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  • New Television Package Another Boost For INDYCAR Momentum

    New Television Package Another Boost For INDYCAR Momentum

    Wednesday morning INDYCAR announced a new television package that will start in 2019, with every race being broadcast on NBC or NBC Sports. The multiyear deal, which gives NBC Sports Group exclusive broadcasting rights, will broadcast eight races on NBC, with the remainder airing on NBC Sports. The move also marks the end of ABC’s relationship with INDYCAR, as they have broadcast every Indianapolis 500 since 1965.

    In a press release from INDYCAR, CEO of Hulman & Company Mark Miles said that the arrangement brings all of INDYCAR to one home and increases the sport’s exposure. “We couldn’t be happier to have start-to-finish coverage of INDYCAR’s season with NBC Sports Group,” said Miles. Hulman & Company owns INDYCAR as well as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    The latest announcement comes as a part of a wave of momentum for the sport. Not only was the new car released this season to rave reviews, but television viewership has risen 38 percent in the past four seasons, not to mention social media followers have risen 400,000 in the past year alone.

    Since joining NBC Sports in 2009 when the network was only a part-time partner, viewership has steadily risen, including a 78 percent increase since 2013. Also added to the lineup is exclusive content delivery through the NBC Sports Gold mobile app, available for verified users.

    While NASCAR remains the most popular form of motorsport in America, INDYCAR has steadily risen in prominence. If this current wave of momentum continues, there may be a day where the sport eclipses NASCAR and enters a Golden Age similar to NASCAR’s in the early 2000s.

    Something else that INDYCAR has going for it right now is the sport’s parity. Despite the sport’s smaller schedule (compared to NASCAR, NHRA, and other forms of motorsport), there have been 21 different winners in the last six seasons.

    The road is currently paved for INDYCAR to become the new top motorsport in America because of this momentum. Everything going on with the sport right now has brought continuing growth to the sport, ensuring it’s continued survival and promises to reach new heights, as coverage is bound to reach new demographics that may otherwise not follow any form of motorsport. In turn, the odds of a Golden Era for INDYCAR are higher than they’ve ever been.

     

  • Keselowski on driving a Ford Sweepstakes replica: ‘I got it up there pretty good’

    Keselowski on driving a Ford Sweepstakes replica: ‘I got it up there pretty good’

    Driving a Sweepstakes replica car around the Irish Hills of Michigan earlier this morning, Brad Keselowski said he “got it up there pretty good.”

    Speaking to the media on pit road earlier today, the driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford spoke about taking a 1901 Ford Sweepstakes replica car for a drive around the speedway.

    “I got it up there pretty good, up to about 50 or 60,” Keselowski said. “I had a rider and Kelli (Stavast) didn’t want to get anyone hurt but we still got it going pretty good. Those cars there are all about horsepower. Now you look at our cars and it is about horsepower and handling and everything that matters to win here on the Cup side. Back then it was about just running. The race that Sweepstakes won, there were 40 entries and only two finished. The others all blew up or broke down and had all kind of issues.”

    He also talked about how motorsports “has changed a lot. It changed a lot from there, that’s for sure. It was fun to drive. There are a lot of little things we probably take for granted now as far as amenities are concerned. The sport is building and getting better all the time. The cars we have now are really phenomenal pieces. Under appreciated by me at least.”

    He drove the car as part of a pre-race segment for NBC Sports. He, along with his passenger Kelli Stavast of NBC Sports, delivered the Heritage Trophy, which is handed to the winning manufacturer of every NASCAR race at Michigan, to track president Roger Curtis.

    Both were dressed up in clothing from the era with Keselowski dressed in a grey suit, bowtie, brown hat and goggles, and Stavast wore a white dress.

    Asked about the handling of the car, Keselowski said the car had “the new low, low, low downforce (package). It is good we gave Roger his trophy back, the manufacturer trophy that Ford had from Joey’s win here in the spring. Hopefully, we can get that back here on Sunday. That would be great. I am glad to be in Michigan. Happy to be here.”

  • Rutledge Wood Joins NBC Sports Group as Motorsports Specialty Reporter

    Rutledge Wood Joins NBC Sports Group as Motorsports Specialty Reporter

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

    Well-Known Personality Brings His Passion for Cars and Motorsports to NBC and NBCSN’s Coverage of NASCAR, F1, IndyCar, Rallycross and Mecum

    STAMFORD, Conn. — December 16, 2014 — NBC Sports Group today added reporter Rutledge Wood to its multiplatform coverage of NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, Global Rallycross and Mecum Auctions. Among his contributions, Wood will present features on the storied raceways, unique towns and enthusiastic fans that make NASCAR an American treasure. The announcement was made today by Jeff Behnke, Vice President of NASCAR Production for NBC Sports and NBCSN.

    “Rutledge brings a unique combination of knowledge and enthusiasm to his work that will help us shine a spotlight on the tracks and communities we visit throughout the year, and bring them to life,” said Behnke.

    “It’s hard to put into words how unbelievably excited I am to be a part of NBC and their return to NASCAR,” said Wood. “Working in motorsports is a dream come true for me, as I have so much fun telling the stories of drivers, teams and their fans. Just like NASCAR, NBC Sports is a family, and it’s one that I am proud to be a part of.”

    The appointment of Wood follows previous NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.

    Wood’s first experience in NASCAR came during his first job in entertainment: traveling with the NASCAR circuit for Country Music Television’s mobile marketing activation. Soon after, he was hired by SPEED, where he has worked continuously for the past 10 seasons covering NASCAR. Wood most recently was a correspondent for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay, on Fox Sports 1, and has also hosted or co-hosted several NASCAR events, including the annual NASCAR Awards Banquet. In addition, Wood has been the co-host of Top Gear on the History Channel, the American iteration of the BBC program of the same name, for the past four seasons.

    On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBC Universal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content, beginning in 2015.

    With this partnership, NBC’s 20 Sprint Cup race schedule includes a designation as the exclusive home to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, when the elite national series races through its final 10 events of the season. The Chase culminates with the season-ending championship event, which returns to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009. Of NBC Sports Group’s 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBCSN. Four of NBC Sports Group’s 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.

    NASCAR AMERICA premiered in February, following Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Daytona 500 victory and NBC Sports Group’s multi-platform coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The weekday 30-minute news and highlights program is dedicated to America’s fascination with speed and stock car racing, and features regular appearances by NBC Sports NASCAR experts, as well as a rotation of guest analysts.

    – NBC SPORTS GROUP –