TV Times – Do You Think The Controversial Busch Brothers Help To Sell Race Tickets?

From what he said at pre-season press conferences, NASCAR’s Brian France believes that his organization is well positioned for success in 2012.  

The controversial Busch brothers are certainly capable to help NASCAR sell tickets and increase TV ratings.  Fans either love them or hate them, no in between. 

But the sanction’s big break came last year when underdog Tony Stewart and his team mates were able to muster an 11th hour surge propelling him into The Chase and to his ultimate Sprint Cup win.  

Fans were ready for somebody different to win, not another repeat by same old, same old Jimmie Johnson.

FOX Sports gears up for its 12th season of NASCAR coverage by unveiling the 2012 NASCAR on FOX broadcast schedule featuring 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup points races (with 15 events total), highlighted by the 54th running of the Daytona 500 live on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 1:00 to 5:30 p.m. from the Daytona International Speedway.  Coverage  begins that day with a one-hour pre-race program at 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.  But the flag will officially drop with the Budweiser Shootout live on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. followed by live coverage of the  Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Driver Michael Waltrip will join the FOX NASCAR Sunday prerace team alongside big brother Darrell and host Chris Myers. Darrell and former champion crew chief Larry McReynolds will return to provide race analysis for all NASCAR on FOX Sprint Cup events and Mike Joy will return as race announcer.  Veteran analyst Jeff Hammond will take his experience as a former championship-winning crew chief to the action in the garages and on pit road.  Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum and Krista Voda will also return to cover pit road.        
 
FOX’s 2012 NASCAR schedule is highlighted by races from Phoenix International Speedway on Sunday, March 4; Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 11; Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 18; Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 14; Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, April 28; Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, May 6; and the NASCAR on FOX season finale from Dover, Delaware on Sunday, June 3.
   
The network’s presentation of the first 13 races of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup series hit a three-year high averaging 8.6 million viewers per race, up +9% over 2010 (7.9 million viewers).  The 2011 Daytona 500 crowned the event’s youngest champion ever and delivered ratings and audience gains for FOX Sports.  A total audience of just over 30 million Americans watched the race, making the 2011 Daytona 500 the most-watched NASCAR race since 2008.  The 30.1 million total viewers, a measure of the audience that saw at least a portion of the race, is +1% higher than 2010’s total audience of 29.8 million and +15% better than 2009′s 26.2 million.
 
FOX Sports commands the well-earned distinction as television’s most innovative sports broadcaster.  Ranking high among the network’s achievements are honors for its NASCAR coverage.  NASCAR on FOX has garnered 15 Emmy Awards for its coverage including three for Outstanding Sports Series (2001, 2005, 2007), five for Outstanding Live Event Audio Sound (2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010), one for Outstanding Graphic Design (2001), five for Outstanding Technical Team Remote (2001, 2003-05, 2007) and one for Promotional Announcement Episodic (2008).   
 

NASCAR on FOX 2012 Schedule
 
Date                             Track                                        Event                                       Coverage Begins
Sat. Feb. 18                  Daytona Int’l Speedway             Budweiser Shootout                                   8:00 PM
Sun. Feb. 19                 Daytona Int’l Speedway             Daytona 500 Qualifying                              1:00 PM
Sun. Feb. 26                 Daytona Int’l Speedway             Daytona 500                                            12:00 PM
Sun. March 4                 Phoenix Int’l Speedway              NASCAR Racing from Phoenix                   2:30 PM
Sun. March 11               Las Vegas Motor Speedway      NASCAR Racing from Las Vegas                2:30 PM
Sun. March 18               Bristol Motor Speedway            NASCAR Racing from Bristol                     12:30 PM
Sun. March 25               Auto Club Speedway                 NASCAR Racing from Fontana                   2:30 PM
Sun. April 1                   Martinsville Speedway               NASCAR Racing from Martinsville             12:30 PM
Sat. April 14                  Texas Motor Speedway             NASCAR Racing from Fort Worth                7:00 PM
Sun. April 22                 Kansas Speedway                     NASCAR Racing from Kansas City           12:30 PM
Sat.  April 28                 Richmond Int’l Raceway             NASCAR Racing from Richmond                7:00 PM
Sun. May 6                   Talladega Superspeedway         NASCAR Racing from Talladega               12:00 PM
Sat.  May 12                 Darlington Raceway                   NASCAR Racing from Darlington                6:30 PM
Sun.  May 27                 Charlotte Motor Speedway         NASCAR Racing from Charlotte                  5:30 PM
Sun.  June 3                  Dover Int’l Speedway                 NASCAR Racing from Dover                     12:30 PM

 
ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now returns for its sixth season on Monday, Feb. 13, at 3 p.m., coinciding with the week activities begin for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500.  NASCAR Now will air Monday-Friday with half-hour episodes originating from ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Ct. A one-hour weekend edition will air on the morning of each NASCAR Sprint Cup race and NASCAR Now will air a weekend wrap-up edition starting with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
 
AJ Allmendinger, driver of the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge for Penske Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, joins NASCAR Now this season as a guest reporter for the weekend edition programs. “The Daily Dinger” segment will feature Allmendinger in off-beat interviews around the racetracks with drivers, crew chiefs, fans and others or reporting on a unique aspect of that day’s race.  Mike Massaro will continue as the primary host of NASCAR Now with ongoing hosts Allen Bestwick, Nicole Briscoe, Marty Reid and Shannon Spake. ESPN SportsCenter anchors Lindsay Czarniak, Michael Yam and Michelle Bonner also will fill in as occasional NASCAR Now hosts. Marty Smith will again be the lead reporter for the program while Briscoe, Massaro and Spake will also serve as reporters.
 
Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year Ricky Craven will continue as an analyst for NASCAR Now and other ESPN studio programs such as SportsCenter. ESPN NASCAR analysts Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Andy Petree, Tim Brewer and Brad Daugherty also will contribute to NASCAR Now as will ESPN pit reporters Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch. NASCAR Now also will continue to have contributions from ESPN.com motorsports writers Ed Hinton, Terry Blount and David Newton along with ESPN the Magazine senior writer Ryan McGee and former NASCAR pit crew member D.J. Copp.
 
The program will originate from Daytona International Speedway for three shows surrounding the Daytona 500. In past years, NASCAR Now also has originated from remote locations including the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the White House, Chicago’s Navy Pier and other racetracks.  NASCAR Now and all of ESPN’s NASCAR television content is also viewable digitally through WatchESPN and WatchESPN.com, the groundbreaking online-accessible authenticated version of ESPN. WatchESPN is available on computers, smartphones and tablets through WatchESPN.com and the free WatchESPN app, which are accessible to fans who receive their video service from an affiliated provider.
 
 
The 2012 season for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series kicked off last weekend in Pomona, Calif., with the 12th season of coverage on ESPN networks. Qualifying and eliminations coverage from all 23 events in the series this season will air either ESPN or ESPN2 on a same-day basis, with 20 eliminations programs scheduled for prime time Sunday night airings.  All six eliminations programs in the NHRA’s “Countdown to the Championship” playoffs will have Sunday night prime time airings, and the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis will once again feature 11 hours of expanded coverage, including six hours of eliminations on Monday, Sept. 3.
 
ESPN2’s drag racing team returns in 2012 led by Paul Page, who became lead announcer in 2006. The award-winning Page has worked in motorsports broadcasting since 1974 and served as lap-by-lap announcer for the Indianapolis 500 on either radio or TV for more than 25 years.  Former drag racer Mike Dunn, a 22-time winner in NHRA competition and one of only three drivers to have scored more than 10 wins in both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes, returns for his 11th season as ESPN’s drag racing analyst. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff return as pit reporters for the full season, with John Kernan and Jamie Howe splitting duty as a third pit reporter all year.
 
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will be featured on ESPN through 2016 as part of a five-year, multimedia rights agreement extension forged between the NHRA and ESPN in 2009. The NHRA has appeared exclusively on the ESPN networks since 2001. By the end of the extended agreement, the partnership will have been in place for 16 years.  ESPN2 also will continue its coverage of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the premier sportsman series in drag racing and, for many aspiring racers, a stepping stone for the future stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
 
ESPN International is one of the world’s leading syndicators of sports programming and its relationship with the NHRA is helping maximize coverage and providing a solid base of distribution. Through a combination of sales and ESPN network programming, NHRA is available to more than 44.7 million homes in 169 countries and territories around the world. In addition, U.S. troops and their families serving around the world and Navy vessels at sea can watch NHRA through American Forces Network bringing total countries/territories to 207.
 
2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Schedule on ESPN
(all times Eastern)
 
Date                 Event                                                   Time                Network
 
Feb. 11 Pomona Qualifying 11 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 12 Pomona Eliminations 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 18 Phoenix Qualifying 8 p.m. ESPN2
Feb. 19 Phoenix Eliminations 9 p.m. ESPN2
March 11 Gainesville Qualifying 4 a.m. ESPN2
March 11 Gainesville Qualifying (re-air) 5 p.m. ESPN2
March 11 Gainesville Eliminations 6 p.m. ESPN2
March 31 Las Vegas Qualifying 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
April 1 Las Vegas Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
April 14 Charlotte Qualifying 5 p.m. ESPN2
April 15 Charlotte Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
April 28 Houston Qualifying 6 p.m. ESPN2
April 29 Houston Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
May 5 Atlanta Qualifying 8 p.m. ESPN2
May 6 Atlanta Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
May 19 Topeka Qualifying 5 p.m. ESPN2
May 20 Topeka Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
June 2 Englishtown Qualifying 4:30 p.m. ESPN
June 3 Englishtown Eliminations 4:30 p.m. ESPN2
June 16 Bristol Qualifying 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
June 17 Bristol Eliminations 5 p.m. ESPN
June 30 Chicago Qualifying 6 p.m. ESPN2
July 1 Chicago Qualifying 3 a.m. ESPN2
July 1 Chicago Qualifying (re-air) 11 a.m. ESPN2
July 1 Chicago Eliminations 6 p.m. ESPN2
July 7 Norwalk Qualifying 6 p.m. ESPN2
July 8 Norwalk Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
July 21 Denver Qualifying 5 p.m. ESPN2
July 22 Denver Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
July 28 Sonoma Qualifying 7 p.m. ESPN
July 29 Sonoma Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 4 Seattle Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 5 Seattle Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 18 Brainerd Qualifying 11 p.m. ESPN2
Aug. 19 Brainerd Eliminations 9 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 2 Indianapolis Qualifying 11 a.m. ESPN2
Sept. 2 Indianapolis Qualifying 5 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 3 Indianapolis Eliminations Noon ESPN2
Sept. 15 Charlotte Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 16 Charlotte Eliminations 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 22 Dallas Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 23 Dallas Eliminations 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 29 St. Louis Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sept. 30 St. Louis Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Oct. 6 Reading Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Oct. 7 Reading Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
Oct. 27 Las Vegas Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Oct. 28 Las Vegas Eliminations 8 p.m. ESPN2
Nov. 10 Pomona Qualifying 10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Nov. 11 Pomona Eliminations 7 p.m. ESPN2
 
