CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago's first ever NASCAR street race was a ratings winner.
Even though some parts of the big street race were rained out delayed or even short, the event scored big numbers for a national television audience. According to Nielsen data, the four hour broadcast on NBC averaged nearly 4.8 million viewers, making it the network's most watched cup series race in six years.
Viewership peaked just after 8 p.m. when nearly 5.4 million viewers watched the New Zealand champion Shane Van Gisbergen win his NASCAR debut. Chicago is projected to lead all markets in viewership.
The first ever street race featured a 12- turn 2.2 mile race course through Grant Park. Rain forced the cancellation of the Sunday concerts and the completion of the Saturday race. Cole Custer was declared the winner of that race just two laps short of the halfway point. The race was cut short due to lightning.
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