We’ve seen a few stories emerge over the last few weeks in the NASCAR world that have made some wonder, including myself, how far is too far? It seems that some have set aside ethics and the principles of responsible reporting in exchange for page views. If you follow the sport closely, and are active on social media, you know which stories I’m referring to. I realize that many writers do so professionally and that page views pay the bills, but at some point a line needs to be drawn. There is a very clear difference between reporting actual news and pandering to voyeurs.
I know some of you may find this shocking, but as much as you love your favorite drivers, it’s important to remember they are not perfect humans. Everyone has made mistakes, and everybody has problems. But just because they are race drivers and somewhat public figures, it shouldn’t automatically mean that what goes on in their personal lives is news. They have their right to privacy just like you and I do. Some have shown they’ve forgotten this.
Being a part of the NASCAR press corp means spending a great deal of time at the race track and getting access to a lot of players. Along the way, these folks will be privy to information and stories that should never see the light of day. All the talk, gossip, and rumors they hear can be compelling, but they have absolutely no place in print anywhere. It’s been made clear that some cannot handle the responsibility of their access.
Coming from a communications and journalism background, my partner Journo knows these issues well. As part of our conversation about me writing this post, Journo shared with me the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. If you do any writing, it’s a document you should become familiar with. Under the section entitled “Minimize Harm,” one particular statement stands out to me: “Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.” In a few of these recent cases, this absolutely did not happen. The curiosity that some have was used to shamelessly drive traffic to websites and gain the writers notoriety. And that’s wrong.
In the position we are in, we’ve often been asked to provide information or comment on situations regarding drivers personal lives and things that happen away from the race track. In all cases, we’ve politely declined. Yes, we are connected and yes, we are anonymous. But what we do is more about giving you an inside look at the sport and providing news and commentary about the competition, than it is about becoming NASCAR’s version of TMZ. We just flat out won’t do it.
In the end, I’m really disappointed by what we’ve witnessed. This is one of those cases where the platform that technology affords some people turns ugly. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely lost a great deal of respect for those who chose to report on these items.
TheNASCARInsiders.com Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
We learned a lot through the media tour this week. NASCAR is changing the points system. RPM has a new CEO, who happens to also be female. Felix Sabates has a lot of ideas for how to make things better (on second thought, not sure we learned anything there). Larry McReynolds thinks the sport’s media is too negative. And some in the sport’s press corps have thin skin. All in all, an enlightening week.
Perhaps most enlightening though were those comments from McReynolds and the backlash he incurred. Serving as EGR’s MC on Monday, McReynolds told a less than receptive crowd to be “more positive.” The snark and angry responses that ensued were large in number, but not exactly surprising. I’m sure some of you saw them.
Monte Dutton of the Gaston Gazette wrote:
McReynolds and his (Fox) mates would much rather talk about ingrown toenails than empty seats. He seldom used the noun “sport” without the modifier “our.” He perhaps considers himself uniquely qualified to lecture on the subject of ethics, as one of his employers is fond of proclaiming itself “fair and balanced.”
And Jeff Gluck of SB Nation wrote:
At the very least, offering a large group of people suggestions on how to do their jobs makes everyone defensive, and it’s certainly not going to make anyone change how they do their jobs.
Point taken Jeff.
Thanks for the ethics lesson… not
The fact is, McReynolds was always going to lose with these comments. Reporters aren’t going to admit (if they are) that they have taken a negative slant, and fans aren’t going to admit their outlook on the sport is at least, in some measure, colored by what they read and hear (it is). I’m not sure what the impetus was for McReynolds to make these comments, but they were a not so great idea.
The common refrain out of much of the press corps was: “we’re just telling like it is.” And since NASCAR’s media is a bastion of journalism in this country, why should anyone be questioning them? They are, of course, always objective, and never delve into opinion or question the decisions of the sport’s drivers, team executives, team owners, sanctioning body etc. Just the facts.
