Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Tag: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

  • The White Zone: FOX is giving the Daytona 500 the wrong vibe with ‘Daytona Day’

    The White Zone: FOX is giving the Daytona 500 the wrong vibe with ‘Daytona Day’

    “A letter to FOX Sports…”

    Dear FOX Sports,

    STOP TRYING TO MAKE “Daytona Day” A THING! IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

    Sincerely,
    Tucker White

    *Reading a book*…*Looks at the audience* What?

    Okay, I have more to say.

    FOX Sports brought their “Daytona Day” ad campaign back this year to promote the 59th running of the Daytona 500. It’s as cheesy and silly as you’d expect and tries to give off an atmosphere of a party environment for NASCAR’s biggest race. You can find it on YouTube at “Happy #DaytonaDay! | The Daytona 500 on FOX” if you wish to check it out ( and if you missed it during the Super Bowl).

    Here’s the problem FOX. You’re giving off the wrong mood.

    A party atmosphere works if you’ve just finished a particularly hard 40-hour week at the office and need a few drinks. The type of people “Daytona Day” appeals to might tune into the Daytona 500 for a “party event,” although it’s worth noting that last year’s race was down 14 percent in ratings and 15 percent in viewership compared to 2015 despite this ad campaign (Sports Media Watch), but it won’t draw them in long term. Doing so is vital for the long-term sustainability of a sport that’s been on a downhill slide in television ratings and at track attendance for a decade now.

    The way FOX should go is making every race, especially the Daytona 500, feel like a truly epic event. What I mean by that is an ad campaign that makes the hair raise off your skin and sends shivers down your spine.

    The music for it shouldn’t be corny. It should be performed by an orchestra and sung by a choir.

    The song should also be high energy, such as “Dies Irae” and “O Fortuna.”

    And the best part is that all these classical songs are public domain. You don’t have to clear it with anyone over copyright for usage.

    FOX, if you wish to have your own song for the occasion, that would also work. It should be something along the lines of one of the classical songs I listed or another high energy song, such as “Duel of the Fates.”

    Or how about tap into the creative well that is YouTube. There are a number of YouTubers who make NASCAR related videos either for fun or as their living. Some of them make promos for races that are on par, or sometimes better than what FOX and NBC are producing.

    You don’t believe me? Then check out this video by a user named Balto Racing.

    I mean this with 100 percent sincerity when I say that this promo Balto made for the 2014 Daytona 500 is hands down the best NASCAR promo I’ve ever seen. Everything from the music and visuals just screams NASCAR with this.

    Now as someone who consumes other forms of mass media when I’m not covering NASCAR, I know marketing is not an exact science and what I’m talking about is subjective. Everybody has their own likes and dislikes.

    But the way we counteract that is doing the equivalent of “making your character interesting and identifiable,” and not trying to be “hip” and “KEWL!” In other words, the promos should make NASCAR races seem epic and larger than life, not the latest fad.

    BOTTOM LINE: FOX, you’re going about promoting the biggest race in NASCAR wrong, but it’s an easy problem to solve.

  • SHR Sues Nature’s Bakery

    SHR Sues Nature’s Bakery

    Stewart-Haas Racing filed a $31 million breach of contract lawsuit against Nature’s Bakery on Friday. The lawsuit accuses the company of refusing to pay millions of dollars it owes the team to sponsor driver Danica Patrick through 2018.

    The lawsuit states that Nature’s Bakery sent a letter to the team on Jan. 19 terminating the sponsorship agreement.  It also says that the company has missed several re-scheduled deadlines to pay and is seeking $31.7 million.

    Nature’s Bakery seemed to be the perfect fit for Patrick because she promotes healthy living and Nature’s Bakery does the same with its nutritious line of products. The sponsor came to Patrick after Go-Daddy left in 2015.

    In a statement issued by the team on Friday, Stewart-Hass Racing emphasized that “the litigation will not impact the organization’s on-track efforts.”

    Dave Pericak, the global director of Ford Performance, said on Monday during a media teleconference, that they remain committed to Stewart-Haas Racing.

    “What I would say is we’re gonna let that, unfortunately, play out through the court system and see how it works out.  I’m hopeful that we’re gonna come to a resolution on that, but at the end of the day what I can say is that you have my commitment and the commitment of Stewart-Haas Racing and everyone that’s involved that it is not gonna affect our ability to hit the track and run that car and run it the way that it needs to be run.  I don’t really want to make any additional comments given where we are in the whole situation, and it’s very unfortunate that we’re going through it right now, but one way or another I can just tell you that you will have that 10 car on the track and it will be ready to perform.”

