2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup TV Ratings

2010 Television Ratings – Comparison Table – 4 Years
FOX Coverage
13 Races
(2010 date) Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share
Track/Race 2010 2009 2008 2007
Daytona – Fox 2/6
Bud Shootout		 4.4/7
4.2/7*
8.18 million		 4.9/9
4.1/7*
8.3 million		 5.1/9
4.5/8*
8.5 million		 4.2/7
Daytona 500 Qualifying – Fox 2/6 1.6/5
2.36 million		 2.4/6
2.1/5*
3.6 million		 2.9/7
2.7/6*
4.4 million		 2.5/6*
Daytona/Duels – SPEED 2/11 1.99
1.495 million		 1.86
1.363 million		 2.10
1.5 million		 1.87
1.3 million
Daytona 500 – Fox 2/14 7.7/16
13.294 million		 9.2/19
8.0/17*
15.958 million		 10.2/20
9.4/19
17.8 million		 10.1/20
17.53 million
California – Fox 2/21 5.6/11
5.0/10*
9.151 million		 6.0/10
5.3/8*
10.206 million		 6.2/10 (A)
6.1/10*
10.9 million		 6.7/13
6.2/11*
Las Vegas – Fox 2/28 4.4/9
4.1/8*
7.154 million		 6.5/12
5.5/10*
11.123 million		 7.1/13
6.2/12*
12.1 million		 6.3/13
5.5/11*
Atlanta – Fox 3/7 5.3/13
4.8/11*
8.51 million		 5.5/12
4.7/10*
8.877 million		 6.4/15
5.6/12*
10.5 million		 5.2/12
4.7/10*
Bristol – Fox 3/21 4.4/10
4.2/9*
7.36 million		 4.5/10
4.1/10*
7.365 million		 5.5/13
5.0/11*
8.9 million		 5.1/12
4.9/11*
Martinsville – Fox 3/28 (3/29) 2.1/6* (B10) 4.6/10
4.1/9*
7.4 million		 5.3/12
4.9/10*
8.7 million		 5.3/13
4.9/11*
Phoenix – Fox 4/10 3.7/7
3.4/7*
5.977 million		 3.6/7
3.3/6*
6.0 million		 4.4/8
4.0/7*
7.2 million		 4.4/9
4.1/8*
Texas – Fox 4/18 (19) 2.1/7* (A10) 4.7/11
4.2/10*
7.4 million		 5.4/12
4.7/10*
8.6 million		 5.6/14
5.4/13*
Talladega – Fox 4/25 5.2/12
4.9/11*
8.452 million		 5.0/12
4.5/11*
8.105 million		 5.7/13
5.2/11*
9.0 million		 5.4/14
5.1/12*
Richmond – Fox 5/1 3.7/7
3.4/7
6.194 million		 3.9/8
3.7/7*
6.634 million		 4.5/9
4.2/8*
7.3 million		 4.3/11
4.1/10*
(rained out)
Darlington – Fox 5/8 4.2/8
3.9/8
6.969 million		 4.0/8
3.6/7*
6.671 million		 4.8/10
4.3/8
7.8 million		 4.2/12
4.0/11*
(rained out)
Dover – Fox 5/16 3.7/10
3.6/9*
5.756 million		 4.0/10
3.6/9*
6.088 million		 4.5/11
4.2/10*		 2.3/7 (rain)
All-Star SPEED 5/22 3:30
2.1/4*
2.496 million hh		 3.68
2.1/4*
2.69 million hh		 3.74
?
2.7 million hh		 3.53
?
2.5 million hh
Charlotte – Fox 5/30 4.0/0
6.5 million		 3.3/9 (L)
3.3/8*
5.3 million		 4.7/10
4.4/9*
7.6 million		 4.5/10
4.5/9*
FOX – 13 races – SEASON 4.8/10
4.4/9*
7.897 million ave		 5.1/11
4.6/9*
8.502 million ave
TNT Coverage
6 Races
Track/Race 2010 2009 2008 2007
(2010 date) Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers
Pocono – TNT 6/6 3.3
5,344 million		 3.4/9
5.5 million		 4.6
3.9*
6.1 million		 3.0
5.0 million
Michigan – TNT 6/13 2.9/7
4.3 million		 3.3/9
5.118 million		 3.3/9
5.084 million		 3.3
Infineon – TNT 6/20 2.7/7
4.479 million		 4.0
3.4/8*
5.788 million		 4.3
3.7/8*
6.015 million		 4.7
4.0*
6.5 million
New Hampshire – TNT 6/28 3.0/7
2.6*
4.909 million		 4.1
3.5/9
5.555 million		 4.0
3.4/8*
5.495 million		 3.3
3.4/8
5,270 million
Daytona – TNT 7/5 3.6/8
6.127 million
(C10)		 3.1/8
5.3 million		 3.8/8
6.39 million		 3.8/8
6.2 million
Chicago – TNT 7/11 ?
2.8/?
4.608 million		 ?
