No matter how you slice it, NASCAR showed robust ratings increases this year through Nov. 4. For the six races Fox aired that were also on network television last year, Fox averaged a 7.0, up from a 5.6 for the same races last year, a 25 percent increase. NBC aired three races that were on network TV last year. They were up 29 percent to a 5.4. TNT averaged a 3.8 cable rating, an 8 percent increase for the same races last year. The average was deflated by one race that was postponed a day and aired on a Monday, and the race that was moved off NBC when U.S. forces began bombing Afghanistan.
There were 12 races on broadcast networks this year that were on cable in 2000. Fox and NBC averaged a 5.3 household rating for those races, compared with the 4.1 cable rating (representing the percentage of homes with access to the cable channel airing the race) those races averaged last year.
Overall, including new races added to the 2001 schedule, Fox averaged a 6.2 for 14 races; FX averaged a 4.4 for its two races; NBC averaged a 4.9 through eight races (not including the final race of the year in Loudon, N.H.); and TNT averaged a 3.8 for nine races.
| Racetrack | 2001 rating (network) | 2000 rating (network) |
| Daytona | 10.0 (Fox) | 8.4 (CBS) |
| North Carolina | 8.2 (Fox)* | 5.2 (TNN) |
| Las Vegas | 6.5 (Fox) | 4.0 (ABC) |
| Atlanta | 6.7 (Fox) | 5.7 (ABC) |
| Darlington | 6.1 (Fox) | 4.5 (ESPN) |
| Bristol | 6.2 (Fox) | 4.9 (ESPN) |
| Texas | 7.0 (Fox) | 6.0 (CBS) |
| Martinsville | 5.4 (Fox) | 3.7 (ESPN) |
| Talladega | 6.4 (Fox) | 5.3 (ABC) |
| California | 5.4 (Fox) | 4.2 (ABC) |
| Richmond | 4.0 (FX) | 3.5 (ESPN) |
| Lowe’s | 5.3 (Fox) | 4.3 (TBS) |
| Dover | 4.8 (Fox) | 4.2 (TNN) |
| Michigan | 4.8 (FX) | 4.4 (CBS) |
| Pocono | 4.4 (Fox) | 4.4 (TNN)** |
| Sears Point | 5.0 (Fox) | 4.6 (ESPN) |
| Daytona | 6.1 (NBC) | 5.2 (CBS) |
| Chicagoland | 5.6 (NBC) | *** |
| New Hampshire | 5.2 (TNT) | 4.2 (TNN)^ |
| Pocono | 5.2 (TNT) | 4.2 (TBS) |
| Indianapolis | 6.2 (NBC) | 3.7 (ABC) |
| Watkins Glen | 4.7 (NBC) | 3.8 (ESPN) |
| Michigan | 4.2 (TNT) | 4.1 (ESPN) |
| Bristol | 4.1 (TNT) | 3.7 (ESPN) |
| Darlington | 4.4 (TNT) | 2.8 (ESPN) |
| Richmond | 3.5 (TNT) | 3.4 (ESPN) |
| Dover | 4.5 (NBC) | 3.2 (TNN) |
| Kansas | 4.7 (NBC) | *** |
| Lowe’s | 2.7 (TNT)^^ | 3.4 (TBS) |
| Martinsville | 1.5 (TNT)^^^ | 2.9 (ESPN) |
| Talladega | 4.8 (NBC) | 3.9 (ESPN) |
| Phoenix | 4.0 (NBC) | 2.8 (TNN) |
| North Carolina | 3.6 (TNT) | 3.1 (TNN) |
Note: All cable ratings are for the networks’ coverage area.
* Race was delayed due to rain. The race continued the next day and aired on FX with a 1.3 rating.
** Race was postponed one day because of rain and fog.
*** 2001 was the first year for this race.
^ Race was delayed due to rain. The rating was 2.9 during the rain delay and 1.7 after the race resumed.
^^ Race originally was scheduled to air on NBC but was changed to TNT because NBC ran news of the U.S. attack on Afghanistan.
^^^ Race was postponed to the next day due to rain. It originally was scheduled to air on NBC.
Sources: Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal research, Nielsen Media Research |
