Jimmie Johnson, Rick Hendrick weigh in on TV network's decision at Phoenix
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series viewers in two time zones were somewhat surprised to see Sunday’s Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway moved to another network before it was concluded.
After a pair of red-flag periods delayed the race, which had engines firing for the start at 3:52 EST, ABC officials made the decision to shift the conclusion of the race to ESPN2 in order to show the regularly-scheduled "America's Funniest Home Videos" to viewers in Eastern and Central Standard Time zones.
"After two red flags, rain in Phoenix and 4 1/2 hours on ABC, we were still 34 minutes from the end of the telecast as it turned out," said George McNeilly, ESPN senior director, communications, in a statement. "We told fans in the East and Central from the second red flag on that the race was moving to ESPN2. ABC's entertainment viewers and NASCAR fans were both well served in a tough spot, and we are fortunate to have ESPN2 among our networks to serve the fans."
Race winner Jimmie Johnson and team owner Rick Hendrick were surprised to hear of the switch following the event.
"It doesn't say very much," team owner Rick Hendrick said when asked what the move said about the Chase. "I didn't know that. That's where my mother is. I'm glad my phone went dead at the end of the race."
Johnson laughed in his response, but admitted his own surprise.
"Well, I thought it went dark and nobody could watch it," he said. "So the fact that it was on another television channel was, I mean, it's better. It's still somewhat on a prime channel of course on ABC, but to go to America's Funniest Home Videos, that one hurts, no doubt. I thought we have a lot of characters. Why do we need that show?"
