Start the races at the same time!!!!

That's the refrain I've heard from many in NASCAR Nation. Some suggest that's why TV ratings are declining -- that the races start too late or that people never know when the races are on.

Chatted with Julie Sobieski, ESPN Vice President, programming and acquisitions, during a conference call Tuesday and among the things she discussed on the call was start times of races. (remember ESPN/ABC take over the rest of the Cup season starting this weekend with Indy)

First, let's put things into perspective. This year there are 16 races (nearly half) starting at 2 p.m. Eastern. That's down from last year when 18 races start at 2 p.m. Eastern. The difference is that the Atlanta fall race moved to a night event and that the fall Talladega race had its start time changed from 2 p.m. to 1 p.m. -- it's the earliest starting time of all the races this season. With racing in different time zones and wanting to have races end near prime-time programming, some races start later. For example, the final 3 races of the season all start at 3:15 p.m. Eastern (that's Texas, Phoenix and Homestead). One other thing, Martinsville in the fall starts at 1:30 p.m. but that's mainly because the track doesn't have lights so an earlier start time gives the track a litlte bit more daylight in case there's some sort of delay.

That said there seems to be a bit of swelling support for more consistent start times.

Here's what Sobieski said:

"With ratings being down, there are lots of factors that are contributing to that,'' she said. "Can consistent start times make a difference? Certainly, that's possible. It could certainly help with tune-in times. We'd be supportive of consistent start times. We know that's also been a priority for NASCAR to try to look at. If it's good for the fans and we think it's going to benefit ratings, certainly we're more on board with that concept.''

Q: Can you clarify what you mean by consistent start times?

JULIE: "Clearly our schedule, actually on the Cup side, has been relativey consistent all along. I think it's fair to stay that consistency has been important to us in our discussions with NASCAR from the beginning. The 2 o'clock race starts or 3 o'clock starts in the afternoon is generally what we've had in addition to the 7:30s in primetime when there are night races. For us consistency is importnat and will remain important. It's ultimately NASCAR's call when it comes to the scheule of their races and the tracks as well. All we can do is have the open dialogue and support ulitmately where NASCAR and the tracks is best served for the fans. Nothing is set for next year. I think that dialogue is ongoing and continuing with us and with NASCAR and I'm sure with the tracks. We'll see where that ends up.''

Q: Is there a certain time that works well? Will earlier start times help ratings?

JULIE: "Conventional widom would say yes but the reserach doesn't necessarily bear that out. It doesn't necessarily show that a 3 o'clock race or a 7 o'clock race performs any better than if the race was at 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I think it's right to assume that but not necessarily see that in the numbers. For us, the 2 o'clock race starts, to be honest, are doing well. Obviously, the fans have been out there speaking a lot about 1 o'clock starts and we'd be supprotive of that as well.''

Now, I know there are certain things that people would like, but let me ask you what is resonable? If you were a program director for a network or with NASCAR and had to factor in the continental U.S. (4 time zones). Remember a noon start out East is 9 a.m on the West Coast. You have to figure out if the West Coast audience you lost would be made up by East Coast. Also, you'd have to figure that some in the Central and Mountain Time zone at such early times would miss part of the race because of church.

OK, so what is resonable for daytime events, for night time event and for special events (Daytona 500, Coke 600, Indianapolis and season finale at Homestead)?

"

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