2004 NEXTEL Cup TV Highlights

I.                    2004 NNCS YTD Ratings and Households up

§         Network: The 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series network rating of 6.3 is up +3% over the 2003 network rating of 6.1. An average of 6.8 million households are tuning in to each network event, up +4% over 2003.

§         Overall: An average of 6.5 million households and 9.8 million viewers are tuning in to each NNCS event (network and cable combined) in 2004 (+5% versus 2003).  

II.                  The NNCS has been the #1 sporting event on network television 7 of 11 weekends in 2004

III.                Ratings up in Several Major Markets and Demographic groups

§         Several major markets are experiencing substantial NNCS ratings increases in 2004, including Orlando (+34%), Miami (+25%), Seattle (+18%), Dallas (+17%), Los Angeles (+15%), Atlanta (+11%), and Minneapolis (+8%).

§         Females 18-24 and 18-34 are experiencing substantial increases in NNCS viewership in 2004 (+23% and +19%, respectively). NNCS viewership among males 18-24 is also increasing in 2004 (+15%).

IV.                Race Highlights YTD

§         Race 1: Daytona 500 (#1 televised sporting event of the weekend)

o        Second highest rated and second most viewed Daytona 500 in history^[1] (10.6 rating and an average of 11.5 million households and 17.8 million viewers)

o        Rated higher than the NBA All-Star game and the PGA Buick Invitational

§         Race 2: The Subway 400 at Rockingham (#1 sporting event of the weekend)

o        Rated higher than the PGA Nissan Open

o        Qualifying rated higher than NHL and many NCAA college basketball games

§         Race 3: UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas (#1 sporting event of the weekend)

o        Rated higher than the PGA Ford Championship and various NBA games

o        Qualifying rated higher than Formula 1’s primetime season opener

§         Race 4: Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta (#1 sporting event of the weekend)  

o        Rated higher than the PGA Honda Classic and all NCAA basketball Conference tournament games that aired the same weekend

o        Qualifying also rated higher than many of the NCAA Conference tournament games

§         Race 5: Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington (#2 sport of the weekend)

o        Rated higher than many of the games from the second round of the NCAA Championship tournament

§         Race 6: The Food City 500 at Bristol (#2 sport of the weekend)

o        Rated higher than the PGA Player’s Championship as well as three of the six Elite Eight NCAA Championship tournament games

§         Race 7: Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas (#2 sport of the weekend)

o        With the exception of the NCAA Final Four games, this event rated higher than any sporting event on television, including the PGA Bell South Classic and various NBA games

§         Race 8: Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville (#1 sporting event of the weekend)

o        Rated higher than the primetime New York/Boston MLB game and all NBA playoff games

§         Race 9: Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (#1 sporting event of the weekend)

o        Second most viewed NNCS event in Talladega history (6.8 million households and 10.1 million viewers)^[2]

o        Rated higher than all NBA playoff games including the game between Los Angeles and Houston, which aired directly up against the NNCS Aaron’s 499

§         Race 10: Auto Club 500 at California Speedway (# 2 sporting event of the weekend)

o        Highest rated NNCS event in the history of the California Speedway (6.1 rating)

o        With the exception of the Kentucky Derby, this event rated higher than any other sporting event of the weekend, including the LA/San Antonio NBA playoff game that aired during the Auto Club 500

§         Race 11: Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond

o        Highest rated, most watched motorsports event of the weekend

o        Rated higher than 2 NBA playoff games, 2 NHL playoff games, and all MLB games

§         NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s

o        Highest rated, most watched motorsports event of the weekend

o        Rated higher than all MLB games on network television and NHL Conference Final game (which aired directly up against the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge)

§         Race 12: Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (#1 sporting event of the weekend)

o        Second most watched NNCS event in Lowe’s Motor Speedway history (5.4 million households)

o        Event earned 5.0 rating, 22% higher than Indianapolis 500 rating of 4.1

o        More households tuned in to this event than all three NBA playoff games