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That Sunday’s (2/18/07) Daytona 500 on FOX produced a 10.1/20 rating/share and an average audience of 17.53 million viewers according to “fast national” figures released today by Nielsen Media Research.

The race race ranks as the fifth highest-rated and the fifth most-watched Daytona 500 in history, and the second highest-rated and most-watched ever on FOX. An estimated 33.7 million Americans watched at least part of yesterday’s Great American Race.

The Daytona 500 affirmed its stature as one of the premier annual events in sports.  Sunday’s 10.1/20 is comparable to the most recent averages of the BCS and World Series, and it is better than the most recent ratings of the NFL regular-season on CBS (9.7/21), the NCAA Men’s Final Four (8.6/17), the NBA Finals (8.5/15), the final round of the Masters (8.4/19) and the Kentucky Derby (8.4/20).

In addition to being FOX’s second highest-rated and most-watched Daytona 500 broadcast ever, this year’s race rating (10.1) out-paced the average for the prior 10 years by +2 percent (9.9), while its 17.530 million average audience was +8 percent  higher than the average posted in the 10 years leading up to the 2007 edition (16.186 million).  In 1997, the Daytona 500 scored an 8.6 rating and had an average audience of 12.833 million viewers.  The rating and average audience recorded for this year’s race are +1 percent and +37 percent, respectively, compared the 10 years ago.

The race a year ago, which was sandwiched in between NBC’s coverage of the Torino Olympics, set all-time records for rating and viewership (11.3/23; 19.35 million).  Also, due to an unusually low number of caution periods early on, yesterday’s race was the shortest in running time since 1995, and that was a significant factor in the year to year decline.

FOX’s rating peaked at a 12.0/22 during the race’s thrilling conclusion (7:00-7:12 PM ET). The 49th Daytona 500 nearly doubles the rating for last year’s Indianapolis 500 (5.1/14). The Daytona 500 also drew ratings in line with prime time’s biggest hits.  The 10.1/20 for Daytona would rank No. 11 among all prime time shows, and its 6.8 Adults 18-49 rating would rank it 7th among all prime time shows.

Greenville, SC led all markets with a 22.1 rating, followed by Greensboro, NC (22.0); Indianapolis (21.6); Charlotte (20.6) and Orlando (20.1).  Top 20 markets showing a significant year to year increase include: Philadelphia (8.3 vs. 7.8, +6 percent); Washington, DC (10.1 vs. 7.7, +31 percent ); Houston (7.2 vs. 6.1, +18 percent); Tampa-St. Petersburg (15.1 vs. 12.3, +23 percent); and Cleveland (13.9 vs. 13.2, +5 percent). While those are significant gains we would be interested in how the Daytona 500 did in the LA, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis,  Miami, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Seattle and Portland, OR among others.

However, here’s some of the real analysis from the network that aired the event when all of the figures came in.  Fox says its broadcast of Sunday’s Daytona 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race earned the fifth-highest television ratings ever for the event but declined significantly from last year.

Fox says this year’s event earned a 10.1 rating and a 20 market share and an average audience of 17.53 million viewers, according to “fast national” figures from Nielsen Media Research. The network says at estimated 33.7 million Americans watched at least part of the race. This came from Scenedaily.com on the internet. Last year’s ratings hit an 11.4 share according to our recollection. So what happened to the 75 million fans that NASCAR claims to have? They must be in winter hibernation!

HDNet begins Nextel Cup Series race coverage in high definition with the Daytona 500. Network to televise re-airs of Nextel Cup Series races each week from Daytona to Homestead. National cable network HDNet will re-air Nextel Cup Series races, beginning with the 2007 Daytona 500, this Thursday February 22nd, 9:30pm/et. This Nextel Cup Series coverage comes as the network extends their relationship with NASCAR, including a renewed agreement to air races from the NASCAR Grand National Division in 2007. This national race re-air is available in HDTV only on HDNet. Fans who wish to see the network’s coverage of NASCAR should contact their cable or satellite provider to sign up for HDNet. HDNet (www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming. This came from the jayski.com webpage on the internet.

