Nascar TV ratings pre 2001

[NaBUru38]

In 2001, Nascar began a comprehensive TV broadcasting agreement with Fox, NBC and TNT. That part of history is well documented. But the previous era (when each track sold TV rights separately) is less so.


Wikipedia has two articles about the 1980s and 1990s, listing each race's networks and announcers. However they don't mention ratings. This information can be found on old websites like theautochannel.com and autoracing1.com. I'll add that information here.

[NaBUru38]

https://www.theautochannel.com/news/...ess005435.html


In 1997. Nielsen directly measured households, and estimated viewers.

Event / Network: Rating / Households / Viewers

* Daytona/CBS: 8.6 / 8.3 / 20.8
* Texas/CBS: 6.6 / 6.4 / 16.0
* Atlanta/ABC: 5.5 / 5.3 / 13.3 /
* California/ABC: 5.5 / 5.3 / 13.3
* Rockingham/TNN: 5.4 / 3.6 / 9.2
* Richmond/ESPN: 5.3 / 3.7 / 9.3
* Indianapolis/ABC: 5.3 / 5.1 / 7.7
* Darlington/ESPN: 5.2 / 3.7 / 9.3
* Charlotte/TBS: 5.0 / 3.5 / 8.8
* Bristol/ESPN: 4.8 / 3.4 / 8.5
* Martinsville/ESPN: 4.8 / 3.4 / 8.5
* Dover/TNN: 4.8 / 3.3 / 8.2
* Pocono/TNN: 4.8 / 3.3 / 8.3
* Michigan/CBS: 4.4 / 4.2 / 10.6
* Talladega/ESPN: 4.1 / 2.9 / 7.2


I didn't know that TNN drew so many viewers.

[NaBUru38]

I see that the announced Daytona 500 viewership numbers for 1997 and 1999 don't match Wikipedia's stats. I wonder if the announced numbers are reach (at least 1 minute) rather than average.

[NaBUru38]

https://www.theautochannel.com/news/...ews021323.html


The 1999 Primestar 500 at Texas on CBS had 5.4 rating, a 14 share, and an average 5.38 million households. The Busch race had a 2.7 rating also on CBS. In Dallas-Fort Worth, the Cup race had a 10.7 rating and a 22 share.

[NaBUru38]

https://www.theautochannel.com/news/...ews004532.html


Back to 1997, the first three Busch races on CBS averaged a 2.7 rating.

[NaBUru38]

http://www.autoracing1.com/Archives/.../0717_0721.htm


July 15-16, 2000 TV ratings:

* NASCAR Busch (ESPN): 1.5 rating / 4 share / 1.150m households
* NASCAR Trucks (CBS): 1.2 rating / 3 share (overnight)
* CART (ESPN): 0.96 rating / 2 share / 0.754m hh
* IRL (ESPN): 0.6 rating / 1 share / 0.472m hh

[NaBUru38]

http://www.autoracing1.com/Archives/.../0816_0822.htm


August 19-20, 2000 TV ratings:


* NASCAR Cup race (ESPN): 4.06 rating / 10 share / 3.186m households
* CART (ABC): 1.3 rating / 3 share (overnight)
* NASCAR Busch (ESPN): 1.08 rating / 4 share / 0.852m hh
* NASCAR Cup qualifying (espn2): 0.65 rating / 2 share / 0.462m hh

[NaBUru38]

I also found some 1995 and 1996 stats.

http://www.autoracing1.com/Images/20...1996.07-03.jpg

* The Daytona 500 on CBS got a 7.8 rating and 7.4 million households in 1995, and a 9.2 rating an 8.8 million households in 1996.
* The Atlanta 500 on ABC got 4.5/4.3M hh in 1995, and 5.4/5.1M hh in 1996.
* Talladega on ESPN got 5.2/3.4M hh in 1995, and 5.5/3.7M hh in 1996.
* Rockingham on TNN got 5.0/3.0M hh in 1995, and 5.4/3.5M hh in 1996.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I didn't know that TNN drew so many viewers.

TNN's coverage was great and that was in the Network's heyday. Eli Gold and Buddy Baker were great on the calls.

This is fascinating! I'll have to deep dive when i can!

[S griffin]

The problem is they tried too hard to keep those ratings, rather than focus on the real fans and that’s why we have so many gimmicks these days