Almost Half of All Adults Watch Nascar Races

The arris Poll

THE HARRIS POLL #17 Wednesday, March 17,1999

ALMOST HALF OF ALL ADULTS WATCH NASCAR RACES

Dale Earnhardt, most popular NASCAR driver, followed by Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace and Richard Petty.

by Humphrey Taylor

NASCAR is a major spectator sport. Almost half (45%) of all American adults have watched a NASCAR race over the last year and, on average, these fans watched NASCAR events nine times. Their favorite driver is Dale Earnhardt, with Jeff Gordon in second place and Mark Martin third. Rusty Wallace and Richard Petty take the fourth and fifth places. These are some of the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 1,007 adults surveyed between February 1 1 and 15,1999.

Among the other interesting results:

When asked what NASCAR is, only one in five adults (20%) replied correctly that it is stockcar racing or that it stands for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing). However, an additional 46% know that it is a form of car racing, without mentioning stock cars. The others have either never heard of NASCAR (15%) or don't know what it is (19%).

NASCAR races have been watched on Nin the last year by more men (53%) than women (39%) by more people aged 25-29 (53%) or 30-39 (47%) than by older people, and by more people in the South (53%) than people in

other regions. d

Four percent of all adults (approximately 8 million people) have been, in person, to a NASCAR event in that last year. Men are six times more likely than women to have been to a NASCAR race.

Louis Harris & Associates, Inc. 11 1 Fifth Avenue NYC (212) 539-9600 NASCAR fans are able to name many brands of companies which sponsor or support NASCAR racing. Tide (19%)' Pennzoil (19%)' McDonald's (1 7%)' GM Goodwrench Service Plus (12%)' Valvoline (12%) and Budweiser (12%) top the list of companies or brands which NASCAR fans mention as sponsors.

Humphrey Taylor is the Chairman of Louis Harris & Associates, Inc. TABLE 1

WHAT IS NASCAR?

Base: All Adults

"Have you heard of, or do you know what NASCAR is?"

Total Yo

Have heard of and mention: National Association of Stock Car Auto RacingIStock Car Racing

AutoICar racing (no mention of stock cars)

No, have not heard of NASCAR

Yes, have heard of but don't know what it is TABLE 2

WATCHED NASCAR ON N

Base: All Adults

"(NASCAR is the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing.) Have you watched a NASCAR race on TV in the last year or not?"

"About how many times in the last year have you watched a NASCAR race on TV?"

Watched in Mean Number of Last Year Times Watched =Yo

All Adults Sex Men Women Acre 1 8-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65 +

Household Income $1 5,000or less $1 5,001 to $25,000 $25,001 to $35,000 $35,001 to $50,000 $50,001 to $85,000 $75,000and over

Reqion East Midwest South West TABLE 3

BEEN TO NASCAR RACE IN LAST YEAR

Base: All Adults

"Have you been to a NASCAR race in person in the last year, or not?"

IF YES: "About how many times have you been to a NASCAR race in the last year?"

Total Male Female % % Yo

Yes, have attended

MEAN NUMBER OF VISITS: 2

Note: 4% of all adults = 8 million people. TABLE 4

FAVORITE NASCAR DRIVER

Base: Watched or been to NASCAR race in last year

"Who is your favorite NASCAR driver?"

Rank

Dale Earnhardt Jeff Gordon Mark Martin Rusty Wallace Richard Petty Dale Jarrett John Andretti Darrel Waltrip Mario Andretti Bill Elliott Tony Labonte Table 5

Brands or Companies Which Support NASCAR Racing

Base: Watched or been to NASCAR racing last year

Can ~OIJthink of any companies which sponsor or support NASCAR racing? Any others?

Total %

Tide Penzoil McDonald's GM Goodwrench Setvice Plus Valvoline Budweiser Miller Quaker State Pepsi Kellogg's Winston Coca-Cola Texaco/Havolene DuPont Goodyear Skoal Bandit Coor's Light Gatorade Mobil NAPA Auto Care AC Delco Interstate Batteries John Deere Kodak K-Mart

Other companies mentioned by 1 % each are: Catepillar, Goody's, Primestar, Skittles, Penske, Die Hard, MCI, Dodge and Pontiac.

7 Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted by telephone within the United States between February 11 to 15, among a nationwide cross section of 1,007adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults and number of voiceltelephone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

In theory, with a sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is difficult or impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

A leading barometer of American public opinion for more than 40 years, The Harris Poll is just one of the world- class research and consulting services provided by Louis Harris & Associates, Inc. Louis Harris & Associates is a subsidiary of Harris Black International, one of the fastest growing research and consulting firms, offering a range of information technology products and services. Among the innovative market research tools developed by the company, The Harris Poll Online uses the world's largest consumer panel, and is the industry leader in sophisticated, Internet-based research.

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