Snark aside, Larry McReynolds probably shouldn’t be lecturing anyone on ethics in journalism. And the sport’s press corps is right that they have a moral and ethical responsibility to “seek truth and report it.” Still what McReynolds said contains at least a grain of truth.
As a side note, after railing against McReynolds (inherently a negative thing), it took just a couple of days for some members of the press corps to further strengthen McReynolds’ point. No sooner had NASCAR announced the points change on Wednesday, had the sports media begun tearing it apart. These scathing editorials from some people who are normally tasked with writing the news, no doubt has colored perception. Or maybe not?
Fans can think for themselves
Jeff Gluck wrote:
Fans can think for themselves and make up their own minds – about everything.
One of the first things you learn in the news business is that every decision you make when you’re crafting your story is a matter of opinion. Every comma, every period, every sentence not written, every shot edited out, they’re all editorial decisions that can change the meaning of a story. That in turn can affect how the story is told to the readers, viewers or listeners, and how they see a particular event.
While Gluck is absolutely correct, that fans are capable of thinking for themselves, as a steward of the news, and perceived expert on the sport, what he and others say matters. It especially matters to those who closely read and follow what he and other favorites have to say.
Whether you want to admit it or not, unless you’re personally witnessing events, the person or organization you’re getting your news and information from colors your perception. And there is nothing wrong with that.
For instance, I like college football, but I’m not an expert on recruiting – what Rivals.com and other ranking experts have to say about a recruit absolutely affects my opinion of said recruit. The same is true in NASCAR. People tend to defer to those who have more knowledge than they have, it’s human nature.
Some final thoughts
I didn’t agree with everything Larry McReynolds had to say on Monday, but I do think he made a good point about the environment that has enveloped the sport’s media. Some in the press corps write about NASCAR with clear disdain. And I think there is a good deal more negativity that permeates NASCAR than other sports – I think a lot of that has to do with respect for leadership at the top (‘Craftsman World Truck Series’ anyone?).
I know this going to sound ground breaking, but I also think it’s possible to be factual and honest without being inflammatory and unnecessarily negative – on the flip side it’s possible to do all that without being ‘Pollyanna’ish.
Until we once again strike that balance though these charges of negativity are going to continue to pop up. And until the collective press corps is willing to look in a mirror and see itself for what it is, warts and all (some proved on Monday they aren’t ready), nothing is going to change.
The fourth estate is alive and well in NASCAR. There is no doubt about that. For the sake of the sport though, that may or may not be a good thing.
The Chase is now upon us! This weekend’s race at New Hampshire marks the first of the ten race playoff. While we work through another week, here’s the 92nd edition of your questions and our answers. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us. On to the questions…
1. From Joe:
I read somewhere that Kenny Wallace said that NASCAR is banning the $1700 seats he uses and that they are going to be required to use a $4000 seat – which he needs five of. Have you heard anything about this ban?
I’m not aware of this specific instance, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. NASCAR is always making changes to the rules, and if this is true, it sounds like they’ve decided the type of seat he uses isn’t as safe as they would like. I know it sucks that this will probably cost Kenny or the team more money, but racing is a business and it isn’t cheap. – T.C.
2. From Marc:
I’ve been meaning to ask Journo a question similar to Garry’s crew-related question last week. What is life like for journalists in NASCAR? How many beat reporters are there? Are there a lot of free-lancers? Do columnists travel to every race or work from a home base? What are the different travel schedules like? What’s it like for those who have to try to cover all three series? In a nutshell, how do the routines of the reporters whose names we see in the bylines (and as well as those we don’t see as often) compare?
