SPEED Channel's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut: Great Race, Strong Ratings

Florida Dodge Dealers 250
Daytona | 2/14/03
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02-19-2003

SPEED Channel's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut: Great Race, Strong Ratings

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The debut of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on SPEED Channel was a ratings success. SPEED's 1.03 household rating (576,000 HH) for the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 on Feb. 14 was the highest Daytona rating received by the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks since the series first ran at the famed speedway in 2000.

"The excitement SPEED and Craftsman have generated for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series right out of the blocks supports our philosophy that great racing with the proper tools of promotion and comprehensive coverage will result in passionate fan participation," said SPEED Channel President Jim Liberatore. "We realize that this is only one race, but we are happy we have a sturdy and significant platform to build on. We also want to thank FOX, FX and FSN for the support they have thrown behind the series."

According to Nielsen Media Research, SPEED Channel's 1.03 rating was a 75 percent increase over last year's Daytona season opener on ESPN (.6) and generated 14 percent more household impressions (576,000 to 507,000) and 42 percent more total viewers (870,000 to 612,000). The quarter-hour high for the SPEED broadcast (1:15 - 1:30 p.m.) was a 1.21 with more than one million total viewers.

"The long-term vision and commitment that SPEED has for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on television was unveiled last week in Daytona with fantastic results," said Paul Brooks, vice president of broadcasting, NASCAR. "More people are watching the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series than ever before and the positive excitement and enthusiasm from our teams, track owners, sponsors and fans is terrific."

"SPEED and the drivers of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series gave fans a terrific show at the first race of the 2003 season," said Touré Claiborne, Craftsman motorsports marketing manager. "We're off to a great start, and look forward to 24 more NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season on SPEED."

The home to NASCAR TV, SPEED Channel is the exclusive cable partner for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In addition to live coverage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series qualifying, SPEED Channel takes NASCAR fans through the week with Trackside, NASCAR Edition SpeedNews, Inside Winston Cup, Inside NBS, NCTS Rewind and Winston Cup Wednesday. Now available in more the 60 million homes in North America, SPEED Channel is the fastest growing sports cable network in the country.

www.speedtv.com