Kansas TV ratings continues NASCAR’s downward spiral

Ratings for the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway dropped 28 percent, from 3.2 in 2010 to 2.3 in 2009, according to ESPN. The 2009 race was on ABC while Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 was on ESPN, but an ESPN executive said last week that the recent trend in Chase rating drops was not the result of the switch from network to cable.

The rating for the first Chase race at New Hampshire Sept. 19 also dropped 28 percent, from 3.2 to 2.3. The rating for the second Chase race Dover fell 23 percent, from 3.1 to 2.4.

On average, the three Chase races have dropped 26 percent.

The Nationwide race from Kansas drew a 1.2, the same rating as a year ago. Both races were on ESPN2.