Honestly the answer to all your questions is, it varies. These days there aren’t a ton of regular NASCAR beat reporters and not everyone travels every weekend – it gets expensive. The reporters you’ll regularly see at the track are Lee Spencer, Jim Utter, Dustin Long, Reid Spencer, Jenna Fryer, the NASCAR Scene reporters, of course the guys from PRN or MRN and the TV regulars, among others. From city to city there are bloggers and local reporters who come to the track. The life of a NASCAR journalist is hectic and constantly moving. Between blogging, and tweeting, you’re expected to produce regular content from the racetrack. This is on top of the content you’re expected to produce during the week. As far as travel schedules, they’re very similar to those who work in the sport. To your final question, the routines during the race weekend are similar. You pound the pavement (talk to people, work sources/contacts, build relationships, etc.), go to press conferences in the media center and behind haulers, you do interviews for longer features, and of course watch the race. I hope that answers your questions. – Journo
3. From Richard:
Do the teams use the sim programs for changing set-ups between the last practice session and the race. Do they ever use the sim programs during a race?
I’m not 100% up on the engineering side of racing, but I believe the engineers are working through the weekend to find any little gain. I’m also pretty sure they don’t use the sim programs during the race. The teams are getting real time information from their driver, and I’m not sure how much simmed data would help. – T.C.
4. From Gene:
Richmond’s surface used to be very dark because of a sealer that was applied. What was the purpose of the sealer, and why did they stop using it?
I’m not sure I know the answer to this question. They repaved the track in 2004. Perhaps that’s the change you saw? Sorry I don’t know, maybe someone else better knows the answer to this question? – Journo
5. From Billy:
How you assess John Wes Townley’s return to the Nationwide Series after the three races that he has run so far?
I think John Wes is better. I think he definitely improved some in his time with RCR, though I don’t think it helped his confidence – quite the opposite in fact. I think he is capable of keeping a car in the top-30 in points and running consistently. He’s a field filler, and likely always will be, but he’s running better. – Journo
6. From Christopher:
For the Richmond qualifying, I noticed Bobby Labonte got in on a Champion’s Provisional. But his brother, Terry, did not. But Terry was a champion too. What gives?
Only the most recent past Champion who fails to qualify for the race gets the provisional. Bobby won his championship in 2000, Terry won his most recent championship in 1996. Both needed it, but Bobby gets it because his was most recent. – Journo
7. From Steve:
Saturday night, Jeff Gordon got a lucky dog, he was running 18th (or so) at the time, but ended up restarting somewhere further back in the line (maybe 8 cars from the back). Why, if he was the last driver on the lead lap, wouldn’t he have started 18th. As it was, he had to spend a lot of time passing guys he was already ahead of just to get to the next driver ahead of him.
When a driver is given the lucky dog two things are required. First, the driver must still make any pit stops with the lap down cars on the second lap that pit road is open. And second, the driver must then restart the race at the tail end of the longest line. That is why Gordon restarted behind cars that were a lap down and subsequently had to pass a bunch of lap down cars. – T.C.
8. From Tina:
Why is it drivers have the same numbers for Nationwide & Sprint Cup & some don’t? Do the spotters go to victory lane if their driver wins?
NASCAR assigns numbers based on requests from the teams. Sometimes a team owner requests the same number in both series, sometimes they don’t. Remember also, some Cup drivers don’t drive for their Cup team owner in lower series (Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle for instance). And yes spotters generally go to victory lane if their driver wins the race. – Journo
9. From Justin:
Terry Labonte took over the 55 and the scenedaily article says his crew worked on changing the setup from a s&p set to a race set. I thought this wasn’t allowed? What is the difference between going full blown qualifying set at Talladega, making the race, then putting in a race set and starting at the back and racing?
The difference between the Talladega races and the second Daytona race with everywhere else, is that those races are impound. Every other race on the Cup schedule doesn’t not invoke a post qualifying impound. Since Richmond isn’t an impound race, Labonte’s team was allowed to take the 55 after qualifying and turn the straight qualifying setup into a race setup. At the superspeedway races, the cars must start the race with the setup they qualify on, and any changes after qualifying will be viewed as unapproved and the team will then start in the back. – T.C.
10. From Mike:
Hello, please explain in detail the process of gluing the lugnuts to the wheels. What keeps the studs from forcing the lugnuts to the ground? Thank you.
