The TNT TV ratings match last year’s numbers. Final Nielsen Media Research numbers show that TNT’s coverage of six NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season matched its ratings from 2007 with one big gain and one big loss, Street & Smith’s Sports Business Daily reports. The network averaged a 4.2 coverage area rating and 5.7 million viewers for the six events, the Daily reports. Its first race this year, the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway, earned a 4.6 coverage rating, up 27.8 percent from last year, but it was the only TNT event to see a ratings increase. The Daily reports that three of the next five races declined from ‘07. This report came from StockCarGazette.com.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to ESPN with a full week of NASCAR-related programming July 21-28, culminating with live, flag-to-flag coverage of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m. ET. And ESPN continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a live, prime time telecast of the event at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m.
The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is the first of 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup events on the ESPN networks to close out the 2008 NASCAR season. The first six air on ESPN, with the final 11 on ABC, includes all 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ESPN’s coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway includes a live telecast of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m., and live coverage of two practice sessions for the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars on the famed 2.5-mile track, all on ESPN2.
ESPN360.com, the signature broadband TV network, and ESPN MobileTV, the company’s 24/7 mobile video network, also will simulcast the race, qualifying and the two practice sessions. ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s domestic Spanish-language channel, will simulcast the race. Five former NASCAR Sprint Cup champions will be an integral part of ESPN’s coverage team at the Brickyard, including analyst Dale Jarrett, the 1999 driving champion, who will work with two-time champion crew chief Andy Petree and lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch in the booth. Two-time champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Tech Center, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake.
The pre-race NASCAR Countdown show from the ESPN pit studio will feature analysis by 1989 champion driver Rusty Wallace and three-time champion crew chief Ray Evernham, with host Allen Bestwick and analyst Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race. NASCAR Nationwide Series coverage of the one-day event from O’Reilly Raceway Park includes ESPN2 telecasts of final practice at 12:30 p.m. and qualifying at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday from the 0.686-mile track. Marty Reid will handle play-by-play, with analysis by two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Randy LaJoie. Jack Arute and Vince Welch join Burns as pit reporters for the event.
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information show, kicks off the week with a one-hour roundtable discussion of the latest NASCAR news on Monday, July 21, at 5 p.m. Panelists joining host Allen Bestwick will be Associated Press NASCAR writer Jenna Fryer, USA Today motorsports writer Gary Graves and NASCAR Now lead reporter Marty Smith. Half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now air at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 6 p.m. Friday on ESPN2. A one-hour edition airs Sunday at 10 a.m. to preview that day’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, and NASCAR Now’s Sunday night weekend wrap-up program returns for the rest of the season that evening, airing for one hour starting at 10 p.m.
ESPN Classic helps NASCAR fans get ready for the big race with a week of classic action from the annual NASCAR event at Indianapolis. Monday through Friday at noon, ESPN Classic replays a past running of the Brickyard 400, starting with the inaugural event in 1994 on Monday, July 21. The 1995 event airs Tuesday, with the 1998 race airing Wednesday. The race from 2000 airs Thursday while last year’s event closes out the week on Friday.
