1987 Daytona 500

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