NASCAR’s three week probation of Carl Edwards seems to be fair for coming up on Brad Keselowski at Atlanta. Brad, while clean in this episode, has been aggressive in other Cup races. One wag, who watches a lot of Cup racing, told us that Brad doesn’t have any friends out there on the track. We’ll reserve our opinion until we see what happens at restrictor plate track where you need friends to hook-up with. Both Edwards and Keselowski are going to be watched closely by the sanction over the next month or so. This also fulfills NASCAR’s promise of letting the drivers be themselves. Which in turn will make the Cup races more interesting. The result of which will help to sell tickets and kick up the TV ratings. Say what you want on this one. Bottom line is that NASCAR made a business decision.
NASCAR isn’t the only sanction having problems with drawing capacity crowds. We noticed that there were lots of empty seats at the 2010 opening round of the Bahrain F1 event in the Middle East. It could be coupled to the global recession which has impacted US and World motorsports in a major way. Even though the movers and shakers in F1 want the world to believe that the situation in that series is rock solid. We can’t remember any other recession that’s pinched the ability of venues to sell tickets and obtain sponsors. It’s also having an effect on the ability of established racing series to get enough entries. Case in point the demise of the Formula Atlantic Series and the A1GP. So it appears that motorsports is in the midst of a “shakeout”. Don’t expect it to stop there. Some close to the sport seem to think that there’s trouble ahead for the IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The folks in the IRL and IMS keep denying the rumors that both are for sale. We also heard the same denials prior to Tony George getting relieve of his duties at IMS and the IRL.
Could Ferrari’s one-two finish at Bahrain be a preview of what’s going to happen in F1 this year? For the past few years Ferrari has not been as dominant as in previous seasons. Last Sunday that marque looks like a force to be reckoned with. From what we heard, Ferrari did the best job on tire and fuel management which are result of the new rules. We’ve been noticing that in recent years the F1 cars are starting to look ugly. Checking a side profile, the cars look like a Praying Mantis! We also think that the IRL should consider not getting too radical in the redesign of the Indy Car. That organization doesn’t need another thing to turn off what ever fans they have left.
About eight years ago when we wrote that one day the Daytona 500 may have to change the date because the Superbowl was creeping up on the mid-February because the NFL keeps expanding the league and adding playoff games. We got a lot of flack about this one and the comments said it would never happen. Well we saw an item on AutoRacingSport that said that the Daytona 500 will move ahead by one week! We wrote that the time that if this ever happened NASCAR would blink. If the source is correct NASCAR blinked, past tense. When you analyze all this it comes down to the fact that both the NFL and NASCAR love and really can’t get enough of all that TV money.
The History Channel’s MADHOUSE racing reality TV program continues to enchant the TV viewers. All that in spite of condemnation of the series by the purest race types. If anyone thinks that this program sets short track racing back 50 years, think again. Those Saturday night shows at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC continues to draw near capacity crowds. In spite of airing the episodes at 11 p.m. on Sunday nights, the interest is still there. The last time the History Channel talked about the ratings, the boast was that this program had the highest ratings ever for that cable outlet. It also boils down to the fact that bland entertainment doesn’t sell. There’s also a lot of chatter about this program on Facebook.
After two years as a studio analyst at ESPN, former Sprint Cup Series regular and Maine native Ricky Craven is readying to take the next step in his NASCAR broadcasting career. Craven will leave the cozy confines of the studio behind on April 3 and make his first foray into race coverage when he joins the ESPN broadcast booth for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Nashville 300 from Nashville Superspeedway. Craven, a Newburgh, Me. native former K&N Pro Series East champion, will join Dale Jarrett and Marty Reid in the booth for ESPN’s Nationwide Series telecast from Nashville. It’s expected to be the first of a few appearances for Craven calling events this year for ESPN. Craven, who retired from full-time racing in the Sprint Cup Series after the 2004 season, will be filling in for regular ESPN Nationwide Series analyst Andy Petree for the Nashville event. This came from StockCarGazette.com.
Speedway Motorsports Inc.’s overall revenue declined by 9.9 percent in 2009, including a 13.3 percent drop in ticket revenue, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Speedway Motorsports Inc., finished 2009 with a balance sheet showing a $10.3 million loss, while its income from continuing operations was $74.9 million, down 28.2 percent from $104.3 million last year, according to the filing. Part of the difference comes from a $74.5 million devaluation of Motorsports Authentics, the struggling merchandise company that SMI co-owns with rival International Speedway Corp. Both companies now consider Motorsports Authentics to have no carrying value.
