NASCAR Bristol Sprint Cup TV Rating (Update)

UPDATE With an average of 6.3 million people watching, ABC’s live telecast of the Irwin Tools Night Race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Aug. 24, was the most-viewed version of the race since ESPN and ABC returned to live NASCAR coverage in 2007.

The viewership average of 6,322,082 was up from the average of 5,905,051 from last year’s race, according to the Nielsen Company. The telecast earned a 3.9 U.S. household rating, up from a 3.7 for last year’s race, despite the race not airing on ABC in seven markets due to ABC affiliates airing NFL pre-season football games.

With a 9.4 rating, Greenville, S.C., was the nation’s highest-rated market, followed by Knoxville, Tenn., and Greensboro, N.C., at 8.9. Charlotte, N.C., was fourth with an 8.7 rating with Richmond, Va., fifth at 8.2.

Rounding out the top 10 were Norfolk, Va., 7.3; Indianapolis and Birmingham, Ala., at 6.3; Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at 6.2 and Orlando, Fla., at 6.1.

ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol on Friday night, Aug. 23, earned a 1.1 U.S. household rating, averaging 1,686,962 viewers. The rating was the same as last year’s race but viewership was up from 1,599,526 in 2012.

08/26/13 ABC earned a 3.2 overnight for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Irwin Tools Night Race from Bristol Motor Speedway, down from a 3.5 for the same race last year.