NASCAR: Las Vegas TV Rating drops

UPDATE NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX once again dominated weekend sports coverage. Sunday’s (3/1) race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway scored as the most-watched and highest-rated weekend sports event giving NASCAR on FOX that distinction for the third consecutive week. Sunday’s victory by hometown favorite Kyle Busch averaged 11.1 million viewers (6.5/12 national rating/share) towering over the next closest event, ABC’s Lakers/Suns broadcast, which recorded 4.7 million viewers (3.1/6). According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX’s 11.1 million viewers on Sunday is up 5% over the 10.6 million viewers Sprint Cup Racing at LVMS has averaged from 2001 to 2008 on FOX. Sunday’s 6.5/12 equals the average household rating over the same eight-year span [down 9% from 2008 which was 7.1/13 and 12.1 million viewers]. Fox PR

03/02/09 NASCAR on Fox earned a 5.5/10 yesterday evening for racing from Las Vegas. Sunday's 5.5/10 is the top sports rating of the weekend by a wide margin, +45% better than ABC's 3.8/8 for Lakers-Suns yesterday afternoon. Compared to last year's overnight rating, FOX's 5.5/10 is down -11% versus a 6.2/12. However, note that in each of FOX's NASCAR races this season the rating has compared better to last year in the nationals than in the overnights.