Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The "Daytona 500" TV Ratings Are Through the Roof!

-Danica Patrick has landed NASCAR more numbers yet again.  It's surmised that Patrick's participation and records set (First woman pole-setter, first woman to lead a lap in the Daytona 500, only 1 of 13 to have led laps at both the Daytona 500 and Indy 500) has helped NASCAR have a good time with the TV ratings for this latest, the 2013 D500.

Per MediaLifeMagazine.com the TV ratings for this years Daytona race were 30% higher than last year's race, that was held on a Monday night.  (Due to the weather delay last year.)

But ignoring last year, the ratings were also the highest the race has seen in seven years.

-

Note: I'm about to toss out some weird numbers in relation to the ratings.  If you want to know more about these mystery numbers, I have an article on my parent site, TV Ratings Explained.

-

This race had the best increase from the previous year, ever. Well, if you count back to 2006 when it first aired on NBC as "ever."  And the ratings climbed as the race drew to a close.  The show averaged a 10.0 household rating, but it climbed to a 12.8 as the race wound down.  And numbers like that are always good for our sport.

-

First, I can see that some fans didn't want to deal with the usual "roundy-round" racing, as I've heard it called before, but would rather just dial in to see the end result of the race.  Admittedly, races can get pretty long-winded.  Unlike the Nationwide races, where there's no middle-section for drivers to pace out in.

Second, though Danica Patrick was making waves this year this restrictor plate race, I have to wonder if it was all her?  She was in the race last year, albeit, for a lap, but I don't remember huge ratings for that event.

Third, there's other supposition that the horrible accident that claimed 30 fan injuries the day before at Daytona may have also drawn in the TV viewing crowd.  And I do believe that one, being that what I observe at sports bars week in and week out, the bar crowd gets very focused when something sensational, horrible or eye-catching occurs.

In fact, I was at a bar after the Saturday Nationwide Daytona race finished.  When there was a recap on the TV, no one was really paying attention to the regular information.  But the moment they started replaying the wreck, almost everyone to a tee stood up and drifted over to the TV to watch the replay.

When the news turned to the upcoming 500, they all drifted back to their seats.

So I am thinking, as I've seen, that the potential for wrecks draws in a piece of the ratings pie.  I've asked people point-blank about why they might watch NASCAR, and it's not a pretty answer:  "For the wrecks."

The problem I have is that I hear that more than I'd like.

-

But regardless, it's time for the Danica Patrick to get to work.

She's in good equipment and many are expecting good things out of her.

I'm worried because when she raced in the Nationwide series last year and only mustered up a top-10 in points finish and didn't dominate.  Almost any Cup Series driver that participates in the Nationwide races tend to dominate.

Heck, she didn't even dominate when she was testing in the ARCA series.

But here's hoping that her 2013 season soothes the naysayers and she not only makes a name for herself, but for the sport.  Because I can only see big things like more records being broken by Danica Patrick.

Meanwhile, her relationship with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. can't possibly be hurting his media exposure either!!!

Monday, February 25, 2013

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official Race Results from the "Daytona 500"

Below you can catch the official race results from the first race of the 2013 NASCAR season, the Daytona 500.  We have drivers points, bonus points, owners points and other points!!!

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Race Comments: Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500, his 61st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Prior to the green flag, the following cars dropped to the rear for the reason indicated: #21, 39, 51, 99 (backup car).

NEXT EVENT: March 3, 2013 - 9th Annual SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, AZ (312 Miles) (312 Laps)

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OFFICIAL RACE REPORT No. 1
55TH ANNUAL DAYTONA "500"
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Daytona Beach, FL - February 24, 2013
2.5-Mile Oval
200 Laps - 500 Miles Purse: $19,346,972