3.0/6*
4.814 million		 3.7
3.2/7*
5.129 million		 4.0
6.365 million
TNT – 4 of 6 – SEASON 3.0/7
4.795 million ave		 3.4/8
5.537 million ave
ESPN/ABC Coverage
17 Races
(2010 date) Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers Rating/Share/Viewers
Track/Race 2010 2009 2008 2007
Indy – ESPN 7/25 4.2
3.6*
5.709 million		 4.8
4.1*
6.487 million		 5.1
6.7 million		 4.9
4.2*
6.6 million
Pocono – ESPN 8/1 4.4
6.292 million		 (P) 1.8
(4.5 Sunday)
2.25 million		 4.5
3.8
6.2 million		 4.5
3.8*
Watkins Glen – ESPN 8/8 3.6
4.931 million		 (W) 1.7
(2.0 Sunday)
1.99 million		 3.6
3.0*
4,8 million		 4.1
3.5*
5,6 million
Michigan – ESPN 8/15 3.6
3.1/8
4.917 million		 4.1
3.5/8
5.622 million		 3.9
3.3*
5.3 million		 1.66
ESPN2 (C)
Bristol – ABC 8/21 3.5/7
5.842 million		 3.3/7
3.8hh
5.323 million
(ESPN)		 3.5
3.0*
5.0 million
(ESPN)		 4.1
3.5*
5.7 million
(ESPN)
Atlanta – ESPN 9/5
(was at California 2004-2008)		 3.9
3.4/7
2.9/6*
5.516 million million		 4.1
3.5/7
3.1/6*
5.808 million		 3.9
3.5/8*
5.7 million
(California)		 4.3
3.7*
6,4 million
(California)
Richmond – ABC 9/11 3.1/5
2.8/5
5.288 million		 3.5
3.1/6*
5.54 million		 3.0
3.97 million
ESPN (D)		 4.2
6.8 million
ABC
New Hampshire – ESPN 9/19 ?
2.3 (cb)
2.1/5*
3.677 million		 3.2/7
2.5/6*
5.04 million
ABC		 3.8/8
3.2/6*
6.1 million
ABC		 3.3/7
2.9/6*
5.2 million
ABC
Dover – ESPN 9/26 2.4/?
2.1/4*
3.966 million		 3.1/6
2.7/5*
5.08 million
(ABC)		 3.3/7
2.9/6*
5.34 million
(ABC)		 3.5
5.5 million
(ABC)
Kansas – ESPN 10/3 2.7hh
2.3/5
2.1/5*
3.741 million		 3.2/7
2.6/5*
5.25 million
(ABC)		 3.5/8
3.1/6*
5.69 million
(ABC)		 3.1/7
2.4 ESPN2
4.14 million

2.8/6* ABC
2.1 ESPN2 (G)
Auto Club – ESPN 10/10
(was at Charlotte 2007-2008)		 2.9hh
2.5/?
2.3/5*
4.072 million		 3.6/7
3.1/6*
5.95 million
ABC		 3.8/7
3.5/7
6.04 million
(Charlotte)
ABC		 4.2
4.0/8*
(Charlotte)
ABC
Charlotte – ABC 10/16 3.2/?
?
5.345 million		 3.5/7
3.0/6*
5.45 million		 3.8/7
3.5/7
6.04 million		 4.2
4.0/8*
Martinsville – ESPN 10/24 2.8hh
2.4/5
2.2/5
3.954 million		 2.9/?
2.5/5*
4.70 million
ABC		 3.3/7
2.9/6*
ABC		 3.0/7
3.3/?*
ABC
Talladega – ESPN 10/31 3.6hh
3.1/?
?
5.177 million		 4.1/?
3.8/8*
6.6 million
ABC		 3.7/?
3.4/6*
5.89 million
(Texas race – same date)

3.6/8
3.2/7*
5.61 million
(33rd race Atlanta)
ABC

 3.7
3.6
6.01 million
(Texas race)
ABC
Texas – ESPN 11/7 3.4hh
2.9/6
2.7/5*
4.846 million		 3.7/7
3.2/6*
5.827 million
ABC		 3.7/7
3.4/6*
5.89 million
ABC		 3.7/7
3.6/?*
6.01 million
ABC
Phoenix – ESPN 11/14 2.9hh
2.5/5
4.201 million		 3.3/6
2.9/6*
5.17 million
ABC		 3.6/7
3.4/6*
5.66 million
ABC

3.3
2.9*
4.61 million
ESPN2 (E)

 3.8
3.4*
ABC
Homestead – ESPN 11/21 3.9hh
3.3/6
5.605 million		 3.6/6
3.2/6*
5.607 million		 4.0/7
3.7/6*
6.60 million		 4.2/8
3.8*
 

  • notes about ratings:
    (cb) = cable rating
    hh = households [usually cable ratings)(L) rained delayed from Sunday May 24, 2009 to Monday, May 25th
    (P) rained delayed from Sunday August 2, 2009 to Monday, August 3rd
    (W) rained delayed from Sunday August 3, 2009 to Monday, August 10th
    (C) rained delayed race at Michigan to Tuesday, 8/21/2007 aired on ESPN2
    (D) rained delayed race at Richmond to Sunday, 9/7/2008, aired on ESPN instead of ABC
    (E) after 2 red flags, ABC moved the final 34 laps from ABC to ESPN2 at 7:30pm/et
    (G) Kansas delayed by rain, started on ABC [2-6pm/et] then moved to ESPN2 [6-8:15pm/et] 9-30-2007
    (A10) Martinsville delayed from Sunday March 28, 2010 to Monday, March 29, 2010
    (B10) Texas delayed from Sunday April 18, 2010 to Monday, April 19, 2010
    (C10) Start of the race was delayed 90 minutes by rain, Saturday, July 3, 2010Final Ratings on top, and Fast/Overnight/Household Ratings below with an ‘*’.
