TV Times – Like Michigan, Bristol NASCAR Ratings Up

Live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 21-22 by ESPN saw increased ratings from last year’s telecasts for both events, the second consecutive week that ratings for both series have shown increases from 2008.

ESPN’s telecast of the Sharpie 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Aug. 22 earned a 3.8 final national household coverage rating, up from the 3.5 rating for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN. The telecast averaged 5,322,577 viewers. The Bristol race was ESPN’s fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season but only the third to be run and telecast as scheduled. The previous week’s race at Michigan International Speedway also saw a ratings increase from 2008. Live coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Bristol on ESPN2 earned a final national household coverage rating of 1.5, up from a 1.4 for last year’s race that aired on ESPN. The telecast averaged 1,956,225 viewers. Last week’s Michigan race also saw an increase. This came from ESPN and the jayski.com webpage.

According to SportsBusinessInternational the Indian government considers F1 not to be a sport but entertainment instead, reported the Reuters News Service. That stance could result in the Indian government not subsidizing the proposed Grand Prix for that country. Considering the world wide recession, other governments that kick in funds could revisit their past largesse with tax money. If that ever happens it would give F1 bossman Bernie Eccelstone something else to worry about.

Another item from that same source tells this story. The Brawn GP Formula One team has agreed deals with new, as yet unidentified commercial backers that will guarantees its future in the race series for three years.

The 12th Annual Coronado Speed Festival is rapidly approaching. Last year the Drift Circuit and Stock Car Race Series (SCRS) exhibitions had an overwhelmingly positive response by fans so they will be rallying the runway once again. These drivers will suit up to bring fans a high-powered show, demonstrating skillful mastery of both speed and movement. You will see both of these exciting exhibitions during the lunchtime hour on both Saturday and Sunday.

Some motor heads, that have been around racing for more years than they will admit too, seem to think that NASCAR’s control over their drivers and allowing them to express their own opinions is hurting attendance and TV ratings. Many are of the opinion that the big money sponsors are to blame because they don’t want any controversy which they feel would impact the sales of their goods or services. The critics point to the feuds between the Petty’s and the Allison’s, among other, during the old NASCAR era. All that created a lot of interest among the fans and the media giving them a lot to talk about in between weekend events and even during the off-season. We tend to agree because rivalry and friction between competitors would be good way to sell tickets and kick up the ratings on TV. We have to admit that NASCAR is really bland compared to the days when it was a cult sport and very little was written about it in the print and aired on the electronic media.

Hardly a “stock car”! Each of these race cars has competed at some point in its history in a variety of NASCAR events. With over 700 horsepower, sophisticated suspension and chassis, not much other than the roof, hood, and trunk is actually a factory part. This is an opportunity to be up close and personal with many famous cars that were actually on track and to see them compete in the Coronado Speed Festival.

Drifting is an un-timed freestyle motor sport that is judged by achieving the maximum sideways angle, and speed in the corner. Drifters gain maximum points by striking the proper clipping point, and taking a favorable line that connects one drift smoothly into the next.

In other words, drifters deliberately control their cars to slide sideways at high-speeds, aiming for the maximum points through stylized movements and skilled maneuvering techniques. Major consideration is given to style and crowd appeal. Originating on twisty, narrow, mountain roads in Japan, teams and individuals would compete for respect and the glory of being number one on the mountain.

Don’t miss out on the drifters as they display their power and speed. You can see the drifting exhibition during the lunchtime hour on both Saturday and Sunday. The drifters will also be racing after the last race on Saturday.

And new this year – the stock cars have their own race category rather than an exhibition. It is sure to once again add excitement and speed to the Coronado Speed Festival.

The Coronado Speed Festival is sanctioned by HMSA. Established in 1977, HMSA specializes in race events with historic cars, emphasizing the preservation and proper use of historic race cars. For more information about HMSA, call 818-249-3515 or visit www.hmsausa.com.

The Coronado Speed Festival is Fleet Week San Diego’s marquee event. The event features fast-paced, thrilling auto racing and exhibitions for car enthusiasts of all ages at one of the most distinctive race track locations – Naval Air Station North Island, the birthplace of Naval Aviation. Nowhere else can you see a variety of cars racing on a live runway used by the U.S. Navy.

This is the only Navy Open House on the West Coast. Naval Base Coronado is home to over 20, 000 active duty military and over 4,000 civilian employees. The general public only gets a glimpse of the daily activities happening at the base. This is San Diego’s opportunity to interact with the young men and women who defend our freedom. Climb aboard and tour an active Navy ship berthed at NASNI, visit command displays, watch F-18 flyovers and see military vehicles in action.

Don’t miss out on this annual celebration of speed. The Coronado Speed Festival offers something for everyone to enjoy so race on down to Naval Air Station, North Island on September 26-27 for the premiere racing event of the season. This event is free for active duty military and their dependants.

As we predicted NASCAR/ISC blinked against the NFL. Officials from Daytona International Speedway announced that next year’s qualifying date for the Daytona 500 will move to the same day as the Budweiser Shootout to avoid conflict with the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 7 in Miami. Daytona 500 qualifying, which determines the front starting row for NASCAR’s biggest race of the season, will be held prior to the ARCA race on February 6. The Budweiser Shootout runs under the lights at Daytona that night. This report came from AutoRacingDaily.com and the Miami Herald.

Here’s what’s going on this week on TV for the motorsports fans which is one of the of the more busy periods of the racing season during the week right through Labor Day Monday, courtesy of RaceFanTV.com. On Monday at 6 p.m. the IRL Indy Lights held at Chicagoland will aired on VS. On Tuesday Speed offers the SCCA World Challenge from Mid-Ohio at 2 p.m. NASCAR Now goes at 1 a.m. Wednesday on ESPN2. Thursdays offerings include NASCAR Now on The Duce at 12:30 a.m and Speed airs the Camping World East race from NH at 3 p.m. Friday has NASCAR Now going off at 1 a.m. on ESPN2 at 12:30 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m. Prelude To The Dream-Eldora Speedway at 7:30 p.m. on Speed.

Saturday will be very busy starting at 1 a.m. with NASCAR Now on ESPN2. At 11 a.m. Speed airs Cup Practice from Atlanta. Then it’s Final Cup Practice from that venue at 1 p.m. on that same cable channel. At 2:30 p.m. Speed offers Nationwide Qualifying at Atlanta followed by Cup Qualifying from that same venue. At 7 p.m. ESPN offers the Nationwide race from Atlanta and Speed comes back at 10 p.m. with the Camping World Truck race from Iowa.

Sunday will be even busier. At 12 a.m. Speed offers AMA MotoX action from Export, PA then the WoO from Virginia at 1 a.m. NASCAR Now goes at 10 a.m. on The Duce with NHRA Qualifying from Indy at 11:30 a.m. Speed comes back at Noon with the AMA GN from Peoria, IL. Speed continues on with the FIM 250 World Championship from Italy at 1 p.m. followed by the MotoGP from that same venue. ABC kicks in at 4 p.m. with an Off Road event from Crandon, WI. Speed offers NASCAR RaceDay from Atlanta at 5 p.m. At the same time ESPN2 airs NHRA Qualifying from Indy then the Speed Report at 7 p.m. The Cup race at Atlanta goes on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. Speed returns at 8 p.m. with FIM Superbike round held in Germany then Wind Tunnel at 10 p.m. ESPN has a post race edition of NASCAR Now at 11:30 p.m. Monday will wind the Labor Day weekend down with a 12:30 a.m. airing of the AMA Pro Superbike go from NJ Motorsports Park and at 1 p.m. ESPN2 offers the NHRA Finals from Indy. (END)

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