Sunday’s Daytona 500 was one of the most anticipated runnings of the Great American Race in years. Too bad the TV ratings didn’t quite get the memo.
The race drew a 6.1 overnight rating, a relatively low number compared to what was expected. It is down 16 percent from the race a year ago that pulled a 7.3 rating and is the second lowest rating since 2008.
However, it is up 9 percent from the rain delayed 2014 running that scored a 5.6 rating. This race began in its scheduled time slot but was delayed for much of the day due to rain. It resumed later Sunday evening and was the second Daytona 500 in three years to run at night due to rain.
This year’s event peaked at a 6.9 rating between 4:30 and 5 p.m. during the conclusion that featured the closest finish in race history between Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex, Jr.
It’s being predicted that the final ratings for the Daytona 500 may be the second lowest since 1979, when flag-to-flag TV coverage of the event began. However, these ratings have not yet been released.
I’ll bet Brian will spin the numbers to be the highest since 1979 and the networks will buy it and re-sign at more money.