Daytona 500 In Primetime Provides Chance For TV Experiment

YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel writes the primetime start for the Daytona 500 "might be the best thing to possibly happen," with the scheduling lending "a sort of 'Monday Night Football' feel to the entire thing." There has been a "slow undercurrent of debate that the circuit should start its fall Chase for the Cup on a weeknight in an effort to call attention to its playoff system and avoid such overwhelming competition" from the NFL, and "maybe this is the forced experiment that makes that a reality" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/27).

Fox will air the full lineup of advertisements that were scheduled to run during yesterday's coverage prior to the race being postponed due to rain. If the final rating falls short of Fox' guarantee to media buyers due to the Monday start, then it will work with advertisers to make them whole with spots in future races (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal).