Brickyard 400 TV ratings plummet on NBCSN (2nd Update)

UPDATE #2 The annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past Sunday drew 4.7 million viewers on NBCSN, marking a record audience for the cable net, but an all-time low for the race dating back to its debut in ’94. The previous low for the race was 4.96 million viewers on ABC back in ’00 on a Saturday afternoon. ESPN aired the race from ’07 through last season, and its lowest Brickyard audience was 5.06 million viewers in ’12 (up against the London Games). On NBCSN, the Brickyard race set a new network record, topping viewership seen during the ’14 Sochi Games men’s hockey final and ‘14 NHL Western Conference Finals Game 7.

07/28/15 NBCSN's live telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway led the network to its most-watched telecast ever yesterday, averaging 4.7 million viewers. Viewership peaked from 6:30 – 6:45pm/et as 5.6 million viewers watched Kyle Busch race to his third consecutive Sprint Cup victory, and his fourth win in five events. NBCSN NASCAR Sprint Cup viewership highlights include:

" With 4.7 million average viewers and a 3.0 national HH rating, Sunday's Brickyard 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race stands as NBCSN's most-watched and highest-rated telecast ever.
" Yesterday's Sprint Cup race ranks as the most-watched NASCAR event on cable since last year's season-ending championship race from Homestead (5.2 million on ESPN).
" The Brickyard event marks consecutive weeks of growth for Sprint Cup racing on NBCSN. With 4.7 million average viewers, the Brickyard 400 is up +27% from New Hampshire (3.7 million) and up +47% from Kentucky (3.2 million).
" Fans streamed 3.7 million minutes of live NASCAR coverage this past weekend via NBC Sports Live Extra. NBC Sports PR

NASCAR scored a season-high overnight on cable for Sunday's Brickyard 400. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Indianapolis earned a 2.9 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday afternoon, down 9% from last year (3.2) and down 15% from 2013 (3.4), both on ESPN. The 2.9 is the highest of the season on cable (nine telecasts), topping the previous mark of 2.5 for Martinsville on Fox Sports 1 in March. Despite the season-high, the Brickyard 400 was the eighth of nine races on cable this season to have a decline in overnights. Kentucky was the lone exception, pulling even with last year in the metered markets. Indianapolis was the top market for Sunday's race with an 11.9 rating, down 21% from last year (15.0) and down 13% from 2013 (13.7). By comparison, the IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 scored a 12.7 in the market on ABC. Sports Media Watch

07/27/15 NBCSN earned a 2.9 overnight rating for Kyle Busch's win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal 400 yesterday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That figure is down 9% from a 3.2 overnight last year on ESPN for Jeff Gordon's win. ESPN earned a 3.4 rating in '13 for Ryan Newman's win. Josh Carpenter, SportsBusinessDaily.com.