Record TV Ratings at Kansas: NBCs coverage of the inaugural Cup race from Kansas Speedway on Sunday generated a 4.7 national rating/11 share, (1:15 p.m.-5:15pm), according to Nielsen Media Research. This represents a 104% increase over last years comparable rating and is the highest national rating ever for any auto race in competition with professional football. The previous record rating for an auto race televised at the same time as an NFL game was the 4.5 rating delivered by NBCs coverage of the MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 on Sept. 23, 2001 and the DieHard 500 from Talledega, Ala. on CBS on Oct. 12, 1997. Sundays rating peaked at a 5.7/12 from 4:30-5:00pm/et as Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in Cup’s debut at the Kansas Speedway. Last year on the comparable weekend, NASCAR Winston Cup racing produced a 2.3 converted national household rating for the NAPA Autocare 500[Martinsville], which aired on ESPN on Oct. 1, 2000. NBCs 45-minute NASCAR pre-race show scored an impressive 2.5/7 from 12:30-1:15pm/et.(NBC PR)(10-4-2001)