    Cable Ratings [TNT/ESPN] usually do not list the share as Networks [FOX/ABC] do, or list overnightsA network rating is percent of homes that are tuned into the event
    A a cable rating is percent of homes equipped with cable that are tuned into an event
    (meaning that a lower network rating still can produce more households)

    Overnight ratings, are measured in the top 50 markets of the country.
    National ratings provide more detailed demographic information as well as the exact number of people watching.

    rating: which indicates percentage of all households in the U.S. watched this broadcast
    share: which indicates percent of all households watching TV in the U.S. watched this broadcast
    as of mid-2006 there were 111,348,110 television households in the U.S.
  • Homestead TV Ratings: ESPN Matches ABC’s Audience for NASCAR Finale; Young Male Demo Jumps 33%. ESPN’s live coverage of the Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 21, essentially matched the viewership for last year’s race telecast on ABC and saw a 33 percent rise in the key Male 18-34 demographic, according to the Nielsen Company. The telecast averaged 5,604,748 viewers, essentially matching the 5,606,608 average for last year’s race, while earning a 3.3 U.S. rating (3.9 household coverage rating) on ESPN. Last year’s ABC telecast earned a 3.6 rating. The Male 18-34 demographic rose from a 0.9 last year on ABC to a 1.2 on ESPN.
    ESPN2’s live telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,920,301 viewers. The rating was up from the 1.3 rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2 and helped ESPN2’s coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series to end the season with a three percent increase over its average rating from last year (ESPN).(11-23-2010)
  • Phoenix TV Ratings: ESPN’s live coverage of the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 14, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.9 (2.5 U.S. rating), averaging 4,201,279 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a final national rating of 3.3 (5.17 million viewers).
    ESPN2’s live coverage of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Phoenix earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, averaging 1,597,174 viewers. The rating was up from a 1.1 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2.(ESPN)(11-16-2010)
  • Texas TV Ratings down: The AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway earned a 2.7 with a 5 share televised on ESPN. That is down 16% from last year’s 3.2/6 which aired on ABC.
    AND ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Nov. 7, earned a final national household coverage rating of 3.4 (2.9 U.S.), averaging 4,845,820 viewers [3.391 million households]. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a 3.7 rating. ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Texas on Saturday, Nov. 6, earned a 1.1 final national household coverage rating, up from a 0.9 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2.(11-9-2010)
    MORE: Sunday’s race from Texas generated a 2.9/6 (4.8 mill.), down -22% compared to last year’s 3.7/7 on ABC and a loss of nearly a million viewers. Season-to-date there have now been seven NASCAR races that have moved from ABC last year to ESPN this year, and those races are down -26% on rating (2.6/5 vs. 3.5/7) and -22% on viewership (4.3 mill vs. 5.5 mill.).(11-11-2010)
  • Talladega TV Rating is up:
    ESPN earned its highest rating so far in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with live coverage of Sunday’s AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The telecast earned a 3.6 household coverage rating (3.1 U.S. rating), averaging 5,176,663 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a 4.1 U.S. rating.(ESPN)(11-2-2010)
  • Overnight TV ratings down: The Fast Tums Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race earned a 2.2 rating with a 5 share, down 12% from last year’s 2.5/5.(10-26-2010)
    AND ESPN’s live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 24, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.8 (2.4 U.S. rating), averaging 3,954,058 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a final U.S. rating of 2.9.
    ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis on Saturday earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.1, averaging 1,386,547 viewers. The event at Gateway replaced a race held on the same weekend last year at now-closed Memphis Motorsports Park that earned a 0.9 final rating.(ESPN)(10-26-2010)
  • Charlotte TV Ratings: ABC’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Oct. 16, earned a final national rating of 3.2, averaging 5,345,135 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race, which also aired on ABC, earned a 3.5 rating [5.45 million viewers].
    ESPN2’s live telecast of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Charlotte earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.3, averaging 1,793,454 viewers. Last year’s race also aired on ESPN2 and earned a 1.4 rating.(ESPN)(10-19-2010)
  • France talks…a little, about TV Ratings: Dustin Long of the Virginian Pilot got in two questions to NASCAR Chairman Brian France about TV ratings as he walked out of a press conference room after having announced that NASCAR will switch to E15 fuel beginning next year in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks. Here’s Brian on the declining TV ratings:
    Brian: “We’re working on it. Racing is great and over time that takes care of things. We’d like to have better ratings but we will over time.”
    On what more he can do and the idea doing like IndyCar with commercials and the race sharing the TV screen together: “We’ll look at everything we can do. Ultimately, the racing, which is phenomenal, will carry the day. That’s our product.”(Virginian Pilot)(10-17-2010)
  • Early TV Ratings for Auto Club: Sunday’s race from Auto Club Speedway posted a 2.3/5 overnight rating on ESPN, down -26% compared to last year’s 3.1/6 when the race aired on ABC. There were 5.95 million viewers in 2009.(10-11-2010)
    UPDATE: ESPN’s live telecast of the Pepsi Max 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 1, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.9 (U.S. rating 2.5), averaging 4,071,757 viewers according to the Nielsen Company. The telecast earned the highest rating and largest viewership of the four races that have been run so far in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Last year’s race aired on ABC and had a final U.S. rating of 3.6.
