BobbyC
13th January 2010, 17:27
Race distance changes:
Las Vegas -- from 427.5 miles to 400.5 miles (Shelby American Classic).
Phoenix April -- from 500km to 600km (Subway Fresh Fit 600). This is to keep the race a night race because the race starts 45 minutes earlier.
Fontana October -- from 500 miles to 400 miles (Pepsi Max 400). This is reportedly a television request by ESPN to ensure the race will not get into the 4 PM hour (7 PM Prime Time in the Eastern Time Zone). The 2009 race started at 12:30 PM and crept nearly into 4 PM. ABC's contractual regulations prohibit their plum Desperate Housewives from being delayed by sports. In 2008, the Phoenix race was moved to ESPN2 for that reason.
Las Vegas -- from 427.5 miles to 400.5 miles (Shelby American Classic).
Phoenix April -- from 500km to 600km (Subway Fresh Fit 600). This is to keep the race a night race because the race starts 45 minutes earlier.
Fontana October -- from 500 miles to 400 miles (Pepsi Max 400). This is reportedly a television request by ESPN to ensure the race will not get into the 4 PM hour (7 PM Prime Time in the Eastern Time Zone). The 2009 race started at 12:30 PM and crept nearly into 4 PM. ABC's contractual regulations prohibit their plum Desperate Housewives from being delayed by sports. In 2008, the Phoenix race was moved to ESPN2 for that reason.