NASCAR’s Southern 500 pulled in the sport’s highest Labor Day weekend overnight in eight years, though it was not exactly a blockbuster draw.

NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Darlington drew a 3.4 overnight rating on NBC Sunday night, up 13% from the comparable Atlanta races last year and in 2013 (3.0 both years). Those telecasts aired on ESPN. According to NBC, the 3.4 is the highest for NASCAR on Labor Day weekend since 2007.

Compared to previous Darlington races, the 3.4 increased 6% from last year (3.2) but dropped a tick from 2013 (3.5), both on FOX. It ranks as the second-lowest overnight for NASCAR from Darlington since at least 2000, ahead of only last year.

The race took place on a Saturday night in spring from 2005-14. The last time it took place on Labor Day weekend, 2003, it drew a 5.5 on NBC.



(Sun. numbers from twitter.com/nbcsportspr)