     

  • Dale Jr. Back on Track and Raring To Go

    Dale Jr. Back on Track and Raring To Go

    After missing the last 18 races of the 2016 season while recovering from concussion-like symptoms, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was back on the track Tuesday at Phoenix International Raceway to participate in a two-day test for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams. It’s the first time he’s been on a track after being medically cleared to race last December following a private test session conducted at Darlington Raceway.

    To say that he has been looking forward to it, may be a slight understatement, as  Earnhardt told the media at PIR, “We were coming here to test and I was just texting the guys (on his team). I’m like, ‘Man, I don’t know why but I’m just freakin’ pumped up about this.’”

    Although he hasn’t been enthusiastic about test sessions in the past, this year is different. After months out of the car, he has a new perspective and Earnhardt is embracing the opportunity.

    “It’s been a while. You know, you miss the camaraderie, the work, the friendships I have with my road crew,” he said. “I think they miss me, so that makes you feel good. They seem excited that we’re working together and we’re back together. So when you get out there and you put laps down, the communication is right there – we’re communicating really good.”

    “But testing, when you’re racing every single week for 20 years and you have a test here and there, it gets kind of boring. I’m not going to lie,” Earnhardt continued. “But you’ve got to understand what your objectives are, try and motivate yourself. Learning everything that you can learn, being an asset to the team. If you’re sitting on your phone and you’re playing around – you need to talk to your crew chief and discuss with him and listen to what they’re talking about. Be a part of the team when you’re here. You lose sight of that at times. You get lazy. So I’m excited. I’m happy that we’re here. The car’s good. We’ll see how it goes.”

    He’s also using this test session to bolster his confidence. While excited to begin the new season, Earnhardt admits to being slightly apprehensive.

    “I’m just a little nervous, you know, about if there will be any kind of learning curve. But I don’t know. I hope there ain’t. Sometimes you see guys in sports – no matter the type of sport – that are away for a while, that have to adjust to how much has changed since they’ve taken time off. There are some guys that come back that never missed a beat. So I don’t know. I hope there’s no rust to shake off. I’m really anxious to kind of get out there and have some success. Get out and run well. Check that box that I am where I need to be.”

    Looking ahead, Earnhardt is encouraged by the gains the team made last year in his absence and is determined to further their success.

    “The great thing is that the team kept working at the end of last year. We have some good progress – almost won here with Alex – so they’re confident in themselves. For me, confidence is a big, big part of it. The fact that the team doesn’t have any lack of confidence in what they’re doing or where they are, is a good thing. Now I just have to build on that confidence level myself and feel like me and the car are working together.”

    Follow @angiecampbell_ on Twitter for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

     

  • Media Tour – Ganassi Teammates Larson and McMurray Discuss the New Format

    Media Tour – Ganassi Teammates Larson and McMurray Discuss the New Format

    Teammates Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray are part of the two-car Chip Ganassi Chevrolet team, No.’s 1 and 42. Daytona is just around the corner and both drivers are ready for the coming season but a little conversation about the new format is on their minds.

    “I like the strategy in the new format a lot,” McMurray said. “I also like that at a restrictor plate race what might happen. I’m kind of a run in the back guy, but this format will keep us near the front. If you run well and then crash out, at least you might get something from it. I like that.”

    Larson hasn’t made up his mind quite yet. He has a problem with people thinking that Cup drivers don’t drive hard at every race, one of the reasons everyone expects was at the forefront of the format change in NASCAR’s three series.

    “I don’t know. We’ve got to wait and see, I guess. I think everybody already races hard, so it’s not like everybody is going to step up any harder than we already are,” Larson said. “I don’t know. My qualifying is up and down. I think qualifying is going to be more important now, this year, for gaining points, especially in that first segment. So, if you can qualify well, you should be able to gain more points. It will be interesting to see. I don’t really know how the style of racing is going to change with this new format until we kind of get going throughout the first month or month and a half.”

    McMurray did reveal that most of the drivers were kept “in the loop” about the changes and knew what the changes were going to be. He thinks it’s good for the sport and doesn’t understand why there is so much resistance.

    “When I read Twitter, I got angry as I read the negativity around it from the fans because I think it’s so hard to criticize something before you see it, right? We live in a world where I feel like people don’t like change unless it’s for the President,” McMurray said.

    Larson won his first Cup race in 2016 and is looking to visit victory lane more often in 2017. The direction of the team is definitely going the right way, but there is room for improvement.

    “To be a championship team, you need to just be better than everybody at everything,” Larson said. “I could do a better job at executing. Our pit calls could be better. I’m not saying that anything is bad, but I’m saying that everything could be a little bit better to gain lap time and improve on finishes. So, we just try to focus hard and dig down deep to make everything a little bit better.”

