Seasons covered:
  • 1998
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2003
    •


    The November 1998 issue of Stock Car Racing Magazine ran a story about racing on TV. Various people from ESPN pointed out that the producer and director make every attempt to stay with the action after the caution comes out to cover pit stops. They also try to make every attempt to return to the coverage before the re-start. That started me thinking. Knowing the frequency of commercials that are run during the race, I was curious as to how long these commercial breaks were and how long they stayed with the coverage during the green flag, how long they were away during cautions, and when-and-where they broke away from or returned to coverage.
    'Ratio' is the amount of time the broadcaster spent in commercial during the race. This does not include programming before the green flag or after the checkered flag.

    'Blunders' is where the broadcaster comes back from break when the green flag has already been thrown after a caution.
    1998 was just a test. 1999 resulted from frustration and the realization that the networks were squeezing more commercial time into the broadcasts and I just wanted to create some imperical data to prove it.

    With the massive TV deal NASCAR has recently reached with NBC and FOX in 2001, I am determined to gather data on as many races as possible this year and next.

    I and the rest of the 'Net world can see for themselves if NASCAR made the right decision in elliminating competition between the TV/cable networks to pocket the almighty buck.

    Networks covered:
  • ABC
  • CBS
  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • FOX
  • FOX Sports
  • FX
  • NBC
  • SPEED
  • TBS
  • TNN
  • TNT
    • Note:

    I ran my first set of data in '98. 1999's data collection method was refined. Half of '99's data was gathered using an old analog stop watch (no lap timer). Since then, I have been using a digital stop watch and my proceedure for timing is significantly more accurate. The 1998 results are the least accurate and data gathered after 9/4/99 are the most accurate.


    Click on the race name to view the data.
    [1998] [1999] [2000] [2001]

    1998
    Date Series     Race Ratio Blunders
     
    ESPN
    11/07/98 BGN Stihl 300 18.75%  
     
    TNN
    11/01/98 WC AC-Delco 400 24.55% 3


    1999
    Date Series     Race Ratio Blunders
     
    ABC
    08/07/99 WC Brickyard 400 28.25%  
     
    ESPN2
    11/20/99 ARCA Georgia Boot 400 17.89%  
    08/14/99 BGNN Pepsi 150 22.28%  
    09/09/99 CTS Virginia Is For Lovers200 29.49% 1
     
    ESPN
    08/06/99 BGN Kroger 200 23.70%  
    08/21/99 BGN Napa 200 17.75%  
    09/04/99 BGN Dura Lube 200 18.29%  
    09/10/99 BGN Autolite Platinum 250 27.92%  
    08/05/99 CTS Power Stroke 200 27.70%  
    08/20/99 CTS Ram Tough 200 26.86% 1
    08/28/99 CTS O'Reilly Auto Parts 275 27.32%  
    10/08/99 CTS Kroger 225 29.77% 5
    10/15/99 CTS O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 24.06%  
    10/30/99 CTS NAPA Auto Parts 200 25.45%  
    08/15/99 WC Frontier @ The Glen 23.66%  
    08/22/99 WC Pepsi 400 24.48% 2
    08/28/99 WC Goody's Headache Powder 500 25.30% 3
    09/11/99 WC Exide Select Batteries 400 24.27% 2
    10/17/99 WC Winston 500 22.60%  
    11/21/99 WC NAPA 500 26.37% 2
     
    NBC
    11/13/99 BGN Hotwheels.com 300 @ Miami 21.15%  
    11/14/99 WC Penzoil 400 24.10% 1
     
    TBS
    10/09/99 BGN All Pro Bumper To Bumper 300 28.13% 1
    10/11/99 BGN UAW/GM Quality 500 23.40%  
     
    TNN
    08/09/99 ASA Dura Stop 300 24.45% 2
    08/28/99 ASA Time Warner Cable 200 26.92% 2
    09/06/99 ASA Miller Lite 300 24.68% 2
    09/12/99 ASA Pontiac Excitement 400 24.49% 1
    10/02/99 ASA North Carolina Sweet Potato 400 25.36% 1
    10/23/99 BGN Kmart 200 28.56% 1
    10/31/99 BGN Sam's Town 250 28.24% 1
    11/06/99 BGN Outback Steakhouse 200 25.40% 1
    09/17/99 BGNN New Hampshire Busch North 100 22.75%  
    09/19/99 WC Dura Lube/Kmart 300 27.28% 1
    09/26/99 WC MBNA Gold 400 27.53% 2
    10/24/99 WC Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 27.01%  
    11/07/99 WC Checker Auto Parts Dura Lube 500K 26.73%  