Fin

Car




Series

Bonus



Leader


Pos

No

Driver

Team

Laps

Points

Points

Winnings

Status

Times

Laps

1

48

Jimmie Johnson

Lowe's Chevrolet

200

47

4

$1,525,275

Running

4

17

2

88

Dale Earnhardt Jr

National Guard Chevrolet

200

42

0

1,104,814

Running



3

55

Mark Martin

Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota

200

41

0

817,013

Running



4

2

Brad Keselowski

Miller Lite Ford

200

41

1

707,855

Running

4

13

5

39

Ryan Newman

Quicken Loans Chevrolet

200

40

1

578,471

Running

2

3

6

16

Greg Biffle

3M Ford

200

38

0

461,389

Running



7

51

Regan Smith

Phoenix Construction Chevrolet

200

0

0

411,822

Running

1

1

8

10

Danica Patrick #

GoDaddy Chevrolet

200

37

1

357,464

Running

2

5

9

98

Michael McDowell

K-Love/Curb Records Ford

200

35

0

366,121

Running



10

36

J.J. Yeley

Golden Corral Chevrolet

200

34

0

344,338

Running



11

15

Clint Bowyer

5-hour Energy Toyota

200

34

1

373,096

Running

1

1

12

17

Ricky Stenhouse Jr #

Best Buy Ford

200

32

0

373,399

Running



13

43

Aric Almirola

Smithfield Ford

200

31

0

356,449

Running



14

11

Denny Hamlin

FedEx Express Toyota

200

31

1

330,739

Running

3

33

15

47

Bobby Labonte

Kroger Toyota

200

29

0

337,647

Running



16

83

David Reutimann

Burger King Toyota

200

28

0

324,872

Running



17

7

Dave Blaney

Florida Lottery Chevrolet

200

27

0

322,785

Running



18

9

Marcos Ambrose

Stanley Ford

200

26

0

340,052

Running



19

22

Joey Logano

Shell Pennzoil Ford

200

26

1

339,097

Running

1

2

20

24

Jeff Gordon

Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet

200

25

1

360,799

Running

1

31

21

27

Paul Menard

Menards/Peak Chevrolet

200

24

1

343,279

Running

1

1

22

26

Michael Waltrip

Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota

200

23

1

309,564

Running

2

4

23

95

Scott Speed

Leavine Family Racing Ford

200

22

1

305,514

Running

1

2

24

56

Martin Truex Jr

NAPA Auto Parts Toyota

200

20

0

340,114

Running



25

93

Travis Kvapil

Burger King Toyota

199

20

1

317,038

Running

1

1

26

32

Terry Labonte

C&J Energy Services Ford

199

18

0

307,838

Running



27

21

Trevor Bayne

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford

198

0

0

306,789

Running



28

78

Kurt Busch

Furniture Row Chevrolet

195

16

0

336,234

Running



29

13

Casey Mears

GEICO Ford

181

15

0

312,314

Running



30

31

Jeff Burton

Caterpillar Chevrolet

176

14

0

311,013

Accident



31

33

Austin Dillon

Honeynut Cheerios Chevrolet

175

0

0

313,563

Running



32

1

Jamie McMurray

McDonald's Chevrolet

161

12

0

328,933

Running



33

99

Carl Edwards

Fastenal Ford

159

11

0

334,164

Running



34

18

Kyle Busch

M&M's Toyota

151

10

0

377,110

Engine



35

34

David Ragan

Detail Doctor Ford

150

9

0

308,188

Accident



36

5

Kasey Kahne

Farmers Insurance Chevrolet

150

8

0

334,293

Running



37

20

Matt Kenseth

Dollar General Toyota

149

9

2

544,306

Engine

4

86

38

38

David Gilliland

Love's Travel Stops Ford

144

6

0

283,879

Accident



39

42

Juan Pablo Montoya

Target Chevrolet

144

5

0

318,693

Running



40

35

Josh Wise

MDS Transport Ford

137

0

0

276,953

Accident



41

14

Tony Stewart

Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet

118

3

0

321,179

Running



42

29

Kevin Harvick

Budweiser Chevrolet

47

2

0

345,168

Accident



43

87

Joe Nemechek

MaddiesPlaceRocks.com/DAB Construct. Toyota

42

0

0

264,354

Engine

# Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender.
Bonus Points: includes winner, lap leader & most laps led points
(i) = Ineligible for driver points in this series

Failed to qualify: (2) #52 Brian Keselowski; #19 Mike Bliss

TIME OF RACE:  3 hours, 8 minutes, 23 seconds AVERAGE SPEED:  159.25 mph MARGIN OF VICTORY:  0.129 second(s)

COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD:
Danica Patrick (196.434 mph. 45.817 secs.)

3M LAP LEADER:
Matt Kenseth (86 Laps)

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Danica Patrick
++Rollover money awarded at year's end, amount not included in race winnings.

Caution Flags:
6 cautions for 24 laps. [Beneficiary in Brackets]
28-30 (Debris [87]);
34-36 (Car #1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 18, 29, 42, 78 Accident Tri-Oval [38]);
86-89 (Debris [36]);
139-146 (Car #2, 17, 21, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 99 Accident Turn 1 [None]);
178-181 (Car #31 Accident Tri-Oval [22]);
193-194 (Debris [32]).

