Network: CBS
Date and time: February 15, 1987, 12:00 PM
Format: Live
Length: 3 and a half hours
Viewership: 12.4 million (20%)
The race was televised live and flag-to-flag on CBS, billed as a "CBS Sports Special". The intro, hosted by Chris Economaki, took a look at the career of Alan Kulwicki, from childhood to his first Daytona 500.
The technical innovations shown in past broadcasts of the event continued. The coverage used 17 different cameras. Geoff Bodine, Darrell Waltrip, and Neil Bonnett, in addition to the race cam, would also carry a "face cam", a camera that would allow viewers to see the drivers faces as they drove. In addition, they were equipped with audio hook-ups, that would allow the commentators to talk to them during caution periods, and Geoff Bodine and Neil Bonnett's cars had "bumper cams", positioned on the rear bumper to show the cars behind them. Thanks to these technical innovations, the broadcast won an Emmy for Outstanding Sports Special.
Personnel:
Host: Chris Economaki
Announcers: Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, David Hobbs
Pit reporters: Mike Joy, Dave Despain
Executive producer: Ted Shaker
Producer: Robert D. Stenner
Associate producer: Eric Mann
Pit producer: Daniel H. Forer
Features produced by: Sherman G. Eagan
Director: Robert A. Fishman
Associate directors: David Blatt, Richard Drake
Technical directors: Bob Brown, Charles D'Onofrio, Herb Donley
Production coordinator: Diane Patterson
Broadcast associates: Lisa Elias, Rich Gentile, William Herbstman
Field technical manager: Sandy Bell
Production supervisors: Fred Quartuccio, Sharon Drankoski
Audio supervisor: Bob Seiderman
Technical supervisors: Bob Hanford, Tom Jimenez
Audio: Jerry Jaick, Larry Gumpel, Harry McCabe
Video: Cal Marotta, Bob Duffy, Mark Ogden, Mike Goldsmith, Joe Guttierez, Robert Hickson, Mike Hoskins, Ed Kaufholz, Mike Lagow, Lou Liotta, Jay Morrow, Mark Peteya, Dan Rotante, Cliff Wright
Cameras: Kevin Bailey, Ricky Blane, Sol Bress, George Graffeo, John Hannel, Bob Jamieson, George Klimcsak, Herman Lang, Mike Marks, Neil McCaffrey, Tom McCarthy, Frank McSpedon, Bill Murphy, Jeff Pollack, Walt Soucy, Bob Wishnie
Blimp camera: Glen Hammond
Blimp provided by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Race-Cam: John Porter, Peter Larsson, Jack Foster, Andre Nicolescu, Gary Flynn, Mike Stephanak
Race-cam assistance provided by: Darrell Waltrip, Geoff Bodine, Neil Bonnett, Hendrick Motorsports, RahMoc Racing
Graphics: Michael Singer, Bruno Fucci, Robert Dorgan
Engineering crew: Steve Aronson, Scott Carlson, Gilbert Deiz, Mike Harvey
Maintenance supervisor: Charles Wyker
Electronic maintenance: Frank Harvey, Dan Klos, Walt Lupinski, Emanuel Nomikos
Technical support: Mitchel Bennett, Rich Brender, Don Crosby, Dan Davis, Scotty Ethier, John Miska, Victor Rea
Production support: Marie McMillen, Jon Lennert, Fran Lennert, Greg Fielden, Patrick Perrin, Bob Latford, Chris Svendsen, Ken Campbell, Judy Stropus, Mary Brice, Robin Karr, Frank Frulil, Gary Frye, Scott Perrin, Mike Bailey, Greg Hobbs, Glenn Jarrett, Martha Jarrett
A presentation of CBS Sports