    ESPN2’s live telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Fontana earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.1, averaging 1,471,752 viewers. The race earned the same rating last year when it also aired on ESPN2.(ESPN)(10-12-2010)
  • TV Ratings down for Kansas: the overnights for this past weekend show the NASCAR Sprint Cup race having a 2.1 ratings and 4 share on Sunday, being televised on ESPN. In 2009, the race was televised on ABC and had a 2.6/5 with a final rating of 3.2/7 with 5.25 million viewers.(10-5-2010)
    UPDATE: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 3, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.7 (U.S. rating 2.3), averaging 3,741,683 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a 3.2 rating. The telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway on ESPN2 earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, averaging 1,537,801 viewers. The race also aired on ESPN2 last year and earned the same rating.(ESPN)(10-5-2010)
    UPDATE 2: Sunday’s race from Kansas delivered a 2.3/5 on ESPN, down -28% compared to the 3.2/7 the same race earned last year on ABC.(10-7-2010)
  • Dover TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.8 (2.4 U.S. rating), averaging 3,965,722 viewers. Last year’s race aired on ABC and earned a 3.1 U.S. rating [with 5.08 million viewers].
    ESPN2’s live telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, the same rating earned for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2. The telecast averaged 1,624,214 viewers, an 11 percent increase from last year. ESPN2’s NASCAR Nationwide Series ratings have remained consistent all season and are slightly up from ratings at this point last year.(ESPN)(9-28-2010)
  • New Hampshire TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 19, earned a final national household coverage rating of 2.6 (U.S. rating 2.3), averaging 3,676,828 viewers (households?), according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race telecast aired on ABC and earned a final U.S. rating of 3.2 (ESPN).
    The overnights were a 2.1/5, down from last years 2.6/5 overnight with a final of 3.2/7 and 5.04 million viewers.(9-21-2010)
  • Richmond TV Ratings lower: ABC’s telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night, Sept. 11, won the night among broadcast networks, leading the way in viewers and in the Adult 18-49 demographic. The telecast averaged 5,288,372 viewers with a 3.1 rating and averaged 3,610,119 households, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race earned a 3.5 rating. The overnight ratings were 2.8 with a 5 share, down from last years 3.1/6.
    ESPN2’s telecast of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.2, averaging 1,655,0023 viewers. The rating was slightly down from the 1.3 rating earned for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN2.(9-14-2010)
  • Atlanta TV Ratings down a tad: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night, Sept. 5, earned a final national household coverage rating of 3.9, averaging 5,516,601 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race, the first Labor Day weekend event at Atlanta, earned a 4.1 rating [5.9 million].
    The NASCAR Nationwide Series continued its run of ratings success this season with Saturday night’s Atlanta race earning a final national household coverage rating of 1.4 on ESPN2, averaging 1,893,361 viewers. Last year’s race also earned a 1.4 rating. Six of the last 10 Nationwide Series races have seen ratings growth over the corresponding event last year, while the other four were even.(9-8-2010)
  • Bristol TV Ratings: The live telecast of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Bristol International Raceway on ABC earned a final national household rating of 3.5, averaging 5,841,952 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s race aired on cable on ESPN (and averaged 5.3 million viewers).
    ESPN’s live telecast of Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.6, averaging 2,053,490 viewers. The rating was up from the 1.5 for last year’s race that aired on ESPN2. Five of the last eight Nationwide Series races have seen ratings growth over the corresponding event last year, while the other three were even. ESPN’s NASCAR Nationwide Series ratings are up 6% compared to this point last year.(ESPN)
    AND NASCAR Sprint Cup racing made its 2010 debut on ABC with a 3.5/7 (5.842 mill) for the race from Bristol. That’s up +6% over last year’s 3.3/7 (5.323 mill) when the race aired on ESPN. Through five races, NASCAR Sprint Cup racing is averaging a 3.5/8 (5.594 million viewers) on ESPN and ABC combined. That’s down -3% from last year’s 3.6/8 (5.765 mill on households).(8-29-2010)
  • Michigan TV Ratings down: ESPN’s live telecast of the Carfax 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway earned a final national household coverage rating of 3.6, averaging 4,916,636 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from the 4.1 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN. ESPN’s live telecast of the CARFAX 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at MIS on Saturday earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,799,711 viewers. The rating was the same as last year’s race that aired on ESPN2 but viewership was up 10%.(ESPN)(8-17-2010)
  • Watkins Glen TV Ratings: ESPN’s live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Sunday, Aug. 8, earned a final national household coverage rating of 3.6, averaging 4,931,881 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was the same as the 3.6 earned by ESPN for the race telecast in 2008, the last year the event was run and telecast as scheduled. Last year’s race was rained out and run on a Monday.(ESPN)(8-10-2010)
  • Pocono TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 1, was the highest-rated and most-viewed NASCAR Sprint Cup race on cable so far this season, according to the Nielsen Company. The race earned a final national household coverage rating of 4.4, averaging 6,202,469 viewers. Last year’s event at Pocono was rained out and held on a Monday.
    ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway on Saturday night, July 31, earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.4, averaging 1,815,043 viewers. The rating was up from a 1.3 for last year’s race that was run during daylight hours and aired on ESPN.Four of the last five NASCAR Nationwide Series races have seen ratings growth over the corresponding event of a year ago.(ESPN)(8-3-2010)
  • TV Ratings for the Brickyard 400: ESPN’s live telecast of the Brickyard 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 25, earned a final national household coverage rating of 4.2, averaging 5,709,103 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from the 4.8 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN.
    ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on Saturday night, July 24, saw a 21 percent ratings increase from last year. The telecast earned a 1.7 final national household coverage rating, averaging 2,356,996 viewers. Last year’s race, which also aired on ESPN2, earned a 1.4 rating.(ESPN)(7-27-2010)
  • Daytona TV Ratings decent: TNT enjoyed its first year-over-year increase for a Sprint Cup telecast this year as it earned a 3.6 national rating and 6.127 million viewers for its coverage of the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night from Daytona International Speedway. Despite starting more than 90 minutes late because of rain, coverage of the race saw a 16.1% increase in ratings and viewership from the race last year. The 2009 race was held on July 4, while the race this year was on July 3. This year’s race featured TNT’s “wide open” format that featured only full-screen local commercial breaks. All national advertising was shown in one part of the screen while race coverage continued on the remainder of the screen. According to the SportsBusiness Daily, it was the network’s best rating since the July 2008 race at Daytona, which earned a 3.8 rating and attracted 6.39 million viewers.(SceneDaily)(7-7-2010)
    AND: TNT drove to victory with double-digit ratings, total viewers and household increases for its coverage of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona powered by Coca-Cola on Saturday, July 3. The network, airing the race in its signature Wide Open coverage which resulted in zero missed laps of green flag racing for the second the consecutive year, earned a 3.6 U.S. household rating, up 16% over last year. In addition, total viewers and households were up 16% each with total viewers at 6,127,000 (5,277,000 in 2009) and households at 4,152,000 (3,567,000 in 2009).(TNT/Nielsen Media Research)(7-8-2010)
  • Infineon TV Ratings posted: TNT’s portion of the 2010 NASCAR SPRINT CUP season continues with Sunday’s race from Infineon Raceway averaged a season-low 2.7/7 (4.5 mill), down -21% from last year’s 3.4/8 (5.1 mill) on households. Season-to-date, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on TNT is averaging a 3.0/7 (4.8 million viewers). That’s down -12% from last year’s 3.4/8 (5.5 mill) on households.(6-25-2010)
  • TNT’s Michigan TV Ratings posted: TNT’s portion of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup for Sunday’s race from Michigan averaged a 2.9/7 (4.3 mill), down -12% from last year’s 3.3/9 (5.1 mill) on households and down -50% on M18-34 (0.6 vs. 1.2). Season-to-date, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on TNT is averaging a 3.1/7 (4.9 million viewers). That’s down -9% from last year’s 3.4/9 (5.4 mill) on households, down -33% on M18-34 (0.8 vs. 1.2)(6-17-2010)
  • Pocono TV Ratings : Turner Sports hit the track at top speed this past Sunday in Pocono with fans tuning into TNT’s Summer Series, driving the network to strong early ratings
    * According to Nielsen Fast Nationals, TNT’s race coverage delivered a 3.3 US rating and 5,344,000 Total Viewers, becoming the #1 program of the day on ad-supported cable in Households, Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, Men 18-49 and Men 25-54.
    * TNT’s Sprint Cup Series racing from Pocono delivered more households (3,778,000) than the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC (3,750,000) and MTV Movie Awards (3,274,000)(TNT)(6-10-2010)
  • Coca Cola 600 TV Ratings: FOX’s 2010 NASCAR season concluded on Sunday with a 4.0/9 (6.5 mill) for the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte. Though that’s up +21% over last year’s race, which was run on a Monday due to rain (3.3/9, 5.3 mill), it’s down -15% from 2008’s comparable 4.7/10 (7.6 mill). Sunday’s race failed to post a higher rating in the nationals than in the overnights, a rarity for NASCAR and the first time that’s happened since the 2007 Coke 600. Despite that, NASCAR still propelled FOX to a first-place finish on Sunday night among broadcast networks. FOX’s 4.0/9 beat CBS’s 3.8/8 and easily beat both NBC (2.2/5) and ABC (2.0/4). For the complete 2010 season, NASCAR Sprint Cup racing on FOX averaged a 4.8/10 (7.9 million viewers), a -6% dip from last year’s 5.1/11 (8.5 mill). 2010 ranks as FOX’s lowest-rated NASCAR season ever.(6-4-2010)
  • TV Ratings for the All- Star race same: The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge earned a 2.1/4 Saturday night on SPEED, which matched last year’s overnight ratings.(5-24-2010)
    UPDATE: Ratings for the Sprint All-Star Race, televised live on Speed, dropped 10.3% from 3.68 in 2009 to 3.30 in 2010, according to a network spokesman.