    2000
    Date Series     Race Ratio Blunders
     
    ABC
    04/16/00 IROC IROC XXVII Race #2 30.99%
    04/16/00 WC Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 26.91% 1
    02/20/00 WC Diehard 500 25.03% 1
    04/30/00 WC NAPA Auto Parts 500 27.95% 1
    08/05/00 WC Brickyard 400 28.96% 1
     
    CBS
    02/19/00 BGN NAPA Auto Parts 300 25.92%  
    07/01/00 CTS Milwaukee 300 24.16%  
    07/15/00 CTS Chevy Silverado 200 24.27% 2
    02/20/00 WC Daytona 500 25.05%  
    04/02/00 WC DirecTV 500 21.45%  
    04/02/00 WC Kmart 400 20.31%  
    07/01/00 WC Pepsi 400 25.54%  
     
    ESPN
    03/18/00 BGN SunCom 200 23.93%
    03/25/00 BGN Cheez-It 250 26.13%
    04/29/00 BGN Auto Club 300 25.06%
    06/25/00 BGN Lysol 200 27.45% 1
    07/16/00 BGN Econo Lodge 200 25.73% 1
    08/04/00 BGN Kroger 200 28.61% 1
    08/19/00 BGN NAPA Online.com 250 25.51%
    08/25/00 BGN Food City 250 25.09% 3
    09/02/00 BGN Dura-Lube 200 29.68%
    03/18/00 CTS Chevy Trucks 150 22.22%
    04/10/00 CTS NAPA 250 27.02%
    04/22/00 CTS Line-X 225K 28.59% 3
    05/07/00 CTS Ram Tough 200 24.21%
    05/13/00 CTS Quakerstate 200 30.32% 1
    05/21/00 CTS Grainger.com 200 26.09% 1
    06/03/00 CTS Sears200 27.67% 1
    06/17/00 CTS Kroger 220 26.61% 1
    06/24/00 CTS Bully Hill Vinyard 150 28.69% 1
    07/22/00 CTS Michigan 200 26.81%
    08/03/00 CTS Power Stroke 200 28.82% 3
    08/27/00 CTS Sears Craftsman 175 30.91% 4
    03/19/00 WC Mall.com 400 25.47%
    04/09/00 WC Goody's Body Pain 500 27.98% 6
    05/05/00 WC Pontiac Excitement 400 26.51% 3
    06/25/00 WC Save Mart/Kragen 350 25.79%
    08/13/00 WC Global Crossing@The Glen 23.52%
    08/13/00 WC Pepsi 400 Presented by Craftsman 24.95%
    08/26/00 WC goracing.com 500 23.98% 3
    09/03/00 WC Pepsi Southern 500 22.30%
    09/09/00 WC Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 24.36%
    10/01/00 WC NAPA Auto Care 500 24.28% 1
    10/15/00 WC Winston 500 24.61%
    11/20/00 WC NAPA 500 24.73%
     
    ESPN2
    04/15/00 BGN Touchstone Energy 300 23.43%
    05/05/00 BGN Hardee's 250 23.71%
    07/22/00 BGN NAPA Auto Care 250 21.68%
    09/08/00 BGN Autolite/Fram 250 24.40%
    10/28/00 BGN Motorola 200 25.46%
    02/26/00 CTS Florida Dodge Dealers 400 26.62%
    03/26/00 CTS Dodge California Truck Stop 250 26.80% 1
    08/11/00 CTS Federated Auto Parts 250 30.52% 3
    09/07/00 CTS Kroger 200 26.89% 1
     
    NBC
    11/11/00 BGN Miami 300 24.91% 1
    11/12/00 WC Pennzoil 400 24.39%
     
    TBS
    05/27/00 BGN Carquest Auto Parts 300 26.01% 1
    10/07/00 BGN All Pro Bumper To Bumper 300 31.57% 1
    05/28/00 WC Coca-Cola 600 23.68%
    07/23/00 WC Pennsylvania 500 28.65%
    10/08/00 WC UAW/GM Quality 500 27.54%
     
