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ESPN officials say the network’s broadcasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series races at Michigan International Speedway both earned ratings increases over 2008. The Carfax 400 Cup race earned a final national household coverage rating of 4.1, up from the 3.9 rating for last year’s race that also aired live on ESPN. The Carfax 250 Nationwide Series race telecast on ESPN2 earned a 1.4 rating, up from the 1.3 of 2008. |
NASCAR’s chief witness against the alleged drug user Jeremy Mayfield got herself into some serious trouble. Lisa Mayfield, step mother to Jeremy Mayfield, got busted recently for trespassing on Jeremy’s property. According to the story Lisa Mayfield assaulted four of Jeremy Mayfield’s employees. Mayfield is also suing his step-mother on unrelated charge and she’s counter suing the former NASCAR driver for defamation. Jeremy Mayfield claims that his father’s suicide was not that at all and he holds his step-mother responsible and accuses her of murder among other things. Could this latest development taint her credibility? NASCAR has most of it’s case against Jeremy Mayfield riding on his step-mothers testimony. All of this sounds like some sort of legal maze that needs to be carefully sorted out. One has to wonder if NASCAR’s case against Jeremy Mayfield could unravel? Either way it sounds like an interesting script for a crime documentary on the A&E cable channel or a Tennessee Williams type mystery movie.
JR Nation fans have to feel a little better now that things are becoming more positive, better finishes, for their favorite NASCAR Cup driver. Dale, Jr. has finished a lot better in his past two outings! Even though he won’t be a contender in The Chase he might just be able to pull one of those races off. We hope he does and so do his fans.
Michael Andretti told AutoRacingSport.com that he intends to have four Indy Cars in his team for 2010 and one of them will be for Danica Patrick. Andretti also hinted that he and Danica are close to a deal and that she could stay in the IRL and may not move to NASCAR in 2010. Patrick should give any major career change a lot of thought before making any decisions.
Racing legends Kenny Bernstein, David Hobbs, Scott Parker, Les Richter, Al Unser, Jr., H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler and Joe Weatherly were inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America during an inspirational and emotional ceremony on Wednesday, August, 12, 2009 at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit.
In response to the press release issued by SCRAMP on August 16, 2009 regarding the future of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Steve Earle, President of General Racing, Ltd., issued the following statement:
“General Racing, which has created and produced the Monterey Historic Automobile Races for 36 years, will no longer be doing so. In the future SCRAMP, the Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula, will organize a new event.
On September 5, 2008, I was advised that the economic terms for the agreement between General Racing and SCRAMP were no longer commercially viable for SCRAMP. I’m disappointed that we were not able to come to an agreement that would allow our event to remain in Monterey. General Racing will allow SCRAMP a one-time use of the name Monterey Historic Automobile Races for the 2010 event. General Racing will continue the tradition of the Monterey Historics at the Wine Country Classic at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in early June 2010.
We are very proud of all that we have accomplished with the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, and I truly believe that we have brought something special to the community of Monterey as an event of world renown and the generator of substantial revenue for the local economy and the charities to which SCRAMP contributes.
The purpose of General Racing, Ltd., is and always has been to encourage the restoration, preservation and use of historic, sports and racing cars. General Racing events and races are for the enjoyment of participants and enthusiasts alike.”
Chad Hurley, one of the co-founders of YouTube, is bringing his financial backing and video media experience to the new USF1 team which will enter the Formula One series next season. Hurley told Autosport.com that video media would be “a big part” of what he does with the team. “I see tremendous potential for all sports to integrate more media, more social connections, connect with the fans and build a fan base,” he said, as reported by Bloomberg. “Hopefully we can create compelling content that individuals around the world have an opportunity to view and share, and really feel like they are part of the team.”