NASCAR Programming Schedule on ESPN Networks July 21-28
Monday, July 21 Noon 1994 Brickyard 400 ESPN Classic
Monday, July 21 5 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Tuesday, July 22 3 a.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Tuesday, July 22 Noon 1995 Brickyard 400 ESPN Classic
Tuesday, July 22, 5 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Tuesday, July 22 7 p.m. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears ESPN
Wed., July 23 Midnight NASCAR Now * ESPN2
Wed., July 23 Noon 1998 Brickyard 400 ESPN Classic
Wed., July 23 5 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Thurs., July 24 Midnight NASCAR Now * ESPN2
Thurs., July 24 Noon 2000 Brickyard 400 ESPN Classic
Thurs., July 24 5 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Thurs., July 24 7 p.m. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears * ESPN2
Friday, July 25 Midnight NASCAR Now * ESPN2
Friday, July 25 Noon 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard ESPN Classic
Friday, July 25 3:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup practice ESPN2
Friday, July 25 6 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Friday, July 25 7 p.m. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears ESPN
Sat., July 26 10 a.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying ESPN2
Sat., July 26 12:30 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series practice ESPN2
Sat., July 26 2 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup practice ESPN2
Sat., July 26 4:30 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying. ESPN2
Sat., July 26 7:30 p.m. NASCAR Countdown ESPN
Sat., July 26 8 p.m. NNS at O’Reilly Raceway Park ESPN
Sunday, July 27 2 a.m. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears * ESPN2
Sunday, July 27 3 a.m. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears * ESPN2
Sunday, July 27 4 a.m. NNS at O’Reilly Raceway Park * ESPN2
Sunday, July 27 10 a.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Sunday, July 27 1 p.m. NASCAR Countdown ESPN
Sunday, July 27 2 p.m. Allstate 400 at the Brickyard ESPN
Sunday, July 27 10 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
Monday, July 28 2:15 a.m. Allstate 400 at the Brickyard * ESPN2
Monday, July 28 5 p.m. NASCAR Now ESPN2
* indicates re-air
Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears, the sports documentary chronicling NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his unprecedented move from the team founded by his father to Hendrick Motorsports, will return to ESPN for the final two episodes on Tuesday, July 22 and Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m. ET. The new episodes, each one hour in length, are the fourth and fifth installments of a five-part series and air during the week leading up to ESPN’s live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m. from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The July 22 debut of the new episode will feature, among other things, reaction to the emotional conclusion of the Crown Royal 400 in May at Richmond International Raceway. It will segue into the July 25 finale, which highlights the driver’s popular Father’s Day victory at Michigan International Speedway.
“A lot has happened in the last three months, so we are picking up where we left off with these final two episodes,” said Earnhardt Jr., who is in second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship point standings with six races to go before the Chase for the Championship. “It’s hard to put into words the enormity of this season, so hopefully the viewers can see for themselves all the work that has gone into it. It’s been amazing to live it.”
Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of Earnhardt Jr.’s company, JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The program is part of an exclusive, multimedia agreement between ESPN and Hammerhead Entertainment. Shifting Gears debuted in February with three episodes that featured a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective of Earnhardt Jr.’s momentous decision to leave family-owned Dale Earnhardt Inc., to drive for Hendrick Motorsports.
To show the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved in his decision, Earnhardt Jr. allowed access to team meetings, commercial shoots, and the odds-and-ends responsibilities that come with starting with a new team. Shifting Gears also captured never-before-seen footage of Earnhardt Jr.’s season opening win in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. In the final two episodes, Shifting Gears looks deep into Earnhardt Jr.’s relationship with his cousin and crew chief Tony Eury Jr., while documenting the balance between an extremely rigorous work schedule and life away from the chaotic NASCAR circuit. The new episodes feature moments both surreal and hilarious, including the bulldozing of Earnhardt Jr.’s house, kart racing with friends, and the camaraderie shared with teammates at a National Guard training base.
The original airings will be simulcast on ESPN MobileTV. The first of the two new episodes re-airs Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, and again Sunday, July 27, at 2 a.m. on ESPN2. The final episode re-airs Sunday, July 27, at 3 a.m. on ESPN2. The above extensive reports all came from ESPN
Formula One team Ferrari, has ended its legal action against rival F1 team McLaren over last year’s spying scandal for the good of the sport, according to press reports. Last season McLaren was fined $100 million by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the sport’s governing body, and stripped of all constructors’ points after being found guilty of possessing Ferrari secrets. Ferrari also started legal action against Ferrari and former employee Nigel Stepney, who was accused of passing the information to McLaren and attempted sabotage of Ferrari cars. Ferrari will now only pursue action against Stepney.
In a statement to the press, Ferrari said: “Ferrari acknowledges McLaren’s reiterated apology for the well-known events which occurred during the 2007 F1 championship. “In the best interests of Formula One and taking into account the formal closure in December 2007 of the FIA and FIA World Motor Sport Council proceedings against McLaren, it confirms that it has accepted to put an end to all outstanding controversies between the two teams.”Ferrari will donate to charity the concluding payment received from McLaren. Ferrari will pursue its claims against Nigel Stepney in connection with the matter”.
