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TV TIMES
By Lou Modestino
(For 3/12-3/14/10)
Kurt Busch won the Cup race at Atlanta. And JJ wasn't in the winners
circle. JR won the pole but had a lousy finish. The first two things were
great and the second was not so good. While all of the seats were not full
at Atlanta, the crowd didn't look too bad. On the Keselowski/Edwards
affair, let's see if NASCAR can manage all of this wisely and put more
fans in the stands and do something which would result in an uptick in the
TV ratings. There's an old saying "with adversity comes
opportunity". NASCAR has blown it before by perpetuating boring
races. When something happens they come down hard on the drivers and teams
and the results are bland and boring races. Didn't we read and hear that
the NASCAR brass want the drivers to be themselves? Now let's see if they
mean it. Sure a competitor parking a driver as a form of payback is pretty
much the norm in NASCAR ever since it started 50 years ago. And yes it's
very risky to pull it off on a super-speedway like Atlanta. But, we don't
think that Edwards meant to send Keselowski airborne. Luckily, nobody got
hurt. So the punishment should fit the crime. It will be interesting to
see what the NASCAR kluge decides.
On another ratings item, StockCarGazette.com linked a Boston Examiner
story which tells of fans blaming the NASCAR TV ratings drop to Jimmy
Johnson long string of wins from last season right up to the present. We
agree with this hypothesis.
The race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which was broadcast on FOX,
received an overnight TV rating of 4.1/8, down 25 percent from last year’s
5.5/10. Why such a sudden drop? The Shelby American 400 was running up
against the gold medal hockey game in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, which
received an overnight rating of 17.6/33. According to StockCarGazette.com.
The race improved by 20 percent in ratings once the hockey game was
over, going from a 4.2/8 to 5.0/9 within 30 minutes. NASCAR has had three
races run up against the Olympics this season, with the ratings down 14
percent in comparison to previous years.
Last weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was the first race that
is not competing with the Olympics.
This one came from AutoRacingSport.com. Going head-to-head for
television viewers with the Olympic gold-medal hockey game between the
United States and Canada, the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday garnered a 4.1
overnight rating on Fox, the SportsBusiness Daily reported. The rating was
25 percent lower than last year’s 5.5 overnight rating for the race at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The hockey game earned a 17.6 overnight rating.
It's going to see what happens to the NASCAR ratings when they don't have
to go up against the Winter Olympics.
Here's another item from AutoRacingSport.com. Speed TV pit reporter and
former Motor Racing Network announcer Adam Alexander will take over as
play-by-play announcer for TNT’s coverage of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup
Series this summer, ThatsRacin.com and The Charlotte Observer learned that
Alexander replaces veteran Bill Weber. Weber was removed from the
broadcast team following a controversial off-track incident during the
June race weekend in New Hampshire last season.
Multiple sources confirmed Alexander as TNT’s choice and that other
changes to TNT’s crew could be in store when the official announcement
is made later this week. TNT spokesman Jeff Pomeroy would not confirm
Alexander’s hiring and said the network was not in position to make an
announcement at this time.
The familiar faces of Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Matchett once
again will lead the SPEED/FOX Sports Formula One broadcast team as SPEED
rolls into its 15th year as the exclusive U.S. cable broadcaster of the
FIA Formula One World Championship, beginning with live coverage of the
season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14 at 7:30 a.m. ET. One face,
however, will be new to the U.S. viewing audience.
Will Buxton, the 29-year-old founding editor of GPWeek magazine, will
report from the grid, replacing Peter Windsor, whose efforts remain
focused on his start-up US F1 project.
“First up, I've got to admit that I’m just massively excited about
the whole thing,” said Buxton, who will join the team shortly after he
and wife Emma welcome their first child. “It’s a huge honor to be
joining the SPEED team, and in particular to be doing so at the start of
what could be an incredible era in the history of Formula 1.
“F1 is a bit of a soap opera at times,” Buxton added. “As a
journalist it’s what makes the sport such a joy to report on. There’s
always something going on in the background, and I won’t shy away from
doing my best to get to the heart of every issue. That said, I don’t
think that my job at SPEED is simply to report the news. Far from it. As
one of the lucky few who can actually get into the F1 paddock, I think
that probably my biggest responsibility is to open it all up to the
American fans: to invite them in, sit them down, introduce them to a few
people and show them what’s going on. It’s the fans that make this
sport, so my job is to give them the access they deserve.”
According to Varsha, the SPEED team is welcoming its newest member with
open arms.
“It's always a good sign when a job interview turns into a 'bench
racing' session that goes beyond the appointed time,” Varsha said. “That's
what we shared with Will when he visited our SPEED studios. Despite being
the youngest member of our lineup, he's a veteran of television and print
with experience of both Formula One and GP2. I look forward to working
with him on what should be another thrilling and unpredictable grand prix
season.”