Hurley will be a primary investor in the new team, and told Autosport.com of his excitement at the prospect. “I am thrilled to be a part of America’s first Formula One team in more than 40 years,” he said. “Getting in on the ground floor of a project of this size and scope is a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to helping shape the US F1 vision and corporate strategy for years to come.” Hurley made his fortune when YouTube was sold to Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion, and is still the CEO of the company. This report also came from SportsBusinessInternational.
Here’s more from SportsBusinessInternational.The BBC reports that Suzuka will host the Japanese Grand Prix in 2010 and 2011 under a new deal reached with Bernie Ecclestone last weekend at the European Grand Prix in Valencia. The circuit’s owners, Fuji International Speedway, had said last month it could no longer afford to host the event due to the economic downturn. Hiroshi Oshima, president of the Mobilityland Corporation, which operates the Suzuka circuit, said, “We are delighted that the Suzuka Circuit will now safeguard one of our most important national sporting events by playing host to the Japanese Grand Prix for the next three years.” It sounds like Oshima got a better deal from old Bernie. Also, Valencia will host the European GP for the next five years under its deal extension.
The only international event on NASCAR’s calendar happens this weekend as ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a live, flag-to-flag telecast of the road course race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. NASCAR Countdown begins ESPN2’s coverage on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. ET, and the race’s green flag is at 2:48 p.m. ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with selected races on ESPN and ABC.
Marty Reid will be lap-by-lap announcer with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and two-time NASCAR champion crew chief Andy Petree. Reporting from the pits will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Shannon Spake.
ESPN2 airs same-day coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying from Montreal on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 9 p.m.
NASCAR Now Airs Tuesday-Friday This Week
NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program, will air Tuesday through Friday of this week with 30-minute episodes hosted by Mike Massaro. The program airs at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and at 6:30 p.m. Friday following live LPGA golf coverage on ESPN2.
The weekly Monday roundtable edition of the program will not air on Monday, Aug. 31, due to ESPN2’s live coverage of U.S. Open tennis. The roundtable will return the following Monday with discussion of the Labor Day weekend NASCAR events at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Allen Bestwick and Nicole Manske 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, Spake and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Action Airs Sunday
Although the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series has the weekend off, drag racing fans can watch action from the NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Series on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. on ESPN2. The program includes highlights from the recent event in Reading, Pa. ESPN2 will air more than 10 hours of coverage of drag racing’s biggest event, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, over Labor Day weekend.
Here’s what else is happening on the Boob Tube this week for Motorhead action courtesy of RaceFanTV. On Monday at 4 p.m. it’s the Indy Lights from Sonoma, CA on VS. Then on Thursday Speed offers a 3 p.m. airing of the NASCAR Camping World East race from Lime Rock, CT. On Friday the action picks up with F1 Practice from Belgium at 8 a.m. on Speed. That channel returns at 5:30 p.m offering Camping World Qualifying from Chicagoland. VS kicks in at 6 p.m. with IRL Qualifying from Chicagoland while Speed comes back with the ARCA RE/Max Series from that same track at 7 p.m. followed by the Camping World Series Trucks at that same track.
Saturday gets things going early, again, at 8 a.m. with F1 Qualifying from Belgium on Speed. More from Speed is set for 2 p.m. with the Grand-Am race from Montreal then the IHRA National from Grand Bend, Ont. at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m. Speed returns offering the FIM GP Qualifying from Indy and then the AMA MotoX event from Southwick, MA(SDD) at 9 p.m. At the same time VS goes with the IRL Indy Cars from Chicagoland.
Sunday will be equally busy with the GP2 race from Belgium at 6 a.m. on Speed then the F1 race from that same venue at 7:30 p.m. At 3 p.m Speed airs the ALMS race from Mosport, Ont. At the same time Fox offers the FIM GP being held on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway then the FIM 250 at that same venue follows at 6 p.m. The Speed Report wraps up the weekend at 7 p.m. on the Speed Channel and finally Wind Tunnel on that same cable channel airs at 9 p.m. (END)
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
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