dates back to 2001). As recently as 2005, the race earned a comparably massive 4.5 and 6.773 million viewers.

Sunday’s race is tied as the seventh-lowest rated in the history of the Chase for the Cup (73 telecasts dating back to 2004).

Though the numbers were not particularly impressive, the race continued an overall positive trend for NASCAR this season.

All three Chase races that can be compared to last year have had increases in ratings and viewership, and five of the past six races overall have had increases in ratings and viewership (excludes rained out races).

Of the 23 races that can be compared to last year, thirteen have had increases in ratings and fifteen have had increases in viewership.

Ratings/Viewership For NASCAR From Kansas Since Inaugural 2001 Race
* Race shortened after rain delay.

(2.6 U.S. rating based on 3.021 million HHs; household viewership from Media Life Magazine, P2+ viewership from ESPN)