Lap Leaders:
28 lead changes among 14 drivers. Patrick-pole, J. Gordon 1-31, Johnson 32-36, Kenseth 37-39, Bowyer 40, Kenseth 41-71, Menard 72, Newman 73-74, Waltrip 75, Newman 76, Hamlin 77-85, Kvapil 86, Waltrip 87-89, Patrick 90-91, Hamlin 92, Kenseth 93-126, Patrick 127-129, Logano 130-131, Kenseth 132-149, Hamlin 150-172, Smith 173, Keselowski 174-176, Speed 177-178, Keselowski 179-185, Johnson 186, Keselowski 187, Johnson 188, Keselowski 189-190, Johnson 191-200.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES TOP 12

Driver

Points

Wins

1 - Jimmie Johnson

47

(1)

2 - Dale Earnhardt Jr

42

(0)

3 - Mark Martin

41

(0)

4 - Brad Keselowski

41

(0)

5 - Ryan Newman

40

(0)

6 - Greg Biffle

38

(0)

7 - Danica Patrick

37

(0)

8 - Michael McDowell

35

(0)

9 - J.J. Yeley

34

(0)

10 - Clint Bowyer

34

(0)

11 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr

32

(0)

12 - Aric Almirola

31

(0)

 


CHECK THIS OUT???  Their dates may get awkward as this keeps up! 

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Driver

Points

Danica Patrick

14

Ricky Stenhouse Jr

10

 

NOTE: The above figures are based upon team winnings and include racing purse and cash contingency awards by participating manufacturers. (2/25/2013)

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OWNER LEADERS
Race #1: 55TH ANNUAL DAYTONA "500" Race Date: 2/24/2013

POS

Car #

Owner

Points

Starts

Wins

Top5

Top10

Attempts

1

48

JEFF GORDON

47

1

1

1

1

1

2

88

RICK HENDRICK

42

1

0

1

1

1

3

55

MICHAEL WALTRIP

41

1

0

1

1

1

4

2

ROGER PENSKE

41

1

0

1

1

1

5

39

TONY STEWART

40

1

0

1

1

1

6

16

JACK ROUSH

38

1

0

0

1

1

7

51

JAMES FINCH

38

1

0

0

1

1

8

10

GENE HAAS

37

1

0

0

1

1

9

98

MIKE CURB

35

1

0

0

1

1

10

36

ALLAN HEINKE

34

1

0

0

1

1

11

15

ROB KAUFFMAN

34

1

0

0

0

1

12

17

JOHN HENRY

32

1

0

0

0

1

13

43

RICHARD PETTY

31

1

0

0

0

1

14

11

J D GIBBS

31

1

0

0

0

1

15

47

TAD GESCHICKTER

29

1

0

0

0

1

16

83

RON DEVINE

28

1

0

0

0

1

17

7

TOMMY BALDWIN

27

1

0

0

0

1

18

9

RICHARD PETTY

26

1

0

0

0

1

19

22

WALTER CZARNECKI

26

1

0

0

0

1

20

24

RICK HENDRICK

25

1

0

0

0

1

21

27

RICHARD CHILDRESS

24

1

0

0

0

1

22

30

BRANDON DAVIS

23

1

0

0

0

1

23

95

BOB LEAVINE

22

1

0

0

0

1

24

56

MICHAEL WALTRIP

20

1

0

0

0

1

25

93

RON DEVINE

20

1

0

0

0

1

26

32

FRANK STODDARD JR.

18

1

0

0

0

1

27

21

GLEN WOOD

17

1

0

0

0

1

28

78

BARNEY VISSER

16

1

0

0

0

1

29

13

BOB GERMAIN

15

1

0

0

0

1

30

31

RICHARD CHILDRESS

14

1

0

0

0

1

31

33

JOE FALK

13

1

0

0

0

1

32

1

FELIX SABATES

12

1

0

0

0

1

33

99

JACK ROUSH

11

1

0

0

0

1

34

18

JOE GIBBS

10

1

0

0

0

1

35

34

BOB JENKINS

9

1

0

0

0

1

36

20

JOE GIBBS

9

1

0

0

0

1

37

5

LINDA HENDRICK

8

1

0

0

0

1

38

38

BRAD JENKINS

6

1

0

0

0

1

39

42

CHIP GANASSI

5

1

0

0

0

1

40

35

JERRY FREEZE

4

1

0

0

0

1

41

14

MARGARET HAAS

3

1

0

0

0

1

42

29

RICHARD CHILDRESS

2

1

0

0

0

1

43

87

ANDREA NEMECHEK

1

1

0

0

0

1

44

152

BOB KESELOWSKI

0

0

0

0

0

1

45

19

RANDY HUMPHREY

0

0

0

0

0

1