    TNN
    07/30/00 ASA Glass City 300 26.30% 3
    09/04/00 ASA Miller Lite 300 25.86%
    09/10/00 ASA Memphis 200 30.37% 2
    10/01/00 ASA Winchester 400 25.54% 5
    02/26/00 BGN ALLTELL 200 26.01% 1
    03/08/00 BGN Bellsouth Mobility 320 29.36% 4
    05/13/00 BGN Busch 200 27.84%
    06/17/00 BGN Myrtle Beach 250 30.93% 1
    07/29/00 BGN CarQuest Auto Parts 250 30.60%
    09/23/00 BGN MBNA.com 200 28.24%
    10/21/00 BGN Sam's Club 200 27.09%
    10/29/00 BGN Sam's Town 250 26.78%
    11/04/00 BGN Outback Steakhouse 200 27.70%
    09/16/00 BGNN New Hampshire 125 22.25% 1
    09/16/00 FMS New Hampshire 100 27.69%
    02/27/00 WC Dura-Lube/Kmart 400 28.30%
    06/04/00 WC MBNA Platinum 400 30.39%
    09/17/00 WC Dura Lube 300 27.85% 1
    09/24/00 WC MBNA.com 400 27.00% 1
    10/22/00 WC Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 26.78%
    11/05/00 WC Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 25.75% 4


    2001
    Date Series     Race Ratio Blunders
     
    ESPN
    02/15/01 CTS Florida Dodge Dealers 250 26.68%
    05/20/01 CTS Jelly Belly 200 29.12%
    06/23/01 CTS Memphis 200 26.12% 1
    07/07/01 CTS O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 26.66%
    07/14/01 CTS Kroger 225 28.53% 1
    08/10/01 CTS Federated Auto Parts 200 26.34%
    08/18/01 CTS Sears Craftsman 175 29.05%
    08/26/01 CTS Chevy Silverado 200 28.06%
    09/28/01 CTS John Boy and Bill 250 26.27% 1
    11/03/01 CTS Auto Club 200 27.56%
     
    ESPN2
    03/17/01 CTS OSH 250 27.40%
     
    FOX
    03/30/01 BGN Jani King 300 20.96%
    04/21/01 BGN Subway 300 22.58%
    02/11/01 WC Budweiser Shootout 15.57%
    02/18/01 WC Daytona 500 24.06%
    03/11/01 WC Cracker Barrel 500 22.12%
    03/18/01 WC Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 22.39% 2
    03/25/01 WC Food City 500 24.99% 3
    04/01/01 WC Harrah's 500 22.24% 1
    04/08/01 WC Virginia 500 19.70% 1
    04/22/01 WC Talladega 500 25.70%
    04/22/01 WC NAPA Auto Parts 500 22.93%
    05/27/01 WC Coca-Cola 600 23.31%
    06/03/01 WC MBNA Platinum 400 25.29%
    06/17/01 WC Pocono 500 23.62%
    06/24/01 WC Dodge/Save Mart 350 22.66%
     
    FOX Sports Net
    06/09/01 ARCA FLAGSTAR 200 27.12%
    02/15/01 WC Gatorade 125 Race 2 17.74%
     
    FX
    06/16/01 ARCA Pocono ARCA 200 29.37%
    02/24/01 BGN ALLTELL 200 21.65%
    03/10/01 BGN Aarons 312 27.52%
    03/17/01 BGN SunCom 200 25.94%
    03/24/01 BGN Cheez-It 250 25.31% 1
    04/14/01 BGN Pepsi 300 24.04%
    05/04/01 BGN Hardee's 250 27.80% 1
    05/12/01 BGN CVS Pharmacy 200 32.31%
    05/20/01 BGN Nazarath 200 33.55%
    06/16/01 BGN Outback Steakhouse 300 27.57% 1
    07/01/01 BGN Live Well 250 27.48% 1
    05/05/01 WC Pontiac Excitement 400 26.99% 2
    06/10/01 WC Kmart 400 27.65% 1
     