Buxton, from Great Britain, served as the GP2 press officer from 2004
to the end of the 2007 season, and was sole communications/media
representative for 2006 and 2007 He has been covering single-seater racing
(F1, GP2, F2 and F3) since 2002. Westbury Gillett will fill in for Buxton
for the first few races of the season.
In 2010, SPEEDtv.com will increase its Formula One offerings,
highlighted by a new fantasy game -- SPEED Fantasy Racing: GP Edition --
and a selection of video clips from practice, qualifying and race
coverage. In addition SPEEDtv.com will introduce an enhanced stats package
and continue with RaceCast timing and scoring from all sessions, as well
as providing Matchett’s popular post-event “Chalk Talk” wrap-ups.
SPEED will air 15 races live, complete with practice and qualifying
coverage, and for the fourth year, FOX will air four consecutive events,
beginning with the Canadian Grand Prix, using the same on-air team.
Practice and qualifying for those four events will be live on SPEED.
Formula One broadcast schedule (subject to change; late night/early
morning airings are listed as part of ‘broadcast day’):
Bahrain Grand Prix
· Practice – March 12, 6 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – March 13, 6 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – March 14, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Australian Grand Prix
· Practice – March 25, 1:30 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – March 26, 2 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – March 27, 1:30 a.m. ET, Live
Malaysian Grand Prix
· Practice – April 1, 2 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – April 2, 4 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – April 3, 3:30 a.m. ET, Live
Chinese Grand Prix
· Practice – April 15, 2 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – April 16, 2 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – April 17, 2:30 a.m. ET, Live
Spanish Grand Prix
· Practice – May 7, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – May 8, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – May 9, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Grand Prix of Monaco
· Practice – May 13, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – May 15, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – May 16, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Turkish Grand Prix
· Practice – May 28, 7 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – May 29, 7 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – May 30, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Canadian Grand Prix
· Practice – June 11, 2 p.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – June 12, 4:30 p.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – June 13, Noon to 2 p.m. ET/ 9 to 11 a.m. PT, Live
on FOX
European Grand Prix
· Practice – June 25, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – June 26, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – June 27, Noon to 2 p.m. ET/9 to 11 a.m. PT, SDD on
FOX
British Grand Prix
· Practice – July 9, 9 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – July 10, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – July 11, Noon to 2 p.m. ET/9 to 11 a.m. PT, SDD on
FOX
German Grand Prix
· Practice – July 23, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – July 24, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – July 25, Noon to 2 p.m. ET/9 to 11 a.m. PT, SDD on
FOX
Hungarian Grand Prix
· Practice – July 30, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – July 31, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – August 1, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Belgian Grand Prix
· Practice – August 27, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – August 28, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – August 29, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Italian Grand Prix
· Practice – September 10, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – September 11, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – September 12, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Singapore Grand Prix
· Practice – September 24, 9:30 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – September 25, 10 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – September 26, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Japanese Grand Prix
· Practice – October 7, 1 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – October 8, 1 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – October 9, 1:30 a.m. ET, Live
Korean Grand Prix
· Practice – October 21, 1 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – October 22, 1 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – October 23, 1:30 a.m. ET, Live
Brazilian Grand Prix
· Practice – November 5, Noon, Live
· Qualifying – November 6, Noon, Live
· Race Coverage – November 7, 11 a.m. ET, Live
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
· Practice – November 12, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Qualifying – November 13, 8 a.m. ET, Live
· Race Coverage – November 14, 7:30 a.m. ET, Live
Racing luminaries Dale Armstrong, Joie Chitwood, Alan Kulwicki, Jeremy
McGrath, Ken Squier, Jerry Titus and Rich Vogler will be inducted into the
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America when the organization stages its
annual induction ceremony on Aug. 25, 2010 at The Fillmore Detroit.
“The Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2010 features champion drivers
who doubled as an innovative crew chief, a showman and stunt man, a race
team owner and a magazine editor. Joining them are an all-time win leader
in sprint cars and midgets, a ground breaking broadcaster and a legendary
Supercross rider whose nickname was ‘Showtime.’ Their exploits on and
around the race tracks of America make them true hall of famers,” said
Ron Watson, president of the Hall of Fame.
Dale Armstrong – Credited with numerous innovations in drag racing
technology, Armstrong was the first crew chief to use wind tunnels for
improved aerodynamics. This mechanical genius tuned Kenny Bernstein to
four consecutive Funny Car championships in 1985-1988, plus a total of 28
national event wins. Later, with Bernstein in the Top Fuel division, he
became the first crew chief to break the 300 MPH barrier. The 1996 Top
Fuel title placed Armstrong among the elite crew chiefs to have won
championships in both Funny Car and Top Fuel. Armstrong had an outstanding
driving career himself, winning 12 NHRA National events in the 1970s.
Victory Junction kicked off their “Keeping the Dream Alive”
campaign by announcing that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will join the elite list of
Victory Junction Founders, as he commits to donate $1,000,000 to build and
maintain The Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheatre at the Randleman, N.C. camp
for children with serious illnesses.
