Despite earning one million fewer viewers than last year, Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 earned strong numbers for FOX. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Subway Fresh Fit 500 from Phoenix drew a 5.6 final rating and 9.2 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, down 5% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (5.9, 10.346M), and flat in ratings and up 1% in viewership from the comparable Auto Club 500 in 2010 (5.6, 9.151M). The race ranks as the lowest rated (tie) and second-least viewed NASCAR race on the second weekend of the season since FOX began televising races in 2001. Typically, the second race of the season earns at least ten million viewers. Having said that, the race also ranks as the second-highest rated and second-most viewed edition of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 (dates back to 2005), behind only last year. Prior to last year, the race aired on a Saturday night in April. Despite hefty competition from the Heat and Lakers in the NBA and Tiger Woods in golf, Sunday’s race was the highest rated and most-viewed sporting event of the weekend, reports Sports Media Watch.