A Coke and a frown.
NASCAR followed up its first ratings increase of the season with a big drop for the Coke Zero 400.
Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 drew a 3.1 U.S. rating and 5.3 million viewers on TNT, down 18% in ratings and 17% in viewers from a 3.8 and 6.4 million for the same race last year. The 3.1 rating is the lowest for a regularly scheduled NASCAR race since last August.
This marks the lowest rated Coke Zero 400 since at least '98, and the least viewed since at least '01.
Keep in mind that Saturday's race took place on a holiday (the Fourth of July).
Heading into its last race of the season, TNT is averaging a 3.3 U.S. rating and 5.4 million viewers for NASCAR coverage, down 8% in ratings and 7% in viewers from a 3.6 and 5.8 million through five races last year.
Excluding the rained-out Coca Cola 600 in May, 17 NASCAR races have averaged a 4.6 rating on FOX and TNT during the '09 season, down 12% from a 5.2 through the comparable 17 races last year.
Ratings for the Coke Zero 400 since '98.
Ratings and shares presented for races on broadcast; U.S. rating and cable rating (in parentheses) presented for races on cable.
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sat., 7/4/09 | Stewart | TNT | 3.1 (N/A) | 5.3 mil |
| 2008 | Sat., 7/5/08 | Ky. Busch | TNT | 3.8 (4.5) | 6.4 mil |
| 2007 | Sat., 7/7/07 | McMurray | TNT | 3.8 (4.4) | 6.2 mil |
| 2006 | Sat., 7/1/06 | Stewart | FOX | 5.1/11 | 8.2 mil |
| 2005 | Sat., 7/2/05 | Stewart | NBC | 5.5/13 | 8.3 mil |
| 2004 | Sat., 7/3/04 | Gordon | FOX | 5.2/12 | 8.7 mil |
| 2003 | Sat., 7/5/03 | Biffle | NBC | 6.0/13 | 9.7 mil |
| 2002 | Sat., 7/6/02 | Waltrip | FOX | 5.2/12 | 8.6 mil |
| 2001 | Sat., 7/7/01 | Earnhardt, Jr. | NBC | 6.1/13 | 10.2 mil |
| 2000 | Sat., 7/1/00 | Burton | CBS | 5.2/12 | -- |
| 1999 | Sat., 7/3/99 | Jarrett | CBS | 5.4/13 | -- |
| 1998 | Sat., 10/17/98 | Gordon | TNN | 3.5 (4.7) | -- |