    The race peaked at a 4.38 this year, compared with a peak of 4.69 in 2009. Speed reached the most households of any basic cable network during the race in the 35-54 male category and 55-and-over male category. It ranked second in the 18-34 male category. The overall number of households watching the race was 2,496,000.(SceneDaily)(5-25-2010)
  • Dover Final TV Ratings drop:: NASCAR on FOX delivered a 3.7/10 (5.8 million viewers) on Sunday afternoon for racing from DOVER. Sunday’s 3.7/10 is down -8% compared to last year’s 4.0/10 when the race did not face an NBA Playoff game. That -8% decline is the steepest for a NASCAR race since February’s Las Vegas race, and reverses a fairly positive recent trend in which three of FOX’s four Sprint Cup races prior to Dover had posted modest year-to-year gains. For the season-to-date, NASCAR On FOX is now averaging a 4.9/10 nationally. That’s down -4% compared to last season’s 5.1/11 and excludes races that were rained out and made-up on Mondays.(5-22-2010)
  • Dover Overnight TV Ratings same as 2009: NASCAR on FOX earned a 3.6/9 Sunday for racing from Dover International Speedway. That’s flat with last year’s overnight, although this year’s race faced markedly tougher competition. This year’s Dover race aired two weeks earlier than last year’s and the final hour of the race faced the NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, and PGA golf, three events that combined for 6.7 rating points worth of competition from 3:30-4:30pm. Last year’s race aired on the last Sunday of May and faced just 3.7 points of competition. With just one race remaining on FOX, NASCAR is averaging a 4.4/9 in the metered markets, off -4% compared to last year’s 4.6/9.(5-17-2010)
  • Final Darlington TV Ratings up over 2009: NASCAR on Fox posted a 4.2/8 (7.0 million viewers) on Saturday night for racing from Darlington Raceway. Saturday night’s telecast was up +5% over last year’s 4.0/8 (6.7 mill) for the same race and managed to handily beat ABC’s NBA Playoff game, which featured the LA Lakers, by +14% (vs. 3.7/7 – 5.8 mill). Season-to-date, NASCAR on FOX is averaging a 5.0/11 (8.3 million viewers), down -5% from last year’s 5.2/11 (8.7 million viewers).(5-13-2010)
  • Overnight TV Ratings for Darlington increase: NASCAR on FOX had a 3.9/8 overnight rating Saturday night for racing from Darlington Raceway for the Showtime Southern 500, an 8% increase over last year’s 3.6/7 for the same race. The Sprint Cup race ran second for the night to ABC’s NBA Playoff game (3.9/8 vs. 4.4/8). The season-to-date NASCAR’s metered market average of 4.5/9 is off just -2% from last season’s 4.6/9.(5-10-2010)
  • Richmond TV Ratings down: NASCAR ON FOX earned a 3.4/7 on Saturday night for racing from Richmond International Raceway. The 3.4/7 for the short-track race was down -8% compared to last year’s 3.7/7. With the green flag coming a half-hour earlier this year, initial tune-in for the race was off slightly. Despite the overall decline, FOX’s race earned a 3.5/7 in Primetime. That gave FOX a narrow win for the night in the metered markets over second-place CBS’s 3.4/6, but that slim margin is set to expand when national ratings are tabulated and NASCAR gets its usual small-market bump. For the season-to-date NASCAR On FOX is now averaging a 4.6/10 in the overnights, down -2% compared to 2009’s 4.7/10.(5-3-2010)
  • Final Talladega TV Ratings higher: Sunday’s race from Talladega earned a 5.2/12 (8.5 million viewers) on Fox, a +4% improvement over last year’s 5.0/12 and the second regularly scheduled NASCAR race in a row to post a slight increase over last year. Sunday’s Talladega race was down -16% year-to-year among Men 18-34 (1.6 vs. 1.9), and for the year to date NASCAR is now down -30% among Men 18-34 (1.6 vs. 2.3). Meanwhile, while younger viewers have been slow to come to NASCAR, the trend among older viewers has picked up. Viewing among Men 35+ has been up in each of the last three regularly scheduled races, and for the entire season Men 35+ are down by just a tenth of a point (-2%, 6.2 vs. 6.3). On a Household basis, NASCAR is down -4% for the season-to-date (5.3/11 vs. 5.5/11). FOX’s last three Sunday afternoon NASCAR races have each aired one hour earlier than they did a year ago. Those three races – Atlanta, Bristol, and Talladega – have averaged a 5.0/12, which is identical to the performance of the same races a year ago. The earlier start times don’t appear to be helping or hurting viewership in any meaningful way. Initial tune-in was down -2% for the Atlanta race (4.3 vs. 4.4), flat at Bristol (4.0), and down -2% at Talladega (4.4 vs. 4.5). Those trivial differences in Atlanta and Talladega were then made up later in the races, which may be because NASCAR faces slightly lesser competition by going earlier, or may simply be a function of the races just being more exciting this year. Both the Atlanta and Talladega races were run at faster average speeds and had more lead changes this year.(4-29-2010)
  • Talladega TV Ratings Up: NASCAR on Fox averaged a 4.9/11 for a thrilling race from Talladega to rank as FOX’s highest-rated NASCAR event in two months. Yesterday’s race was up +9% over last year’s 4.5/11, and it ranked as the highest-rated event of the weekend beating the NBA Playoffs on ABC. Initial tune-in for yesterday’s race was a 3.9/10 (1:15pm), and grew steadily throughout the telecast peaking at a 6.3/13 for the final half-hour (4:30-5pm) as Kevin Harvick snuck by Jamie McMurray to take the checkered flag in one of the closest finishes in track history. Birmingham led all markets with a 15.6/29, followed by Greensboro (15.1/29), Charlotte (12.9/26), Greensville (12.7/25), and Indianapolis (11.7/22). Season-to-date, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX is averaging a 4.8/10 in the overnights, down just one-tenth from last year’s 4.9/10. Excluding races that aired opposite the Olympics, FOX’s “like-to-like” race average of a 4.3 is up one-tenth over last year’s 4.2.
