NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX once again dominated weekend sports coverage. That Sunday’s (3/1) race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway scored as the most-watched and highest-rated weekend sports event giving NASCAR on FOX that distinction for the third consecutive week.
Sunday’s victory by hometown favorite Kyle Busch averaged 11.1 million viewers (6.5/12 national rating/share) towering over the next closest event, ABC’s Lakers/Suns broadcast, which recorded 4.7 million viewers (3.1/6).
According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox’s 11.1 million viewers that Sunday is up 5 percent over the 10.6 million viewers Sprint Cup Racing at LVMS has averaged from 2001 to 2008 on FOX. The Vegas Cup race earned a 6.5/12 equals the average household rating over the same eight-year span. This report came from Fox Sports.
In addition, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX powered the network to a first-place finish that night among adults 18-49 with a 3.6/9 in prime time tied with ABC, and handily beat NBC’s 2.7/7 and CBS’s 2.4/6.
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information show, holds its weekly roundtable discussion of the latest NASCAR news and events in a one-hour episode airing Tuesday, March 10, at 1 a.m. ET (late Monday night). NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Mike Wallace and ESPN NASCAR analysts Ray Evernham and Ricky Craven will join host Allen Bestwick.
Episodes of NASCAR Now air Tuesday through Friday of this week at 5 p.m. The one-hour weekend edition of NASCAR Now airs Sunday, March 8, at 10 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Now is hosted by Nicole Manske, Mike Massaro and Bestwick and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include NASCAR Insiders Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Boris Said, Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie, and ESPN.com reporters Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton. The NASCAR on ESPN team event coverage team of Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Shannon Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
North Wilkesboro (NC) Speedway was one of the core tracks of NASCAR’s top series for many decades, and NASCAR fans have an opportunity to travel back in time and see highlights of a race from the famous 0.625-mile track when ESPN Classic shows the 1988 First Union 400 from North Wilkesboro on Monday, March 9, at 3 p.m. ET.
North Wilkesboro was the home track for legendary NASCAR champion Junior Johnson, who started his driving career there and later was a multi-time champion team owner. With future ESPN analyst Tim Brewer calling the shots in the pits as crew chief, Terry Labonte drove to victory in the race in Johnson’s car after a race-long battle with Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd.
Formula One team Renault may leave the sport if it doesn’t get a bigger share of the sport’s commercial revenue, according to Bloomberg. Chief operating officer Patrick Pelata said that the carmaker must reduce its overall Formula One bill beyond the cost cuts agreed among teams in December, to stay in the sport. The team will seek to reduce its Formula One salary bill in addition to exploiting greater income from broadcast rights, circuit fees and trackside sponsorship.
“We’re seeking to bring down contract costs and receive more of the revenues,” said Pelata said in an interview at the Geneva Motor Show. “We want to remain part of the emotion and the spectacle of Formula One, but there are really no taboos [if talks fail].” The Formula One Teams’ Association said it would press its demand for a bigger slice of the sport’s revenue at last week’s meeting in Geneva.
Former Formula One team Honda will race this season under the name Brawn GP, said a statement from the new constructor. New owner Ross Brawn - former team manager of Honda and Ferrari technical director – bought all the team’s shares, rescuing it from collapse and allowing it to compete in the upcoming world championship.
The name change, which is still subject to the agreement of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).
“Honda Motor Company Limited and Ross Brawn are pleased to confirm that they have reached agreement to secure the future of the former Honda Racing F1 Team,” said the statement. Brawn added: “The past few months have been extremely challenging for the team but today’s announcement is the very pleasing conclusion to the strenuous efforts that have been made to secure its future.”
“I would like to thank Honda for the fantastic co-operation and support we have received throughout this process, particularly those members of the senior management who were closely involved with concluding our agreement, and for the faith they have demonstrated in myself and our team.” Last year’s Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will continue to drive for the British-based team. All of these F1 reports came from SportsBusinessInternational.com.
Here’s another insight from the Valvoline Track Talk Newsletter. Yes, He Really Said That-Larry Dixon, on not qualifying at Pomona. “If you’re going to be mad about one day, you’re going to be mad a lot.”
Let’s see what’s happening this weekend for racing action on the tube. It will be rather quiet on the gear head front because there are no NASCAR events. However, on Tuesday ESPN2 airs NASCAR Now at 1 a.m. On Wednesday it goes at 12 a.m. and Thursday at 12:30 a.m. On Saturday Speed offers the FIM SuperX from Qatar at 4 p.m. Sunday has NHRA Qualifying from Gainsville, Ga at 2 a.m. on ESPN2 with ESPN kicking in at 3 p.m. for the Finals. Speed offers the AMA SuperX Lites from New Orleans at 5 p.m. followed by the AMA SuperX at 6 p.m. The Speed Report goes at 7 p.m. on the Speed Channel while Wind Tunnel with host Dave Despain airs at 9 p.m. (END)
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
Car Insurance Supra for sale
I lay it all to DIGGER!