After string of declines, TV ratings for a NASCAR Chase race improve

The television ratings and viewership of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup race in Texas rose from a year earlier, snapping a string of six consecutive races that showed declines, ESPN said Tuesday in citing Nielsen figures.

The race at Texas Motor Speedway was the eighth event in NASCAR’s 10-race Chase for the Cup title playoff.

Despite changes to the Chase format this year aimed at boosting excitement, ratings for the prior six races had dropped an average of about 6% from their levels a year ago.

But Sunday’s race in Texas had a 2.8 U.S. rating and averaged 4.75 million viewers, up from a 2.6 rating and 4.18 million viewers a year earlier, according to ESPN, which carried the race.

It’s unclear whether a massive brawl on pit road played a role in the ratings upswing, because the fight came after the race ended.

The fight was triggered by Jeff Gordon’s anger concerning a late-race move by Brad Keselowski that cut one of Gordon’s tires, with Kevin Harvick also taking part. The melee erupted as crew members from several teams got involved.

There are two races left in the Chase: This Sunday in Phoenix and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The field of eight drivers still eligible for the championship -- Gordon, Keselowski and Harvick included -- will be cut to four finalists who will decide the title at the finale in Florida on Nov. 16.

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