  • Media Tour – Team Penske’s Logano and Keselowski Look Forward to 2017 Changes

    Media Tour – Team Penske’s Logano and Keselowski Look Forward to 2017 Changes

    One thing is certain. Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are sure-fire bets to be championship contenders in 2017. They sat down with the media at the CMS Media Tour Wednesday and gave their thoughts on a variety of subjects. The two drivers won seven races in 2016 (four by Keselowski and three by Logano) and Logano just missed the championship when he and Carl Edwards got together on a late restart. Logano finished second to Jimmie Johnson in the championship run. He believes NASCAR’s new points-for-winning-stages approach provides the nine-year veteran with a golden opportunity to capture his first series title.

    “I know it’s going to be the right thing for the sport,” Logano said. “Every lap became more important. Every race became way more important and that’s good for everyone. The way this whole format is structured is for a reason, for everyone to race hard and put on a great race for our fans. I don’t see anything but good things coming out of it so I’m really excited about everything coming up for this sport.

    “It plays to the person’s advantage who takes the opportunity ahead of him. When there are changes like this, the first person who figures it out is going to have a huge advantage. If you can get some bonus points early in the year it sets you up well for when you get to Homestead.“

    Keselowski, the 2012 series champion, won four races last year but wound up 12th in the standings after an up-and-down 10-race playoff. An enhanced format, Keselowski said, “re-fosters the connection between the regular season and the postseason.”

    “It’s important from the teams’ and drivers’ sides because it keeps us honest,” he added. “It keeps us from, not necessarily taking races off but keeping us from saying, ‘Let’s not take our best car to this race.’ Our fans deserve to know that whatever they see on the weekend is guaranteed to be important. As drivers, I think you’re going to see more of a desire and an anger factor when things don’t go your way in the regular season.”

    Keselowski was part of the team of drivers, owners, track executives, team executives, and NASCAR who devised the new format.

    Logano was asked if the boos he hears at introduction bother him.

    “I secretly love it. Don’t tell anybody. In all honesty, yeah, I would rather be loved than hated but I would rather them say something than nothing. In all honesty, Martinsville is the race track that I think they dislike me the most. I can tell usually by the pick-up truck ride and counting the number of birds I get. All I can think of is how cool it would be to win there and do a big burnout. That would be the coolest. That is motivation to me. I do like that people like me and my fans that support me as a person and as a race car driver.”

    Keselowski, the 2012 champion, hasn’t made it to the final four since he was holding the trophy at Homestead a little over four years ago. How does this format, which he had a hand in, help him?

    “The format changes, I’m not looking to take any credit publicly or otherwise for getting anything changed here. There was a lot of collaboration. There were certainly some things that some people pushed for harder than others, but I don’t want to get into the credit and blame game of what works and what doesn’t work.

    “What stood out to me is when people don’t like something it’s like 100 percent negative feedback, but when the majority likes it, and the minority dislikes it, it’s about 50 percent, so what stood out to me is the feedback has been about 50 percent, which tells me the majority likes it and is gonna give it a shot. That’s extremely encouraging to me.

    “Of course, there is always a resistance to change. I think a lot of people want to see it in action, and that’s great. The people that want to see it in action, I am 100 percent convinced they’re gonna like what they see and it’s gonna work out well. The people that are willing to give it a shot, I think are gonna fall back in love with NASCAR.”

  • Media Tour – Blaney Looks to Improve in 2017

    Media Tour – Blaney Looks to Improve in 2017

    Ryan Blaney, driver of the famous Wood Brothers’ No.21 Ford, grew up in the sport, and although his family concentrated on dirt racing, he ended up in the top racing series on asphalt. A lot of that was because his father was driving in NASCAR races and he grew up in North Carolina, and not Ohio.

    “I grew up in North Carolina in High Point about an hour up the road and there is no dirt period around here,” Blaney said. “There are only a handful of tracks and it’s really asphalt late model stuff. The pass tour and ASA stuff back then was still around, so it was just location and how we got started. Bobby Labonte built a fantastic facility in Salisbury, North Carolina – a quarter-midget track – and that sort of started my asphalt career and we just went from there with Legend cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway to late models and then up the ladder. It’s just location. If I would have grown up in Ohio, I’m sure I would have done the dirt route and who knows where we would be, but growing up in North Carolina changed that.”

    The Wood Brothers, who have a technical alliance with Team Penske, are using Blaney although he is contracted to Team Penske. That said, attending Team Penske events is a requirement, but one day he goes to a team breakfast late.

