April 23, 2007
- Phoenix overnight TV Ratings even: Fox’s broadcast of Saturday night’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway garnered the highest overnight rating of any weekend sports broadcast, earning a 4.1 and an 8 market share, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily. The 4.1 rating matched the overnight figure of 2006, when the race earned a 7 market share.(SceneDaily.com), for more 2007 ratings and the 2007 chart, see my 2007 TV Ratings page.(4-23-2007)
- 360 OTC leaves World of Outlaws as title sponsor UPDATE: World Racing Group announced today, effective immediately its national late model touring series will be known as the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, removing 360OTC as title sponsor. “We enthusiastically promoted the 360OTC brand and were delivering, and even over delivering, on our obligations in the partnership,” said World Racing Group CEO Tom Deery. “Unfortunately, Rockford-Montgomery Labs and its 360OTC brand were not able to live up to its responsibilities and obligations and we are effectively ending the sponsorship.(WoO site), no word how or if this effects sponsorship of the #36 Bill Davis Racing Nextel Cup team of Jermey Mayfield or the BDR Truck Series team of Tyler Walker. BDR has no comments about the situation. BDR reps responded to email with a ‘no comment’ when asked about the sponsor.(4-23-2007)
UPDATE: 360 OTC returns as the primary sponsor of Johnny Benson’s #23 Toyota for the second Truck Series race in a row this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Benson will join BDR teammate Tyler Walker in representing 360 OTC on the side of his #36 truck. This will be the second of 10 races this season with 360 OTC as the primary sponsor on Benson’s truck, and is also Walker’s first attempt to race at the Kansas Speedway.(BDR PR)(4-23-2007) - Jeff Gordon Trades in Stock Car for Wine, Gourmet Foods in Sonoma: #24-Jeff Gordon traded in his stock car for a cutting board and chef’s coat on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. Gordon, a native of Vallejo, participated in a Wine Country Luncheon to help promote the upcoming Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 22-24, at Infineon Raceway. Gordon, who won Saturday night’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Phoenix, teamed with renowned Bay Area chef Victor Scargle to prepare a gourmet meal at the raceway for Northern California media members. Gordon and Scargle teamed up to prepare poached Alaskan halibut and grilled Bigeye Tuna for more than 50 media members at the luncheon. Gordon helped with the seasoning, tasting and a number of other elements. He admitted that his wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, is more of the chef at home. The lunch was paired with wines from the Jeff Gordon Collection, which is produced at August Briggs Winery in Calistoga, and Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma. Gordon served his 2005 Chardonnay with the halibut, while Ravenswood served a Zinfandel with the tuna. Ravenswood will be the sponsor of the raceway’s pole-day qualifying on Friday, June 22. Prior to the luncheon, Gordon took part in a Mini Baby Shower, hosted by raceway president and general manager Steve Page. Gordon and his wife, Ingrid, are expecting their first child, a girl, in late June or early July. Gordon will return to the Sonoma Valley for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 22-24. For ticket information to the Toyota/Save Mart 350, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.(Infineon Raceway PR)(2-23-2007)
- Brian France off to China: A four-person NASCAR group, including chairman Brian France, was scheduled to depart April 22 [yesterday] for a week-long visit to China to discuss possible projects with government, sports and business officials in Beijing, the country’s capital. NASCAR has no plans to race its Nextel Cup series in China. The trip is likely to involve discussions about lower-level NASCAR-type events or series at Chinese racetracks and business relationships that might include NASCAR and Chinese interests. It was not known if any contracts or agreements might be signed on the trip. Scheduled to make the trip, in addition to France, were NASCAR senior vice president Paul Brooks, NASCAR international managing director Robbie Weiss and Ken Clapp, a NASCAR consultant and formerly NASCAR’s West Coast director. NASCAR officials have been discussing possible involvement in China for more than a year.(SceneDaily.com)(4-23-2007)
- Commerical breakdown for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix: Total number of commercials: 127
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 68
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 32
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 8:30pm
End time to record race/commercial periods: 11:41pm
Total minutes: 191
Minutes of race broadcast: 136
Minutes of commercials: 55
See full report at CawsnJaws.com.(4-23-2007) - NASCAR Busch Series at Talladega Live on ESPN on ABC: Talladega Superspeedway is famous for its high speeds and close competition, and the NASCAR Busch Series will make its only appearance of the 2007 season at the 2.66-mile Alabama track this weekend. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of Saturday’s 312-mile race beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown, the fourth of six series events on ABC this year. The other 29 events are televised by ESPN2. Jerry Punch will anchor the telecast from Talladega, joined in the booth by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree for analysis. Allen Bestwick, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro will serve as pit reporters. Brent Musburger will host the telecast, while analyst Brad Daugherty will join Musburger in the ESPN Pit Studio during the race, with analyst Tim Brewer at the ESPN Cutaway Car. Coverage will begin with the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the race to start at 3 p.m.(ESPN PR)(4-23-2007)
- Raybestos Rookie Notes for Talladega: Juan Pablo Montoya was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix. Montoya scored a 21st-place finish and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season. He led the race once for three laps. Marcos Ambrose holds a two-point edge over Montoya (88-86) in the Raybestos Rookie standings entering the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega. Ambrose is eighth in the Busch Series championship standings, best of any Raybestos Rookie. He is just four points behind seventh-place Mike Wallace and leads ninth-place Bobby Hamilton Jr. by one point.(Raybestos PR)(4-23-2007)
Main Page | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997