LOS ANGELES and BRISTOL, CONN.: The majority of this year’s Sprint Cup NASCAR races will be on cable. ESPN announced this week it would carry nine of the 10 Chase races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and 14 total for the season. ABC will carry just three races compared to 11 last year.
“ESPN will handle the other 14 races to end the season, starting with the Brickyard 400 on July 25 and concluding with the final race of the season Nov. 21 at Miami-Homestead,” the sports network said.
ESPN reaches around 100 million homes, versus the 115 million or so reached by broadcast.
“Last year’s performance showed us that ESPN provides the best home for NASCAR,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content, in a statement.
ABC will carry the three races it’s maintaining on Saturday nights. Those include Bristol, Tenn. (Aug. 21); Richmond, Va. (Sept. 11); and Charlotte (Oct. 16), with the Charlotte race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. NASCAR race coverage on ABC will be part of a 16-week, Saturday night sports series that will include the Little League World Series and 12 college football games.
(Image by Adam Balch)