    “The one thing you don’t want to be is late to a Penske breakfast. You’ve got everybody there. Mr. Penske is there and all the brass and I walk in late. I don’t know what happened. I don’t think I overslept. I might have overslept, but I got there and there was a standing ovation. That was like in 2012 or 2013, right when I got there, and you talk about wanting to walk out of the room. I started sweating bullets and was just as nervous as can be, and then you’ve got to go up and give a speech right after that. That was a rough day for sure, so I make sure I’m one of the earliest to the Penske breakfast.”

    Blaney had some impressive performances in the Wood Brothers car, but he admits he has a lot to learn but is confident that they will run well.

    “I think you learn the most about trying to improve your car over the whole race, and the amount of preparation and setup time it takes to get these cars to where you need to be,” Blaney said. “Most of the time, if you’re not fast on Friday or Saturday it really makes for a tough weekend. The preparation before you even get to the track is key, to try to be as close as you can be.

    “As drivers, we can only do so much about that, but trying to give the best information that you can throughout the whole weekend – Friday, Saturday and during the race on Sunday is so key. That was probably one of the biggest things I tried to work on and get better at. I spent a lot of time in the off-season trying to do just that, and then the communication side between myself and my engineers and crew chief. That’s been something I’ve been trying to improve a lot and trying to understand these cars more. I feel like some of those changes are the biggest ones that we’ve made in the off-season and hopefully for the better.”

  • Media Tour – Dillon Brothers Say Sibling Rivalry is There but Wish the Best for Each Other

    Media Tour – Dillon Brothers Say Sibling Rivalry is There but Wish the Best for Each Other

    Ty Dillon met with members of the media at the 35th Annual NASCAR Cup Media tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed his thoughts about his first full season, being a member of a single-car team, and competing on a limited schedule in his Modified program. Dillon will be driving the Germain Racing GEICO-sponsored No. 13 Chevrolet in 2017.

    Dillon will join brother Austin on NASCAR’s top circuit in 2017. The young man is not driving for his grandfather, Richard Childress, but he is enthusiastic about driving in the Cup Series with his brother and against his grandfather’s team.

    “It means a lot, obviously, growing up in this sport and being around all my heroes, who are all Cup drivers, all my whole life, and once I got into Cup racing and knowing this was my goal and where I wanted to be,” Dillon said. “That moment when the deal was done to be officially be driving for Germain Racing in the GEICO 13 Chevy was surreal. I remember driving down the road and first called my wife and told her it was a done deal and just starting balling on the phone. And I called my mom and balled. Just to have this opportunity, I love this sport, and just to have the chance to be one of the top drivers and chase my dream.”

    Austin is set and ready to roll in the famous No. 3 Chevrolet at Richard Childress Racing. He let it be known that he’s looking forward to competing against Ty for the entire season.

    “I’m very proud. He was emotional. He cried and gave me a hug. It was cute,” Austin Dillon said. It’s special; he’s put a lot of effort into it and it’s what he’s wanted to do his entire life. I’m happy for him, and he should be happy and excited. Now it’s time when the work really begins, and I’m looking forward to working with him. I think he’s an asset to RCR.”

    Since RCR’s three-car team is full now, Ty had to be farmed out to Germain Racing’s Chevrolet. Austin thinks that’s a good thing.

    When Austin was asked where Childress watches the race, he said, “He stopped standing in a certain pit during the race. He has certain locations that he goes and stands. It used to be the old entitlement sponsor trailer because he could see the entire track, so he’s going to have to find a new spot this year. Good luck finding him because he has some good ones. Daytona, though, he goes all the way to the top above Victory Lane because he can see the entire track. He has some good hiding spots. But he’s unbiased when it comes to that. Maybe one day I can get him to sit on our box just for fun.”

    There’s always been a sibling rivalry. Austin admits it and takes it in stride.

    “It started when he was born. We do a lot to help each other because we care. Ty cares as much as I do about RCR. I’m proud that he’s an affiliate with us, and it’s cool to be able to look at his driver traces this year and compare. I think he’ll be able to push myself and Ryan and Paul and all four of us hopefully, and our other affiliates can move the needle where we need to go forward with.”

    Both drivers will start the Daytona 500 on February 26th.

