After years of later race starts NASCAR officials announced that they are adopting uniform and earlier start times for the Sprint Cup Series starting next year.
In summary 28 of the 36 points paying races will air at 1PM Eastern time, night races will start at 7:30 (except for the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte which starts at 5:45PM) and West Coast races will start at noon local time.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France said “ Beginning in 2010 which is to get more consistent start times, and frankly, earlier, which will do a couple things for us. As our research has shown us that our core fans want to begin watching NASCAR a little bit earlier in the afternoon.”
David Hill, the silver-haired, Australian-born chairman of Fox Sports was the most outspoken on the teleconference. He took the blame for the later and later starts for the races which were uniformly hated by fans.
Hill said “I think that we've started to tamper with something that we shouldn't have. And I'll put my hand up and say guilty.”
His research showed that the later starts, in search of bigger ratings, backfired.
Ironically, he expects the ratings to drop in 2010 as fans get used to the new starting times, but, adds that the he’s taking the long view.
France added that NASCAR does consult weekly with a 25,000 strong “fan council,” and in addition to the broadcast companies research motivated NASCAR to change the start times.
photo: Philippe Champoux - Auto123.com
In summary 28 of the 36 points paying races will air at 1PM Eastern time, night races will start at 7:30 (except for the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte which starts at 5:45PM) and West Coast races will start at noon local time.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France said “ Beginning in 2010 which is to get more consistent start times, and frankly, earlier, which will do a couple things for us. As our research has shown us that our core fans want to begin watching NASCAR a little bit earlier in the afternoon.”
David Hill, the silver-haired, Australian-born chairman of Fox Sports was the most outspoken on the teleconference. He took the blame for the later and later starts for the races which were uniformly hated by fans.
Hill said “I think that we've started to tamper with something that we shouldn't have. And I'll put my hand up and say guilty.”
His research showed that the later starts, in search of bigger ratings, backfired.
Ironically, he expects the ratings to drop in 2010 as fans get used to the new starting times, but, adds that the he’s taking the long view.
France added that NASCAR does consult weekly with a 25,000 strong “fan council,” and in addition to the broadcast companies research motivated NASCAR to change the start times.
photo: Philippe Champoux - Auto123.com