TNT's NASCAR ratings set records

Record-setting ratings for the network in consecutive Sundays

Turner Network Television (TNT) NASCAR ratings have zoomed to the top, with the Pennsylvania 500 (Sunday, July 24th) and the New England 300 (Saturday, July 17th) driving home record-setting ratings for the network for the past two consecutive Sundays.

The Pennsylvania 500 earned a 5.7 cable rating (5,137,000 households) - a 21 percent increase over the year prior - making it the highest-rated and most watched NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event in TNT's 21-year history of airing NASCAR on TNT and TBS. It also stakes claim to the title as the second highest-rated NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event ever on cable television (trailing only behind the 6.2 cable rating on TNN for a 1999 race at the North Carolina Speedway).

The 2005 New England 300 delivered a 5.5 cable rating (4,954,000 households), a 5 percent increase over the 2004 race, earning it the #2 spot on TNT's highest rated and most watched races.

TNT, along with partner NBC, televises the second-half of the NASCAR season and the 'Race to the Chase' for the NEXTEL Cup. NASCAR racing continues on TNT on Saturday, July 30th with NASCAR Busch Series racing from St. Louis at 8 p.m. ET.