ESPNs live telecasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series races from Michigan International Speedway last weekend each earned ratings increases from the previous years telecasts. Coverage of the CARFAX 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which aired on ESPN on Sunday, Aug. 16, earned a final national household coverage rating of 4.1, up from the 3.9 rating for last years race that also aired live on ESPN. The telecast averaged 5,622,384 viewers. The Michigan event was ESPNs fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup race of 2009 but only the second to be run and telecast as scheduled. ESPN earned a 4.8 rating for the Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis on July 26. Races at Pocono, Pa., and Watkins Glen, N.Y., were rained out on Sundays and run on Mondays. ESPN is televising the final 17 races of the season, with the first six on ESPN and the last 11 on ABC, including all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
The CARFAX 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race saw a ratings increase for the second consecutive year, earning a 1.4 final national household coverage rating for the telecast that aired on ESPN2 on Saturday, Aug. 15. The telecast averaged 1,642,343 viewers. The Nationwide Series race telecast from Michigan earned a 1.3 rating on ESPN2 in 2008 and a 1.2 in 2007, the first year of ESPNs current contract with NASCAR to televise the full Nationwide Series.(ESPN), for past races, ratings chart and more, see my 2009 TV Ratings page.(8-18-2009)