In a separate statement McLaren said that they had agreed to reimburse the costs incurred by Ferrari relating to these matters and a concluding payment. No financial details were released. This came from SportsBusiness.com.
The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving announced a teen-driving course for new drivers. The course is limited to 24 students and a 3:1 student to instructor ratio. Students will train in the Pontiac Solstice GXP.Cost of the course is $595. Designed to provide teens with a much-needed skill set to be a safe driver and respect for the road, the focus of the program is no ton achieving the vehicle’s limits, but to develop confidence, awareness of their surroundings, and a proper foundation for being a safe driver.
Graduates of the New-Teen Driving program will be encouraged to return for the Advanced Teen Driving program as a way to expand their skills, and understand their limits and the vehicle’s limits. “With the emphasis on the GDL (graduated driver’s license) and teen mortality rates, we created a course for teens who are just beginning in order to support them with the proper skills,” said Bob Bondurant, owner and CEO of the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving.
Seats available in these upcoming course dates: — July 19, 2008 — August 16, 2008 — September 6, 2008 The School facilities are dedicated to the teen courses scheduled for the above Saturdays. Students must have their permit and minimum 25 hours driving experience. Professional instructors from the School will begin ground school at 7 a.m. Lunch will be provided and graduation at 4 p.m.
Parents or legal guardians must personally sign waivers for students under the age of 18. Please contact the School for additional details and to register, www.bondurant.com or1-800-842-RACE (7223). The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, “The Official High Performance Driving School of General Motors,” located in Phoenix, Arizona, on the Gila River Indian Community, is the world-renowned leader in driver training. The Bondurant School proudly features General Motors products such as the Cadillac CTS, CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Corvette Coupe, Pontiac Solstice GXP, and open-wheel single-seaters.
The core curriculum, the Bondurant Method, is based on teaching maximum car control and driver safety. Courses offered are Grand Prix Road Racing, High Performance Driving, Executive Protection/Anti-Kidnapping, and custom corporate programs. For more information, log on to www.bondurant.com or call1-800-842-7223.
Yes, He REALLY Said That Darren Manning, on playing baseball for the first time. “I learned I’m a big ‘pull hitter.’ I hit it out of the ballpark the first time at-bat. I like the inside pitches. As for fielding, I couldn’t catch a ball to save my life. I wanted to field them without using a glove like they do in cricket, but the guys wouldn’t let me. They were afraid I might break a finger or something, and then A.J. (Foyt) would kill me for getting hurt.” This came from the Valvoline Track Talk Newsletter.
Another item in that report claims that F1 will only return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway if venue principal Tony George pays Bernie Eccelstone the price he wants for that event.
Let’s check to see what’s happening on the TV screen this weekend in terms of motorsports action. It gets off and running at 3:30 p.m. Friday with Sprint Cup Final Practice from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on ESPN2. Speed offers a 5 p.m. airing of the NASCAR CTS Qualifying from IRP followed by the Craftsman Truck race from that same track at 8 p.m.
Saturday has a heavy schedule from Naptown starting at 10 a.m. on ESPN2/TSN with Sprint Cup Qualifying at IMS then Nationwide Practice from IRP on ESPN2 at 12:30 p.m. The Duce returns at 2 p.m. with Cup Practice from IMS while it’s ESPN2/TSN offering Nationwide Qualifying from IRP at 4:30 p.m. ESPN/TSN broadcast the IRL Indy Car race from Edmonton, Alberta at 5 p.m. ESPN2 returns with NHRA Qualifying from Sonoma, CA at 6 p.m. A bit later, at 6:30 p.m., HDnet airs the NASCAR Camping World Series East from Beaver Falls, NY at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. ESPN/TSN return for the Nationwide Series go from IRP.
Sunday has a light load for motorsports with ESPN/TSN airing the Brickyard 400 from IMS at 2 p.m. while The Duce returns with NHRA Finals from Sonoma, CA at 7 p.m. (END)
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
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