it isn't the number bud
it is the minutes..the minutes.
Considering there are two stage breaks that are around 5 to 8 minutes in length my point has always been that the stages show more of the race
2018
here is what gnome left out Richmond to Richmond
Total minutes of complete race broadcast:
204
Minutes of race broadcast:
160
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen):
44
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen):
9
2016
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 251
Minutes of race broadcast: 211
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 40
Minutes of 'Side-by-Side' commercials (split-screen): 7
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Total race brdcst time 211 Total comm. brdcst time 40
To note: how much of the 2016 broadcast was the cars following the pace car compared to what they are doing this year. I say overall more racing will be shown this year also.