    NBC
    07/14/01 BGN Hills Bros Coffee 300 25.96%
    07/28/01 BGN NAPA Auto Care 250 26.51% 1
    08/11/01 BGNN Little Trees 150 26.18%
    11/10/01 BGN GNC Live Well 300 25.87%
    07/07/01 WC Pepsi 400 28.94%
    07/15/01 WC Tropicana 400 25.59%
    08/05/01 WC Brickyard 400 24.16%
    08/12/01 WC Global Crossing@The Glen 26.12%
    09/08/01 WC Chevy Monte Carlo 400 26.60% 1
    09/23/01 WC MBNA Cal Ripkin 400 25.33% 2
    09/30/01 WC Protection One 400 24.77%
    10/21/01 WC EA Sports 500 28.33%
    10/28/01 WC Checker Auto Parts 500 28.61% 1
    11/11/01 WC Pennzoil Freedom 400 23.35%
     
    TNN
    05/06/01 ASA Actionline 300 26.06% 1
    07/08/01 ASA Chicago 200 24.48% 2
     
    TNT
    07/28/01 ARCA Pepsi 200 23.71%
    07/08/01 BGN GNC LiveWell 200 26.44% 1
    08/18/01 BGN NAPAOnline.com 250 26.40% 1
    08/24/01 BGN Cat Rental Stores 250 28.67%
    09/07/01 BGN Autolite Fram 250 23.31% 1
    10/06/01 BGN Little Trees 300 14.52%
    10/27/01 BGN Outback Steakhouse 200 25.41%
    11/03/01 BGN Sam's Club 200 24.60%
    07/22/01 WC New England 300 25.78%
    07/29/01 WC Pennsylvania 500 26.07%
    08/19/01 WC Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer 18.75%
    08/25/01 WC Sharpie 500 25.01% 1
    09/08/01 WC Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 26.60% 1
    10/07/01 WC UAW-GM Quality 500 23.97% 2
    11/04/01 WC Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 29.12% 2


    2002
    Date Series     Race Ratio Blunders
     
    ESPN
    02/15/01 CTS O'Reilly 400 28.18% 2
    06/29/02 CTS GNC Live Well 200 26.69%
    07/06/02 CTS O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 25.59%
    07/27/02 CTS Michigan 200 23.68%
     
    ESPN2
    03/16/02 CTS Craftsman Anniversary 200 26.04%
    05/05/02 CTS Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 28.37%
     
    FOX
    02/23/02 BGN 1-866-RBCTERM.com 200 24.96% 1
    04/06/02 BGN O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 27.18%
    04/27/02 BGN Auto Club 300 29.53%
    02/24/02 WC Subway 400 24.09% 1
    03/10/02 WC MBNA America 500 27.59%
    03/17/02 WC Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 28.69%
    03/24/02 WC Food City 500 29.05% 3
    04/12/02 WC Aaron's 499 28.08%
    04/28/02 WC NAPA Auto Parts 500 29.29%
    05/19/02 WC Sirius Satalite Radio 400 27.66%
    06/09/02 WC Pocono 500 29.77%
    06/23/02 WC Dodge/Save Mart 350K 30.97% 1
    07/06/02 WC Pepsi 400 28.77% 1
     
    FX
    03/16/02 BGN Darlington.Com 200 30.28%
    03/23/02 BGN Channellock 250 25.50% 1
    04/13/02 BGN Pepsi 300 28.47%
    05/29/02 BGN Stacker 2 200 28.71% 1
    05/03/02 BGN Hardee's 250 29.15% 2
    06/08/02 BGN Nashville 300 28.54% 1
    07/05/02 BGN GNC Live Well 250 28.77%
    07/05/02 BGN Stacker2/GNC LiveWell 250 24.77%
    04/14/02 WC Virginia 500 28.46% 1
     
    NBC
    11/09/02 BGN Basha's 200 25.95% 1
    11/16/02 BGN Ford 300 23.75%
    02/17/02 WC Daytona 500 25.63% 1
    07/14/02 WC Tropicana 400 29.54%
    08/04/02 WC Brickyard 400 27.15%
    08/11/02 WC Serius Stalite Radio@The Glen 28.88%
    08/24/02 WC Sharpie 500 33.11%
    09/15/02 WC New Hampshire 300 26.36%
    09/29/02 WC Protection One 400 23.36%
    10/27/02 WC NAPA 500 22.71%
    10/06/02 WC EA Sports 500 25.65%
    11/09/02 WC Checker Auto Parts 500 28.02%
    11/17/02 WC Ford 400 21.94% 1
     
