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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dirt will be back on NASCAR’s schedule next year and likely on Easter Sunday again if Fox Sports has its way.
NASCAR delivered the most-watched race at Bristol Motor Speedway since 2016 on Sunday night when an average 4,007,000 viewers tuned in as the Cup Series raced on dirt for the second consecutive season.
It marked the first time since NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season the Cup Series was deliberately scheduled to race on Easter; 10 times before were because of weather-related rescheduling, most recently in 1989.
It was Fox that had asked NASCAR to use its traditional off weekend to chase a primetime holiday audience. Based on Sunday night’s numbers, Fox wants Easter in its scheduling conversations.
“Look, we’re thrilled,” Bill Wanger, Fox Sports executive vice president and head of programming and scheduling, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “We’re talking to NASCAR about plans for ‘23 and obviously that’s part of the mix.”
Despite two late rain delays, Bristol viewership was up 28% over last year’s race, which was also rain-delayed but run on a Monday during daylight. It was also up 20% over last season’s ninth race of the year (Richmond).
The race was the most-viewed among the 18-to-49 demographic since the Daytona 500 in February.
“I like having the dirt race, I think it’s a different format and obviously the numbers spike when it is on dirt,” Wanger said. “Also the younger demos on Easter with the dirt, we like the dirt.”
Bristol Motor Speedway president Jerry Caldwell has already said the spring race in 2023 will be a dirt race for a third consecutive year but noted the date was not decided.
Wanger didn’t need to consult a calendar to discuss NASCAR returning to primetime Fox next Easter. He knows the holiday falls on April 9, 2023, which he said is known to television programmers as “Masters Sunday.”
NASCAR learned in its first year of dirt that the event had to be at night because of visibility issues…
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Source : yahoo
