Ratings down for ABC's Phoenix race coverage

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TV ratings down, but best for Chase

ABC's coverage last weekend's Cup race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway earned a final national rating of 4.2, the highest rating so far among the seven races in the Chase.

The telecast averaged 6,627,058 viewers.

In the past two seasons, the Talladega race has been the highest-rated race among the 10 in the Chase. The race scored a 4.6 rating in both 2007 and 2008, 9 percent better than this season.

TV ratings for Texas race also down

The TV numbers for NASCAR's top series remain on the down side, according to Nielsen's overnight ratings.

Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily and SceneDaily.com reported that ABC's coverage of the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday earned a 3.1 overnight rating. That's down 8.8 percent from the 3.4 in the overnights for last fall's Sprint Cup event at the Fort Worth speedway.

The previous weekend's Cup race, at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, garnered ABC a final national rating of 4.2. Although down 9 percent, that was the highest rating so far in NASCAR's Chase, which determines the championship.

Racing better than ratings, France says

DOVER, Del. - NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Sunday he believed the quality of racing in the Sprint Cup Series has been very good, but expressed surprise at the low TV ratings for last weekend’s Chase opener at New Hampshire.

“We’re obviously disappointed somewhat with the (TV) rating from last week and what we thought it was going to be, but it was just one race,” he said.

“The reality of it is the racing was probably the best we’ve had at Loudon in a long, long time. The Chase has got the right story lines. The racing is really good we’re happy with it.”

Notes | ABC sees improved ratings

California race scores best Chase ratings so far

ABC’s live coverage of last Sunday's race at Fontana, Calif., earned a national rating of 3.6, the highest so far this season in four Chase races.

The telecast averaged 5,952,978 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Montoya's place in Chase boosts boss

Driver defections and sponsor cutbacks have raised never-ending questions about Chip Ganassi's organization during his roller-coaster nine seasons in NASCAR.

Is his team stable? Does he have suitable funding? Why do drivers keep leaving? And, when will the team win races?

It's tiring for Ganassi, who sometimes bristles or offers sharp responses, but always gives an answer.