NASCAR has announced the television schedule for its developmental series for 2010. The expanded calendar includes 21 events on SPEED for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and seven races for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. This comprehensive package includes airing of every race on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West schedules. Three of the Whelen Modified Tours will air as same-day televised events.
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. The NASCAR Developmental Series programming will air Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET.
“Our NASCAR Developmental Series all have a strong and passionate fan base, and we saw the results in the viewership of last year’s events and in January for our postseason showcase, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing operations. “Our fans spoke, and we listened. We are thrilled to be able to work with our television partners to provide extensive coverage of the talented drivers and tracks that help form the foundation of this sport.”
SPEED, in conjunction with NASCAR Media Group, will air each tape-delayed race as a one-hour show. SPEED will once again provide same-day coverage of the combination event between the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 18, as well as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 18 and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour finale at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 14.
SPEED’s coverage will begin with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East opener at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway (race date is March 27; air date is April 1) and conclude with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West finale from Phoenix International Raceway (race date is Nov. 11; air date is Nov. 18). The schedule includes seven re-airs of previous events during select Thursday slots throughout the season for a total of 34 events.
In addition, NASCAR will expand its relationship with the sports cable television network Versus to include coverage of the NASCAR Developmental Series. It will air an additional nine events from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. For the fourth season, TSN will again provide season-long coverage of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1. The Versus and TSN programming schedules are currently being finalized and details will be announced shortly.
2010 NASCAR DEVELOPMENTAL SERIES SCHEDULE ON SPEED
AIR DATE RACE DATE AIR TIME SERIES EVENT
Thu, Apr 1 Sat, Mar 27 6 p.m. NKNPS East Greenville Pickens Speedway
Thu, Apr 8 Sat, Mar 27 6 p.m. NKNPS West All American Speedway
Thu, Apr 15 Sat, Apr 3 6 p.m. NKNPS East South Boston Speedway
Thu, Apr 22 Thu, Apr 8 6 p.m. NKNPS West Phoenix International Raceway
Thu, Apr 29 Sat, Apr 3 6 p.m. NWSMT South Boston Speedway
Thu, May 6 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
Thu, May 13 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
Thu, May 27 Sun, May 23 1 p.m. NKNPS Iowa Speedway
Thu, Jun 3 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
TBA Sun, Jun 6 TBA NWMT Martinsville Speedway
Thu, Jun 10 Sun, Jun 6 6 p.m. NKNPS East Martinsville Speedway
Thu, Jun 17 Sat, Jun 5 6 p.m. NKNPS West Douglas County Speedway
Thu, Jun 24 Sat, Jun 19 6 p.m. NKNPS West Infineon Raceway
TBA Sat, Jun 26 TBA NWMT New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Thu, Jul 1 Fri, Jun 25 6 p.m. NKNPS East New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Thu, Jul 8 Sat, Jul 3 6 p.m. NKNPS East Lime Rock Park
Thu, Jul 15 Sat, Jul 3 6 p.m. NKNPS West Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
Thu, Jul 22 Sat, Jul 3 6 p.m. NWMT Lime Rock Park
Thu, Jul 29 Sun, Jul 18 6 p.m. NKNPS West Portland International Raceway
Thu, Aug 5 Fri, Jul 30 6 p.m. NKNPS East Lee USA Speedway
Thu, Aug 12 Sat, Aug 7 6 p.m. NKNPS West Montana Raceway Park
Wed, Aug 18* Wed, Aug 18 TBA NWMT-NWSMT Bristol Motor Speedway
Thu, Aug 19 Sat, Aug 14 6 p.m. NKNPS West Colorado National Speedway
Thu, Aug 26 Wed, Aug 18 6 p.m. NWMT-NWSMT Bristol Motor Speedway
Thu, Sep 2 Sat, Aug 28 6 p.m. NKNPS East Gresham Motorsports Park
Thu, Sep 9 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
Thu, Sep 16 Sun, Sep 12 6 p.m. NKNPS West Miller Motorsports Park
Sat, Sep 18* Sat, Sep 18 TBA* NWMT New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Thu, Sep 23 Fri, Sep 17 6 p.m. NKNPS East New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Thu, Oct 7 Fri, Sep 24 6 p.m. NKNPS East Dover International Speedway
Thu, Oct 14 Sat, Sep 18 6 p.m. NWMT New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Thu, Oct 14* Thu, Oct 14 TBA NWSMT Charlotte Motor Speedway
Thu, Oct 21 Sat, Oct 16 6 p.m. NKNPS West All American Speedway
Thu, Oct 28 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
Thu, Nov 4 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
Thu, Nov 11 Re-air – Race TBA 6 p.m.
