ABC/ESPN is averaging a 2.7 final rating and 4.4 million viewers for the first half of NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup. That figure excludes the opening Chase race from Chicagoland Speedway, which began on ESPN from 3:15-4:44pm ET, but after a long weather delay, finished on ESPN2 from 10:00pm-1:15am. This year’s Chase rating is flat compared to the same point last season (includes all five Chase races), but viewership is up 1%. Last Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 from Charlotte Motor Speedway -- the only ABC telecast during the Chase -- finished with a 3.4 rating and 5.6 million viewers, up 6% and 9%, respectively, from a 3.2 rating and 5.1 million viewers last year and marks the race's best audience since '08. The Charlotte races from both '12 and '13 had competition from the ALCS and college football.
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NASCAR CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP AUDIENCE
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|
DATE
|
NET
|
TRACK
|
RATING
|
% +/-
|
VIEWERS (000)
|
% +/-
|
|
9/15
|
ESPN
|
Chicagoland*
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3,623
|
n/a
|
|
9/22
|
ESPN
|
New Hampshire
|
2.4
|
9.1%
|
3,706
|
5.4%
|
|
9/29
|
ESPN
|
Dover
|
2.4
|
9.1%
|
3,969
|
10.8%
|
|
10/6
|
ESPN
|
Kansas
|
2.6
|
-18.8%
|
4,162
|
-18.6%
|
|
10/12
|
ABC
|
Charlotte
|
3.4
|
6.3%
|
5,560
|
9.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTES: * = The race aired from 3:15-4:44pm on ESPN and then from 10:00-pm-1:15am on ESPN2.