SPEED will once again bring all the motorcycle racing action from Daytona this March to millions of viewers across the country. Highlighting this year’s television package is live flag-to-flag coverage of the 66th annual Daytona 200 by Honda on Saturday, March 10. Also featured will be same-day coverage of the Daytona Supercross by Honda, the Daytona Superbike, Superstock and Supersport races, as well as highlights from the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track doubleheader from Municipal Stadium.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of SPEED’s live coverage from Daytona. The network set new standards of coverage when it first broadcast the Daytona 200 live in 2002. SPEED continues to build on its legacy as the favorite stop on the TV remote for motorcycle racing fans.

This year SPEED will provide 12 hours of combined live and tape-delayed coverage from Daytona. The television action gets underway on Thursday, March 8 at 2:30 pm Eastern with the final round of qualifying for the Daytona 200 by Honda. Last year Miguel Duhamel put his factory Honda on the pole. The 13-lap AMA Superstock event takes the green flag at 3:50 pm. In a classic last-lap, run-to-the-finish-line Daytona pass, Jamie Hacking took the Superstock win last March from then teammate Jason DiSalvo. The Pro Honda Oils Supersport presented by Shoei will close out Thursday’s programming with live coverage of the 22-lap final starting at 4:50 pm Eastern. Last year it was Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden emerging from a four-rider pack to win the important Supersport event.

Supercross takes center stage on Friday, March 9. The race will be shown tape delayed at 9:30 pm Eastern Friday night. This will likely be the final appearance in the Daytona Supercross for five-time race winner Ricky Carmichael. Carmichael, who is moving to a career racing NASCAR, will face two-time winner Chad Reed and fellow Floridian James Stewart, the Kawasaki ace who is hoping to earn his first victory in the prestigious race.

Racing fans in search of extensive T.V. coverage of Daytona’s races will get what they’re looking for in a big way on Saturday, March 10. From 11:00 am to 4:30 pm Eastern SPEED will bring viewers live action from Daytona International Speedway, as well as AMA Flat Track racing from Municipal Stadium in a taped program.

Saturday’s shows kick off with opening round of the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. Last year Mat Mladin made a crafty last-lap move to beat out Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Ben Spies for the Daytona Superbike win. This year series champion Spies will try to turn the tables on Mladin. The schedule then turns to the Daytona Flat Track twin bill from Municipal Stadium. Last year Bryan Smith and Kevin Varnes shared the spotlight with each rider winning a leg of the doubleheader.

Coverage then moves back to the Speedway for the Daytona 200 pre-race show and at 2:00 p.m. Eastern the green flag drops on the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme, 66th annual Daytona 200 by Honda. Last year it was Honda’s Jake Zemke taking the victory marking the biggest win of his career.

Wind Tunnel host Dave Despain will anchor SPEED’s broadcast, while Ralph Sheheen will give play-by-play, Freddie Spencer with expert commentary and Greg White will handle pit reporting duties for the road racing events. Sheheen will be joined by Jeff Emig and Erin Bates for the Supercross broadcast and Larry Maiers, Brian Drebber and Scott Parker will call the flat track action from Municipal Stadium.

Yes, He REALLY Said That -Roger Penske, on why he keeps racing. “I wouldn’t go racing if I didn’t want to be competitive and win overall. I’ve been to enough races, I’ve won a lot of races, a lot of poles and championships. I’m fully committed to this.”    It’s another of the usual enlightened comments that come from the Valvoline Track Talk Newsletter.  The Captain has been at this racing game for many years and we feel that no matter what he does he always plays to win in his business ventures. Racing is not a hobby for Roger it’s connected to his business. This guy knows how to play the game and isn’t afraid of hardball,  catching them or pitching them out.

Now let’s see what’s on the airwaves and cable for motorhead programming this weekend. ESPN offers a 5 p.m. airing of the Busch Series Final Practice from Mexico City on Friday. Saturday starts off with Busch Qualifying from Mexico City at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2. Speed Channel kicks in with the AMA Super Lites from Atlanta at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m. it’s the Grand Am Rolex go from Mexico City on Speed. Sunday’s centerpiece is the NASCAR Busch Series on ESPN with the Spanish language broadcast at 1:30 p.m.. ESPN2 kicks in with the English version of that Mexico City race at 2 p.m.  Speed comes back at 6 p.m. with the AMA SuperX from St. Louis.(end)

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