 
Leilani Munter may be small but she is a huge force when it comes to standing up for causes that she is very passionate about, especially the inhumane captivity and slaughter of dolphins around the world.  Leilani will be driving the first ever ocean awareness themed car on the high banks of Daytona joining Tony Marks Racing in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards on February 18, 2012.  In an incredible display of the public’s support of her cause, Leilani’s race to bring public awareness to the plight of the dolphins has been funded completely by donations from individuals and organizations who wanted to help get her ocean awareness race car on track.
 
It goes without saying that racing can become a very expensive habit. For Carter-2-Motorsports (C2M) car owners Roger and Dana Carter, they have shown within the past year how to take a penny and turn it into a dollar – all towards streaming towards the finish line in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.
 
After a brief sabbatical from racing, Carter-2-Motorsports returned to the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) last year running a limited schedule with car owner Roger Carter stepping up to the role as the pilot of the No. 40 Dodge Charger. Amazingly through some diversity and setbacks, the team on a below-average budget was able to make three ARCA Racing Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, Iowa Speedway and Madison (Wisc.) International Speedway respectively.
 
The new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR race cars, still in plain white livery as they arrived from the factory in the last week or two, made their world debut as three U.S. customer teams gave them their first race track test preparing for next month’s 60th Anniversary Mobil 1Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.
 
The top-of-the-line model of Porsche Motorsport’s customer racing vehicles will head into the 2012 season with extensive modifications. Particularly striking at first glance are the changes to the body: the width of the new GT3 RSR has grown by 48 millimeters. Built to conform to the A.C.O. “LM” GTE regulations, the 911 represents the crowning pinnacle of a range of successful customer sport race cars that are based on the 911 GT3 RS (type 997) street sports car.

Fain Skinner Racing (FSR) announced that in an agreement with DGM Racing led by former ARCA Racing Series winner Mario Gosselin, the two will unite and tackle the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for their 2012 season-opener, the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway set for Saturday, February 18, 2012.
 
Skinner, a well-known Floridian noted for his skills on the short tracks has obtained backing from CarportEmpire.com while carrying associate sponsorship from American Steel Carports, Rimrock Flooring.com and CSBdirect.com. The team’s car number for the first of 20 events on the ARCA Racing Series tour will be announced next week.
 
“I’m very excited about the race,” said Skinner, who gained attention for his attentiveness in his limited NASCAR Nationwide Series starts last year. “We have a very competitive car and the very best I feel that horsepower has to offer. Our shots of winning the race are not out of the playing cards by any means, but the race will ultimately come down to patience, strategy and luck. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to working with Mario and his DGM Racing team.”
 
The 26-year old tested extremely well at the 2.5-mile superspeedway two months ago during the open ARCA Racing Series test continued, “I have always dreamed of racing at Daytona, ever since I was a little kid sitting in the stands. Now, thanks to everyone that’s come on board, I’m able to live that dream, I’m incredibly grateful.”
 
The team’s automobile was acquired from the potent Roush Fenway Racing stables and is being closing monitored by three time ARCA Racing Series winner Gosselin who himself has made five ARCA starts at the “World Center of Racing.”
 
The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 49th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 16 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 17 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 18th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local. ARCA, celebrating its 60th season in 2012 is the preamble for the highly anticipated Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) set to ignite under the lights later that night.
 
A source in the Daytona Beach area told us that there are lots of advertising on the local TV channels about all kinds of tickets available. This person also reported that he’s read and heard that for the first time the TV rights money has exceeded ticket sales. We’re not suprised given the deep recession and the inabality of the fans to make the trip to Daytona because of the tight money situation. Also, many core NASCAR fans still are not happy with the fact that the Shootout goes at night under the lights. And it can get very cold this time of year in Daytona.
 
After more than 12 hours of testing over two days at Sebring International Raceway, the drivers of the 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR have declared the new race car race-worthy and ready to tackle the tough competition that faces it in the upcoming American Le Mans Series.

Patrick Long, from Bellair, Fla., Flying Lizard Motorsports driver who gave the media attendees a walk-around of the carat this week’s winter test session for the March 17 60th Anniversary of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, said that everyone made huge progress during the test.
 
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