    SPEED
    04/27/02 WW Pontiac Wide Track Grand Prix 200 25.03%
     
    TNT
    02/16/02 BGN EAS/GNC LiveWell 300 26.32%
    08/03/02 BGN Kroger 200 24.77% 1
    08/17/02 BGN Cabela's 250 26.50%
    09/21/02 BGN MBNA All American Heros 200 30.72%
    10/12/02 BGN Little Trees 300 30.22%
    10/26/02 BGN Arron's 312 26.83%
    11/02/02 BGN Sam's Club 200 30.35%
    02/10/02 WC Budweiser Shootout 23.84%
    02/14/02 WC Gatorade 125 Race 1 24.38%
    02/14/02 WC Gatorade 125 Race 2 18.97%
    07/21/02 WC New England 300 28.17%
    08/18/02 WC Pepsi 400 29.67%
    09/01/02 WC Mountain Dew Southern 500 31.02%
    09/22/02 WC MBNA All American Heros 400 32.88%
    11/03/02 WC Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 32.10%


    2003
    Date Series     Race Ratio Blunders
     
    FOX
    02/15/03 BGN Koolerz 300 30.04%
    03/22/03 BGN Channellock 250 25.03% 2
    04/05/03 BGN Aaron's 312 26.09%
    04/26/03 BGN 1-800-PitShop.com 300 28.34% 1
    02/16/03 WC Daytona 500 29.78%
    02/23/03 WC Subway 400 23.68% 1
    03/09/03 WC Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 24.28%
    03/16/03 WC Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 24.47% 1
    03/30/03 WC Samsung/RadioShack 500 23.29%
    04/06/03 WC Aaron's 499 28.79%
    04/13/03 WC Virginia 500 27.13% 3
    04/27/03 WC Auto Club 500 28.19% 1
    06/08/03 WC Pocono 500 27.84%
    06/15/03 WC Sirius Satalite Radio 400 33.45%
    06/22/03 WC Dodge/Save Mart 350K 25.72% 1
     
    FX
    05/02/03 BGN Hardee's 250 26.76% 3
    05/18/03 BGN Gould's Pumps 200 30.25%
    06/07/03 BGN Trace Adkins Chrome 300 27.44% 1
    06/29/03 BGN GNC Live Well 250 30.04%
    05/03/03 WC Pontiac Excitement 400 28.73% 4
    05/25/03 WC Coca-Cola 600 31.01%
    06/01/03 WC MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 29.22%
     
    NBC
    07/12/03 BGN Tropicana Twister 300 22.72%
    07/26/03 BGN Trim Spa Dream Body 250 23.00%
    08/30/03 BGN Winn-Dixie 200 25.93%
    07/13/03 WC Tropicana 400 27.06%
    08/3/03 WC Brickyard 400 26.87%
    08/10/03 WC Serius at The Glen 22.80%
    08/31/03 WC Mountain Dew Southern 500 21.38%
    09/21/03 WC MBNA America 400 21.14%
    10/11/03 WC UWA-GM Quality 500 27.95%
    10/19/03 WC Subway 500 22.20% 1
    11/2/03 WC Checker Auto Parts 500 25.78%
     
    SPEED
    05/11/03 ARCA Channel 5 205 23.51%
    08/09/03 ARCA Waste Management 200 24.94%
    03/23/03 CTS Lucas Oil 250 24.51%
    04/12/03 CTS Advance Auto Parts 250 26.59% 1
    06/21/03 CTS O'Reilly 200 29.03% 1
    06/28/03 CTS GNC Live Well 200 28.80%
    07/05/03 CTS O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 22.05%
    07/12/03 CTS Built Ford Tough 225 28.22%
    07/19/03 CTS Dodge Ram Tough 200 25.49%
    07/26/03 CTS Sears 200 28.02%
    09/20/03 CTS American Racing Wheels 200 26.99%
     
    TNT
    07/04/03 BGN Winn-Dixie 250 33.93% 3
    08/02/03 BGN Kroger 200 presented by Tom Raper RVs 29.38%
    09/05/03 BGN Funai 250 29.01%
    10/18/03 BGN Sam's Town 250 30.14%
    07/26/03 WC Pennsylvania 500 31.48%
    08/17/03 WC GFS Marketplace 400 25.27% 1
    08/23/03 WC Sharpie 500 27.26% 1
    09/6/03 WC Chevy Rock and Roll 400 28.38% 1
    09/14/03 WC Sylvania 300 29.23%


    Please     Email me with any comments.

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