Nielsen Ratings for NASCAR Races
30 June 1997
ABC SPORTS' COVERAGE OF CALIFORNIA 500 DRAWS 5.5 NATIONAL RATINGS; INCREASES 25% FROM THE OVERNIGHTS DAYTONA BEACH, FL - (June 26, 1997) - National broadcast television ratings released today by Nielsen Media Research, show the inaugural running of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series California 500 by NAPA on Sunday increased 25% to a 5.5 from its 4.4 overnight rating in 37 markets across the United States. The four previous NASCAR Winston Cup Series events on broadcast television in 1997 saw their national ratings increase an average of 31% from the overnight ratings: DATE EVENT NETWORK OVERNIGHT NATIONAL CHANGE 2/16 Daytona 500 CBS 6.9 8.6 +25% 3/9 Primestar 500 ABC 4.6 5.5 +20% 4/8 Interstate Batteries 500 CBS 4.8 6.6 +38% 6/15 Miller 400 CBS 3.0 4.4 +47% 6/22 California 500 by NAPA ABC 4.4 5.5 +25% With the NASCAR Winston Cup Series taking the weekend off, there will be plenty of NASCAR action this weekend featuring the NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour making television appearances. CBS Sports will televise the first of four consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events beginning with the NAPA AutoCare 200 live Sunday, June 29 at 1:30 p.m. (EDT) from Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway. The NASCAR Busch Series takes to the famed Watkins Glen International road course for the Lysol 200 at 1:00 p.m. Sunday on TNN: The Nashville Network. NASCAR's oldest touring division, the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour takes to the Watkins Glen road course on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN. By NASCAR Public Relations