After a decline in the overnights, NASCAR from Martinsville ended up attracting more viewers than last year.

NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Martinsville (VA) earned 4.2 million viewers on Fox Sports 1 Sunday afternoon, up 4% from last year (4.1M) and down 37% from 2014 on the FOX broadcast network (6.7M). Ratings were not immediately available.

Kyle Busch‘s win ranks as the first Sprint Cup telecast of the season to post an increase in ratings or viewership, ending a streak of eight straight declines that included five points races, the Sprint Unlimited and the Duel at Daytona.

It also ranks as the most-watched NASCAR telecast in the history of Fox Sports 1, including its days as Speed Channel — edging the previous high set by the 2011 Sprint Cup All-Star Race (4.232M to 4.228M). Overall, the race ranks as the seventh-most watched sporting event in network history. MLB Postseason games hold five of the top six spots, with a Women’s World Cup match the lone exception.

The increase in viewership marked a stark reversal from the overnight ratings, which were down 12%. It remains to be seen whether the final ratings also managed an increase over last year.



(Sun. numbers from Fox Sports)