The trend for NASCAR's Daytona 500 TV ratings had been positive since the early 90's, but the past several years have seen a downward reversal to that trend. At 13.3 million average viewers, the significantly delayed (because of track problems) 2010 race had the lowest average viewership since 2000.
With no delays, this year's race is likely to have an increased viewership, but by how much?
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Daytona 500 Historical TV Ratings Data:
| Year | Network | rating | Share | Households (million) | Viewers (million) | Winner | |
| 2010 | FOX | 7.7 | 16 | 13.3 | Jamie McMurray | ||
| 2009 | FOX | 9.2 | 19 | 10.516 | 15.954 | Matt Kenseth | |
| 2008 | FOX | 10.2 | 20 | 11.493 | 17.752 | Ryan Newman | |
| 2007 | FOX | 10.1 | 20 | 11.250 | 17.532 | Joe Nemechek | |
| 2006 | NBC | 11.3 | 23 | 12.501 | 19.355 | Jimmie Johnson | |
| 2005 | FOX | 10.9 | 23 | 11.963 | 18.685 | Jeff Gordon | |
| 2004 | NBC | 10.6 | 24 | 11.513 | 17.796 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | |
| 2003 | FOX | 9.8 | 21 | 10.473 | 16.835 | Michael Waltrip | |
| 2002 | NBC | 10.9 | 26 | 11.551 | 18.780 | Ward Burton | |
| 2001 | FOX | 10 | 24 | 10.178 | 17.081 | Michael Waltrip | |
| 2000 | CBS | 8.4 | 22 | 8.446 | 12.936 | Dale Jarrett | |
| 1999 | CBS | 9.6 | 25 | 9.509 | 14.518 | Jeff Gordon | |
| 1998 | CBS | 8.6 | 23 | 8.426 | 13.044 | Dale Earnhardt | |
| 1997 | CBS | 8.6 | 23 | 8.311 | 12.833 | Jeff Gordon | |
| 1996 | CBS | 9.2 | 24 | 8.841 | 13.918 | Dale Jarrett | |
| 1995 | CBS | 7.8 | 20 | 7.441 | 11.444 | Sterling Marlin | |
| 1994 | CBS | 9.6 | 26 | 9.043 | 13.577 | Sterling Marlin | |
| 1993 | CBS | 8.4 | 23 | 7.820 | 12.705 | Dale Jarrett | |
| 1992 | CBS | 9.3 | 25 | 8.570 | 13.410 | Davey Allison | |
| 1991 | CBS | 7.6 | 20 | 7.080 | 10.920 | Ernie Irvan | |
| 1990 | CBS | 7.3 | 20 | 6.720 | 10.520 | Derrike Cope | |
| 1989 | CBS | 8.1 | 21 | 7.320 | 12.000 | Darrell Waltrip | |
| 1988 | CBS | 7.4 | 18 | 6.560 | 10.040 | Bobby Allison | |
| 1987 | CBS | 9.4 | 26 | 8.220 | 12.420 | Bill Elliot | |
| 1986 | CBS | 8.4 | 22 | 7.220 | 10.260 | Geoff Bodine | |
| 1985 | CBS | 8.3 | 23 | 7.050 | 9.790 | Bill Elliot | |
| 1984 | CBS | 8.7 | 23 | 7.290 | 12.320 | Cale Yarborough | |
| 1983 | CBS | 8.7 | 26 | 7.250 | 11.000 | Cale Yarborough | |
| 1982 | CBS | 9.4 | 27 | 7.660 | 11.840 | Bobby Allison | |
| 1981 | CBS | 8.4 | 26 | 6.540 | 11.220 | Richard Petty | |
| 1980 | CBS | 8.0 | 21 | 6.100 | 10.800 | Buddy Baker | |
| 1979 | CBS | 10.5 | 29 | 7.820 | 15.140 | Richard Petty | |
| 1978 | ABC | 11.8 | 33 | 8.600 | 20.900 | Bobby Allison | |
| 1977 | ABC | 12.9 | 35 | 9.180 | 16.010 | Cale Yarborough | |
| 1976 | ABC | 12.8 | 37 | 8.910 | 18.310 | David Pearson | |
| 1975 | ABC | 11.8 | 31 | 8.080 | 15.090 | Benny Parsons | |
| 1974 | ABC | 10.9 | 29 | 7.220 | 12.540 | Richard Petty |
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Note that from 1974-1979 ABC televised only the last 90 minutes of the race.
2006-2010 viewing is Live+SD, all other years are Live viewing.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2010 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