The US-based Formula One team USF1 will not race this season as
planned, and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has
said it will not be replaced by another team. “There were issues
sponsor-wise in January that knocked us back a few weeks, and those meant
we couldn’t make it in 2010,” the team's principal Ken Anderson told
the BBC. “No one said it was easy, and we went out on a limb to design
and build our own car.”
Anderson said the team had submitted an application to the FIA to
rejoin the series in 2011.
Bloomberg reports that a bid by a Serbian team, Stefan GP, to replace USF1
was rejected by the FIA. Stefan GP released a statement four days ago
saying it had the “desire” and “ability” to race in 2010, and
planned to use a car built by Toyota before that manufacturer withdrew
from the racing series.
Thirsty race fans taking in the action at some of the most popular
NASCAR racetracks can continue to enjoy an ice-cold Coca-Cola for years to
come. Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) and Coca-Cola North America (CCNA)
are extending their long-term partnership through 2015, ensuring NASCAR
fans who visit premier speedways in locations such as Charlotte, Atlanta
and Las Vegas can open a Coke and Open Happiness as they cheer on their
favorite drivers.
Under the terms of the new agreement, CCNA brands will continue as the
“Official Soft Drink,” “Official Sparkling Beverage,” “Official
Water, “Official Sports Drink" and "Official Enhanced
Water" for six SMI tracks, which include:
· Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton, GA)
· New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, NH)
· Infineon Raceway Speedway (Sonoma, CA)
· Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, NV)
· Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord, NC)
· Texas Motor Speedway (Ft. Worth, TX)
The agreement also features title sponsorship of the Coca-Cola 600 --
the longest continuous sponsorship of any race in NASCAR -- at Charlotte
Motor Speedway through 2015.
This following came from ESPN. The annual Tire Kingdom NHRA
Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., is one of the biggest events of the
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season, and ESPN2 airs three hours
of final eliminations action this Sunday, March 14, at 6 p.m. ET.
Gatornationals qualifying highlights air Sunday at midnight (late Saturday
night), re-airing at 10 a.m. Sunday
The traditional East Coast opener, this event is one of the sport’s
most revered with a rich tradition of history-making performances. This
hallowed quarter-mile has entertained spring-break-loving fans for decades
with such notable occasions as the first 260-mph Top Fuel and Funny Car
runs in 1984 and the first 270-mph and 300-mph Top Fuel passes, in 1986
and 1992, respectively (all on the quarter-mile). Its 675-foot concrete
launchpad is one of the longest on the tour.
Paul Page anchors ESPN2’s coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA
winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould, John Kernan and Dave Rieff report from the
pits. Rieff and Dunn host NHRA RaceDay on Sunday at 11 a.m. to set the
stage for that day’s eliminations action.
The March 28 event in St. Petersburg, Fla., is the first of five races
in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season that will be produced by ESPN and
air on ABC. The schedule also includes the Indianapolis 500 on May 30,
marking the 46th consecutive year that the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”
will air on ABC, as well as events at Kansas Speedway, Watkins Glen
International and Toronto.
ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now airs a
four-day schedule this week due to the open weekend for the NASCAR Sprint
Cup and Nationwide Series and ESPN’s coverage of college basketball’s
Championship Week
Following the Monday roundtable, Mike Massaro hosts half-hour episodes
of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday, March 9, at 6 p.m. ET, Wednesday at 5 p.m.
and Friday at midnight (late Thursday night). The show will take Friday
off and there will be no roundtable edition on Monday, March 15. NASCAR
Now returns on Tuesday, March 16.
NASCAR Now is hosted by Massaro, Allen Bestwick and Nicole 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.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series has another weekend off before returning
to action on Saturday, March 20, at Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway. The race
will air on ABC, with NASCAR Countdown beginning the telecast at 2 p.m.
ESPN2 is the home of the series all season, with select races airing on
ESPN and ABC.
Also from Bristol, ESPN2 will air live coverage of a special 35-lap
race featuring some of the great NASCAR drivers of the past in a return to
action. David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Harry Gant are among the
drivers competing in the Saturday Night Showdown, airing at 5:30 p.m. on
March 20.
The USF1 team is probaly finito, due to sponsorship for this year and
who knows about next season? According to various news outlets, the
Formula Atlantic Series won't answer the bell in 2010, due to the lack of
entries, and we're not so sure about 2011 either. In both cases it can be
tied to the ailing global economy.
Checking to see what's happening on the racing scene this weekend, F1
opens the season in Bahrain with Schuie in the MB car and the IRL also
opens the season in Sao Paulo. Also, the NASCAR Cup has the weekend off.
The NHRA is in Gainsville, FL, the World of Outlaws will perform in
Houston and the AMA SuperX will be in Toronto. To get all of the specific
TV details, times and networks check out racefantv.com on the internet.
(END)
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES,
PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
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