Thu, Nov 18 Thu, Nov 11 6 p.m. NKNPS West Phoenix International Raceway
* Race will air on SPEED on a same-day tape delay
The centrally-owned race cars of the A1GP motor-racing championship are among the assets being sold off by the administrator and liquidator acting for the series’ organizers.
Autosport.com reports that the sale list includes 20 of the “Powered by Ferrari” second-generation cars, 12 of the Lola-Zytek cars used during the first three seasons, Maserati and Ferrari sports cars used as safety and medical cars, as well as a large amount of spares and other team equipment. The assets are initially being offered for sale as one lot, but will be sold individually if no single buyer emerges.
After a two-week break, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to action this weekend and makes its season debut on ABC with a 300-lap race on the high banks of Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag telecast of the event will air on ABC. ESPN2 is the home of the series all season, with select races airing on ESPN and ABC.
NASCAR Countdown presented by Hellman’s airs Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. ET. The race telecast starts at 2:30 p.m. with the green flag at 2:43 p.m. Marty Reid will be the lap-by-lap announcer, joined in the booth for analysis by 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage.
Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio, with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, a team owner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Some of the great NASCAR drivers of the past will slip behind the wheel again for a special 35-lap race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and ESPN2 will have a live telecast on Saturday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m.
Some of the drivers competing in the Saturday Night Showdown are David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Harry Gant, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Hensley, Dave Marcis and L.D. Ottinger. All will be in late model stock cars painted to resemble cars they drove during their careers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.
Marty Reid will call the action with analysis from former NASCAR champions Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace. Hosting the telecast will be Allen Bestwick with pit reporters Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.
NASCAR on ESPN analyst Randy LaJoie and ESPN the Magazine senior writer Ryan McGee will be joined by NASCAR driver Mike Wallace as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, March 22, at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.
Nicole Briscoe hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m. and Friday at 6 p.m. Briscoe also hosts the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, March 21, at 9 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mike Massaro and Marty Smith will report from the speedway. .
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Bestwick and Briscoe and originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn. Contributors include reporters Marty Smith, Shannon Spake and Angelique Chengelis, analysts Ray Evernham, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, 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, Marty Reid, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Petree, Dave Burns, Jamie Little, and Vince Welch also make frequent contributions to NASCAR Now.
Danica Patrick made history in 2008 when she became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race. Patrick’s win in the Firestone Indy 300 at Japan’s Twin-Ring Motegi made news around the world.
ESPN Classic will give racing fans the chance to see Patrick’s victory again with an airing of the race, which was originally televised live by ESPN and featured lap-by-lap announcer Marty Reid capturing the significance of the moment with “Boys, move over – the lady is coming through! Danica Patrick wins at Twin-Ring Motegi!” The program airs Wednesday, March 17, at 9 p.m. ET.
Also airing on ESPN Classic this week are episodes of the network’s signature series SportsCentury featuring NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Stewart program airs Tuesday, March 16, at 11 a.m., while the Earnhardt program airs Thursday, March 18, at 11 a.m.
Drag racing fans can watch two hours of action featuring the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the new Get Screened America Pro Mod Series on Saturday, March 21, beginning at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The programs will include highlights of the Sportsman and Modified cars and drivers from the recent event at Gainesville, Fla.
Let’s see what’s on the tube this week through the weekend. NASCAR returns this coming weekend with action from Bristol. There’s also plenty of NASCAR action earlier in the week right into the Friday, Saturday and Sunday on ESPN2, Speed and HD Theatre. Other weekend action that will be covered on TV includes World Rally from Mexico and the ALMS 12 Hours of Sebring. Check RaceFanTV.com for all of the details. (END)
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