    – Following FOX’s coverage, a brief Post-Race show aired on SPEED. Speed averaged a 0.3 rating from 5:00-5:15, although the actual post-race “cut-in” only ran for 5 minutes. While a 0.3 is obviously low by broadcast standards, note that the post-race cut-in tripled the rating of the previous quarter-hour (0.1) and as soon as the cut-in was over Speed’s rating immediately retreated to a 0.2. If anything, the 0.3 from 5:00-5:15, which was Speed’s highest-rated quarter hour of the afternoon/evening, indicates that Speed’s post-race coverage should be expanded.(4-28-2010)
  • Texas TV Ratings: Monday’s “make-up” NASCAR Sprint Cup Race from Texas averaged a 2.1/7 in the metered markets. That’s flat with the Martinsville Race (2.1/6) which also was a make-up race that aired on a Monday (3/29/2010). Yesterday’s 2.1/7 is a +50% increase over what FOX affiliates typically average in that window in April (1.4/4). Greensboro led all markets with a 6.3/16, followed by Dayton (5.2/14), Birmingham (5.1/12).(4-20-2010)
  • Phoenix TV Ratings Up: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Phoenix International Raceway earned a 3.4/7 Saturday night, April 10th on FOX. That is 3% better than last year’s 3.3/6 for the same race. The last three FOX NASCAR races to air in their regularly scheduled windows have all been up a tenth of a point over last year in the metered markets, but FOX has yet to parlay that into an increase for any races in the nationals. FOX’s race earned a 3.4/6 from 8-11pm, which was good enough to place FOX second for the night behind CBS’s 4.0/7. Fox the season-to-date NASCAR On FOX is down -4% in the metered markets (4.8/10 vs. 5.0/10).
  • Rain causes TV Rating tumble: NASCAR ON FOX was wiped out this weekend when wet weather forced postponement of racing from Martinsville Speedway. The race was made up on Monday afternoon and aired nationally on FOX affiliates. Because the race aired on a weekday afternoon, no national rating will be released until next Thursday. The overnight rating for the race was a 2.1/6. The last FOX race to be rained out and made up on a Monday was last year’s Coca-Cola 600, but that’s not really a fair comparison because the make-up date was the memorial Day holiday, and as a result the make-up earned a 3.3/8 in the metered markets. The better comparison is to the 2008 Auto Club Speedway race, which was made up on a normal Monday and earned an overnight rating of 2.3/7. In 2009 the final Martinsville Ratings were 4.6/10 [with an overnight of 4.1/9*] and 7.4 million viewers. The Martinsville race is excluded from FOX’s season-to-date total, which remains a 5.6/12 (9.3 million viewers). However, last year’s Martinsville race stays in the 2009 average, and because it was a mediocre rating FOX’s year-to-year comparison has improved since last week without actually running a race. FOX’s 5.6/12 for the season is now down -7% compared to last year’s final 6.0/12 for FOX. Last weeks final TV Ratings for Bristol were flat vs. 2010 with a 4.4 rating and a 10 share [was 4.5/10 in 2009]. (4-2-2010)
  • Atlanta TV ratings higher then 2009: NASCAR ON FOX’s coverage of the Sprint Cup race on from ATLANTA earned a 4.8/11 in the metered markets, up +2% over last year’s 4.7/11 and good enough to rank as the weekend’s highest-rated sports event. Yesterday’s increase is particularly meaningful because the Atlanta race was FOX’s first points race of the season that did not face the Olympics – the three races that did face the Olympics were down -14% in the metered markets. Yesterday’s +2% increase under a “normal” competitive environment provides the best gauge yet of where NASCAR truly stands compared to last year. Through four races NASCAR On FOX is now down -10% compared to last year in the metered markets (5.3 vs. 5.9). The news was particularly good yesterday in the core Southeastern markets. Ratings were up +32% in Charlotte (11.5/24 vs. 8.7/17), +26% in Greensboro (12.7/26 vs. 10.1/20), and +25% in Atlanta (8.9/18 vs. 7.1/17). The major southeastern markets are always important to NASCAR, but especially so this year as those markets should be among the first to recognize any improvement in the racing brought about by this year’s rule changes.(3-8-2010)
  • Las Vegas TV Ratings take tumble against Olympic Hockey: Opposite the toughest competition it has ever faced, NASCAR ON FOX tumbled to a 4.1/8 yesterday for racing from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That 4.1/8 is down -25% compared to last year’s 5.5/10 and is the lowest overnight ever for FOX’s Las Vegas race. The obvious culprit was enormous competition from the gold medal hockey game at the Vancouver Winter Olympics (17.6/33). FOX’s race failed to crack an 8 share opposite the hockey game, then immediately jumped up by nearly +20% in rating once the exciting game was over, going from a 4.2/8 at 5:30 to a more respectable 5.0/9 at 6:00. NASCAR has obviously taken its share of lumps opposite the Olympics, with the three races facing the Olympics down -14% year-to-year (5.4/11 vs. 6.3/12). Next week’s race in Atlanta will provide the season’s first clean ratings comparison, and will be a better gauge of where NASCAR truly stands compared to last year.(3-1-2010)
  • California TV Ratings down from 2009: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on FOX earned an overnight rating of 5.0 rating /10 share opposite the Olympics yesterday for racing from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. That’s down -6% compared to last year’s 5.3/8 in a later time period. Yesterday’s 5.0/10 is the lowest overnight for FOX’s Fontana race since it moved to February, and the lowest for the race since 2003 when it drew a 4.9/11 in April. Greensboro, NC topped all markets yesterday with a 13.0/23. Charlotte was next with an 11.9/23, up +1% over last year’s 11.8/17. For race-by-race TV Ratings chart and TV Ratings news, see my 2010 TV Ratings page for more.(2-22-2010)
