The Bristol TV ratings are up and have been consistent since Daytona. NASCAR on Fox posted a 5.0/11 for racing from Bristol Sunday, a +2 percent gain over the same race a year ago and the third straight week that NASCAR has posted a year-to-year increase in the metered markets. Season-to-date, NASCAR on Fox is now averaging a 6.5/13 in the metered markets, a +7 percent boost over last year’s 6.1/12. This report came from the Fox PR office and the Jayski.com web page. The reason for this good news is no doubt due to the fact that folks can’t afford to go to many events and are now watching on TV. We’ve seen some empty seats at some of the events this year. But, NASCAR and the host tracks can take some consolation in the uptick in the TV ratings while ticket sales are obviously off.

Officials of the ARCA racing sanctioning body and MavTV announced a one-year agreement under which MavTV will air at least six ARCA RE/MAX Series events in 2008.

The events scheduled for broadcast include both races at Salem Speedway, the spring event at Toledo Speedway, Berlin Raceway, the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile-dirt and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile-dirt. The events will be packaged into tape-delayed, one-hour programs. In addition, MavTV will re-air ARCA RE/MAX Series superspeedway programming previously aired on SPEED TV.

“We are very excited to have worked out an agreement to add ARCA RE/MAX Series events to our 2008 original motorsports programming lineup on MavTV,” said Steve Severn, CEO of MavTV network. “The addition of these races will not only help us gain viewers that follow the ARCA RE/MAX Series, but it will also allow us the opportunity to work with a first class racing organization.” Chet Burks Productions, the same entity that produces ARCA RE/MAX Series programming for SPEED, will also produce the events for MavTV.

“As we continue in our efforts to grow interest and value in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, the opportunity for additional television coverage benefits all associated with the series,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “The MavTV agreement expands television coverage of the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series to include more races at more venues, and that’s good for everyone.”

MavTV, a new network with male-oriented programming targeting men 18-54, has already secured 30 distribution deals and launches in 75 markets across the United States. MavTV’s universe is currently 20 million households. More than 30 hours of action from the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited will be shown on SPEED TV in 2008, the American Motorcyclist Association has announced.

The coverage on SPEED launched with more than five hours of live AMA road racing from Daytona, including the 67th Daytona 200 by Honda, and will continue through the final round of the series at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in October. Each race weekend, SPEED will air four hours of coverage, showing both Superbike races (when scheduled), the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, and reports on the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship and AMA Superstock Championship presented by Dynojet.

Calling the action in the booth will be the experienced broadcast team of three-time World Champion Freddie Spencer and Ralph Sheheen, with Greg White reporting from the pits.

“If you can’t be at the track, SPEED is the place to be on race weekends,” said Keith Kizer, AMA racing senior director. “We’re pleased to know that we’ll be seeing Superbike action on SPEED in 2008 and in years to come.”

“We look forward to a great season of Superbike racing under the final year of AMA stewardship and look forward to working with the Daytona Motorsports Group through their stewardship of American motorcycle racing next year and beyond,” said SPEED Senior VP of Production & Network Operations Rick Miner.

Let’s see what’s on the tube for the gearheads this weekend. It gets going on Friday at 11 a.m. with Craftsman Truck Practice from Martinsville on Speed. More action is on that channel at 3:30 p.m. with Sprint Cup Qualifying from that track followed by CTS Final Practice at 5 p.m. ESPN2 offers the ‘08 Indy Car Preview at 7 p.m. The momentum picks up Saturday starting at 10 a.m. with CTS Qualifying from Martinsville on Speed. At 3 p.m. Fox airs the CTS race from Martinsville. ESPN2 returns with NHRA Qualifying from Houston at 4:30 p.m. Speed comes back at 6 p.m. with the Grand Am Rolex go from Homestead. ESPN2 airs the IRL Indy Car opener at Homestead at 8 p.m. while Speed airs the NASCAR Final Cup Practice at 9 p.m. The Duce comes back at 10 p.m. with more NHRA Qualifying from Houston. Sunday has CBS airing the AMA SuperX from Toronto at noon while Fox airs the Cup race from Martinsville at 1:30 p.m. For the bike crowd it’s FIM Motorcycle Championship action from Spain at 2 p.m. while ESPN2 airs the NHRA Finals from Houston at 4:30 p.m. So take your pick there’s a big cross section of motorsports action on TV as the 2008 season continues to ramp up. (END)

NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.