NASCAR Phoenix TV Ratings

With the final elimination in the revised Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on the line in the race, ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 9, was the highest-rated and most-viewed Fall race at Phoenix since 2009, earning a 3.1 U.S. household rating and averaging 5,091,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media.

The rating and viewership were up double digits from last year's race, which earned a 2.7 rating and averaged 4,271,000 viewers. The rating was also up from 2012 (2.8), 2011 (2.9) and 2010 (2.5).

Greensboro, N.C., was the highest-rated of the nation's 56 metered markets with an 8.9 rating, followed by Greenville, S.C., at 8.5 and Indianapolis at 8.1. Raleigh-Durham, N.C., was fourth at 7.3 with Charlotte, N.C., fifth at 7.2.

Rounding out the top 10 metered markets were Richmond, Va., 6.9; Knoxville, Tenn., 6.3; Birmingham, Ala., 6.2; Norfolk, Va., 5.7; and a tie for 10th between Jacksonville and Orlando, Fla., at 5.6.

Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix was the highest-rated and most-viewed Fall race at Phoenix in ESPN's eight seasons of televising the event, earning a 1.2 rating and averaging 1,875,000 viewers. Last year's event earned a 1.0 rating and averaged 1,392,000 viewers.