Though up from last year’s washout, NASCAR’s Chase For the Cup opener was a weak draw on ESPN.

Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Chicago, the first event in the Chase For the Cup, earned a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.7 million viewers on ESPN — down 12% in ratings and 6% in viewership from 2012 (2.6, 3.9M). Due to rain delays, last year’s race aired for just 90 minutes and concluded in primetime on ESPN2, averaging a 1.8 and 2.7 million across the two networks.

Excluding both last year and 2011 — when the race was postponed to Monday due to rain — this year’s race ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed from Chicago since NASCAR debuted there in 2001. As recently as 2006, the race had a 4.2 and 6.8 million on TNT.

Keep in mind that the race aired in July prior to 2011, avoiding NFL competition.

Again excluding rainouts, the 2.3 rating is also tied as the third-lowest ever for a Chase For the Cup race. Only the 2012 races from Loudon and Dover (2.2 each) drew a lower rating. ESPN has now aired the 22 lowest rated Chase races.

(Sun. numbers from ESPN)