  • ESPN2’s Daytona Nationwide Series Telecast sets Cable Viewership Record: With an average of more than 4.2 million people watching, ESPN2’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opening race from Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13 has set a record as the most-viewed Nationwide Series race ever on cable. The race telecast, which featured the NASCAR debut of open wheel racing star Danica Patrick, earned a fast national household coverage rating of 3.2, averaging 4,271,365 viewers in 3,170,109 households. The viewership numbers eclipse the previous Nationwide Series cable records of 3,954,798 viewers and 2,946,951 households set by TNT for its telecast of the 2006 Daytona race. Data shows that viewers stayed with the telecast even after Patrick was eliminated in a multi-car crash just past the halfway point of the race. ESPN2 peaked with a 3.5 household coverage rating for the last 20 minutes of the race as Tony Stewart held off a pack of drivers to take victory. ESPN2’s 3.2 rating for Daytona was up 33% from the 2.4 rating for last year’s Daytona race and 28% higher than the 2.5 rating for the 2008 race, previously the network’s highest rating ever for a NASCAR Nationwide Series race. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with select races airing on ESPN and ABC. The next race is at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 20, with the ESPN2 telecast beginning at 5:00pm/et.(ESPN)(2-17-2010)
  • TV Ratings for Daytona 500 down: The 2010 Daytona 500 earned a fast national rating of 7.7/16 (13.3 million viewers) yesterday for a race that was crippled by two lengthy delays for track repair. Yesterday’s 7.7/16 is down -16% compared to last year’s 9.2/19 and ranks as the lowest-rated Daytona 500 since 1991’s 7.6/20 on CBS. The two track delays were excluded from the rating – Nielsen treats them similarly to a baseball rain delay – but the delays obviously had a sizable impact on the rating as the race’s momentum was twice stopped cold. The two delays combined averaged a 6.5/14, a -16% decline versus the 7.7/16 for live racing.
    More people watched at least some of this year’s Daytona 500 than last year’s, but because the two delays torpedoed the momentum of the race the average viewer spent less time with the Daytona 500 this year, resulting in the lower average rating and average viewership. Nielsen estimates that 29.8 million Americans watched at least some of this year’s Daytona 500, a +14% gain over last year’s 26.2 million.
    In the 31-year history of flag-to-flag coverage of the Daytona 500, there have been two previous runnings that were delayed and then re-started, and both suffered sizable ratings decreases versus prior years. The 1995 running was delayed over two hours by rain, then re-started, and the result was a -19% decline versus prior year (7.8 vs. 9.6). The 2003 edition on FOX was also delayed by rain, then re-started and not run to the full 500 miles. That race rated -10% lower than the 2002 running on NBC (9.8 vs. 10.9). Yesterday’s -16% decline, while substantial, is in-line with past interrupted Daytonas.
    There was some good news from some important Southeastern markets. Rating were up +11% in Atlanta (11.0 vs. 9.9) and +8% in Charlotte (16.8 vs. 15.6), arguably the two most important NASCAR markets. Within the core region ratings were also up in Norfolk (+7%, 12.2 vs. 11.4) and Ft. Myers (+12%, 10.0 vs. 8.9). The core markets are particularly important this year as they should be the most aware of this year’s changes to the rules and broadcast schedule.(FOX)(2-16-2010)
  • TV Ratings for Gatorade Duel higher: Coming off record Nielsen Household Ratings earlier in the week for coverage of the ARCA Racing Series opener and the Bud Shootout edition of NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED scored another ratings increase with Thursday’s live coverage of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona. The twin qualifiers for Sunday’s Daytona 500 earned a 1.99 (1,495,000), up 7% from last year’s 1.86 (1,363,000 households). Coverage peaked at a 2.56 (1,926,000 households), up 11% from last year’s peak of 2.31 (1,691,000). The Gatorade Duel at Daytona telecast made SPEED the highest rated basic cable network during the time period. NASCAR RaceDay continued its upward trend to start the season, as the Gatorade Duel edition of the popular pre-race show scored an 8% increase over 2009 scoring an average Household Rating of 1.87 (1,402,000 households).(SPEED)(2-13-2010)
  • Danica’s ARCA start lifts TV Ratings to record level: SPEED coverage of the ARCA Racing Series season opener from Daytona scored a Nielsen Household Rating of 2.30 (1,723,000 households), a 59% increase over last year’s 1.45 (1,062,000 households). Highlighted by the stock car debut of Danica Patrick, race coverage peaked at 2.66 (1,997,000 households), up a stunning 72 percent from last year’s peak of 1.55 (1,137,000 households). According to Nielsen Media Research, 2.4 million viewers tuned in to see the Saturday afternoon race, an 87% increase over last year’s audience of 1.3 million. The Nielsen ratings, which positioned SPEED as the No. 1 network in basic cable during the time slot, were the highest ever for an ARCA race and rank only behind SPEED’s exclusive coverage of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race as the highest ratings ever for the network.(SPEED)(2-10-2010)
  • Budweiser Shootout overnight TV Ratings: The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on FOX kicked off on Saturday with a 1.6/4 for the Daytona Pole Qualifying, down -24% year-to-year and a 4.2 rating/7 share for the Budweiser Shootout, up +3% year-to-year. For the first time since FOX has broadcasted Qualifying and Shootout, the two were scheduled to run on the same Saturday. See TV Tatings season comparisons on my 2009 TV Ratings page.(2-8-2010)

Born on Date: February 8, 2010