FS1 Live from Daytona Monster Energy AMA Supercross

FOX Sports Supercross Viewership Up 16%; On Pace to be Most-Watched Year Since 2013 FS1 Launch

CHARLOTTE, NC – It’s time to get a little dirty in Daytona.

With 300 truckloads of dirt, weighing in at 6,600 tons, the “World Center of Racing” shows off its versatility Saturday, with Daytona International Speedway shifting gears from the home of exotic IMSA sports cars and thundering NASCAR stock cars to the high-flying, motorized gymnastics of Daytona Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

Ralph Sheheen hosts FOX Sports’ live Daytona Supercross coverage Saturday, March 10 (7:00 PM ET, FS1), with Hall-of-Fame racers Jeff Emig and Ricky Carmichael providing analysis, and Jenny Taft reporting from the pits. Carmichael, a five-time winner at Daytona, also puts his signature on this week’s uniquely challenging course design, constructed by Mark Barnett’s Bomber Built.

“Indy, Monaco, Le Mans and Daytona … the four most famous racing venues in the world,” Sheheen said. “Winning at Daytona automatically puts you into rarified air with the true legends of the sport. Earnhardt, Petty, Foyt, Andretti, Russell and Carmichael all won at Daytona. What a list to add your name to.”

Daytona Supercross Track Construction by the Numbers

“Daytona is one of the longest-running Supercross events on the schedule,” said Emig, who won the race in 1997. “It has a rich history and it’s very unique to any other place that a Supercross racer lines up. Even though the race is run on the dirt-covered grass tri-oval of Daytona International Speedway, it’s still at the ‘World Center of Racing,’ and it’s special to win there.”

And Sheheen believes the track just may be the story Saturday.

“The Daytona Supercross track is nothing like the rest of the tracks on the schedule,” Sheheen said. “It is longer and usually a lot rougher than other designs. This year’s track will once again push the riders to their limits of not just speed and skill, but maybe most importantly, endurance. I think this design can have a huge impact on the outcome of the race and maybe even the 2018 championship.”

Through nine events in 2018, Supercross is averaging 354,000 viewers, up 16% over last season (306,000) and its best start since the 2013 launch of FS1, according to Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, the average-minute audience for Supercross races streamed on FOX Sports GO is up 68% versus 2017.