  • Media Tour – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Can’t Wait Until Daytona

    Media Tour – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Can’t Wait Until Daytona

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to get back to racing again. The man that fans fondly call, “Junior,” is chomping at the bit to get back in the No.88 Nationwide Chevrolet in about a month at one of his favorite tracks. Earnhardt talked with the assembled media at the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway

    It’s been a long six months since fans have seen Earnhardt in his ride, but Earnhardt is just as anxious as his loving fans. A crash in June at Michigan International Speedway caused NASCAR’s most popular driver to suffer symptoms of a concussion which became worse after the race at Kentucky Speedway in July. As a result, he did not complete the season but had a very full December. He married his long-time fiancé in December and pondered his future in the sport he loves. He saw a younger Carl Edwards step away from racing for three reasons, one of which was health concerns.

    “To get approved to race is one thing but to decide to race is another,” Earnhardt said. “You have to make the decision if you want to keep racing and if you want to keep racing you’ve got to give 100 percent. I had to answer a lot of personal questions from myself and just really buy in (to returning). All of that was a process and I’m really happy with what I decided to do.

    “I’m just hoping to enjoy what’s left of my career and hopefully I get to make the decision myself as far as how much longer I want to race. I’m really excited about my future.”

    In the years prior to his injury, Earnhardt was a hot commodity on the track. He won seven races in 2014 and 2015, one of which was his second Daytona 500 in 2014, so he’s not ready to retire quite yet. There is much left to do.

    “People have asked me since I turned 40 when I will retire. All I’ve ever said is that I want to be able to make that decision myself. I don’t know when I’m going to stop racing but I want to be able to make that choice and not have it made for me. All that stuff really showed me how much I’ve got going for me and how fun this really is. You can make it difficult or you can enjoy it. This is an incredible position to be in. I can see how you can get burned out a little bit but I’m certainly not feeling that way right now.”

    That has to be good news to his many fans.

  • Media Tour – Suarez Relishes His New Role at Joe Gibbs Racing

    Media Tour – Suarez Relishes His New Role at Joe Gibbs Racing

    Daniel Suarez, the first Mexican-born driver in any of the top three series’ met with the media at the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday.

    Suarez, the defending XFINITY Series champion, will replace the retired Carl Edwards in the No. 19 Arris Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017. Edwards’ surprise press conference where he announced his intentions left Joe Gibbs Racing without an option for 2017. Suarez was already in-house piloting the Arris Toyota in the XFINITY Series and was moved to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

    Suarez was a Drive for Diversity program member and feels like his road to the top was swift mainly because of the program.

    “The Drive for Diversity Program was very important to me for sure,” Suarez said, but I’ve been racing nearly every day and getting to know my whole 19 team. But there is still a lot to do. I’ve had a lot of help from the Drive for Diversity program through the changes. I’ve also had a lot of people from Mexico throughout my career.”

    Suarez will be one of a large field of rookies to compete in 2017, including Ty Dillon and Erik Jones, who will compete with him for the title of 2017 Rookie of the Year. He will be an underdog through his first season, but that doesn’t bother Suarez.

    “I think it’s going to be really cool to race (these guys). We know each other and we get along very well.”

  • Media Tour – Jimmie Johnson Isn’t Worried about Injury and Feels No Pressure to Win Number Eight

    Media Tour – Jimmie Johnson Isn’t Worried about Injury and Feels No Pressure to Win Number Eight

    The reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Champion has no fear that the new format that breaks races up into segments is going to be nothing but good and exciting. At the Charlotte Media Tour, Jimmie Johnson was confident that the format wasn’t conceived to stop him from winning championships.

    “They wouldn’t do that to the 48,” Johnson said. “The big takeaway I have is when you put all the smart people in the room and let everybody decide what it could and should look like, from TV owners, NASCAR, and driver representation, I think that’s a smart move. And, I feel that knowing our environment and knowing how to take the best from each of those folks in the room, all the major stakeholders, and come up with this system, I have a lot of faith in that.”

    Johnson also feels that his age has mellowed the crowds that used to boo him at the tracks. Having some grey in his beard plays a part in it, Johnson says. He admitted he heard fewer boos at Homestead that ever before.

    “So, I guess I’ve earned my spot now after 15 seasons and seven championships; well, at that point, six championships. But, I think tenure plays a big role.”

    Johnson says he feels no pressure to win an eighth championship. He didn’t feel like he would ever win one, much less seven, and gets his drive from Crew Chief Chas Knaus. “I’m just trying to manage it and have a good time through it all.”

    He addressed the trials that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had with concussions, and was asked about Carl Edwards stepping down at such a young age. Is he worried about getting injured in his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet?

    “I’ve always said that the day you begin to worry about that is the day you should step down,” Johnson said. “That comes at different times for drivers. I can truthfully say that it hasn’t entered my mind. We’re so happy to have Junior back. Of course, his safety is a top priority for me and probably everybody else. But, he’s on a journey to come back and we’re going to have him back.”