Prior to the race, all the wheels will be prepped and cleaned. Teams use various brushes, a degreaser (usually SD-20) and something like brake clean or Acrysol to prep the wheels. Most teams then use a weatherstripping glue from a company called Norton to glue the lugnuts to the wheels. A bead of glue is run around the tapered edge of the lugnut, and the lug is placed over the stud hole. The gluing usually takes place around three hours prior to the start of the race. This allows the glue to dry to the point where it isn’t brittle. When the carrier hangs the tire, the glue actually stretches so that the lugs don’t fall off the end of the stud. If the glue is allowed to dry for too long, it will become brittle and lugnuts will pop off easily. – T.C.
And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!
I really didn’t want to have to write this post. I figured that everyone was smart enough to really see things clearly and think logically, but I’ve been proven horribly wrong. After Jenna Fryer’s AP story about NASCAR “secretly” fining drivers that appeared this week, there has been a ton of discussion about the topic. I can respect people’s opinions on both sides of an argument, as everyone is entitled to what they think, but in this case some out there have completely lost it.
Before I even say what I want to say, I’m going to do you a favor. What I’m about to write will probably make some of you angry, and I’m cool with that. So before you call me a “NASCAR homer” in the comment section, stop. I’m going to side with NASCAR on this one, and I already know where this is leading. So save your energy.
Now, as everyone seems to know, NASCAR is currently in a tough spot. Attendance has been falling at tracks across the board and TV ratings continue to slump. NASCAR has made a ton of changes to try and fix what they believe the problems to be, and more changes are coming. NASCAR hopes these changes will bring people back to the track and get more people watching on TV, which in turn will hopefully bring sponsors back to racing that left, and also attract some new ones.
As NASCAR attempts to get back what they lost, what they really don’t need is a ton of bad press. And what do drivers do that continually bad mouth the sanctioning body and its decisions to the public? Create bad press.
ESPN has reported that they know who the drivers are that were fined by NASCAR, but to me, it doesn’t matter. What all of the drivers need to realize is that the media and the fans listen to what they have to say. If people didn’t care what they had to say, nobody would interview them. And don’t even try to tell me that fans don’t need to listen to the drivers to see how bad things are with NASCAR. If Dale Jr. can convince JR Nation to go out and buy Amp to the point that Amp’s sales go up 70% in the first year of the sponsorship, and Amp’s market share jumps from sixth in the category to fourth, this guy and all the other drivers can affect fans’ opinions.
Right now, it seems that fan frustration is pretty high. We read comments and emails from folks all the time about how they are close to quitting all together, and more from people that have given up. By criticizing NASCAR to the media, the drivers are just adding to the fan frustration and helping drive more of them away. And when fans leave, so do sponsorship dollars. So really, these drivers are really just hurting themselves, because with less sponsorship, there will be less rides for them to occupy, and less money available to pay them big salaries.
With all of this said, NASCAR must do all they can right now to protect their brand. They cannot afford to lose any more of the race fans. NASCAR wants the fans to be happy, because happy fans buy race tickets and merchandise, and watch on TV. So when a driver becomes overly critical of the sport, action must be taken. In this case, NASCAR decided fines were necessary to show not only the offending drivers, but everyone else that this would not be tolerated. What’s interesting to note here, is that according to spokesman Ramsey Poston, NASCAR warned all the drivers about the possibility of fines months ago.
For those of you who claim these fines violate free speech, try again. NASCAR did not fine these drivers because they had an opinion. They fined them because they chose the wrong forum in which to express that opinion. If the competitors really have a problem with the way things are being run, they need to take those opinions directly to Mike Helton, John Darby, Joe Balash, and Wayne Auton. Complaining to the media and fans won’t get them anywhere.
Moving on to this idea of “secret” fines, at what point did anyone say these fines were secret? There is a big difference between “secret” and not making something public knowledge. The original AP story has quotes from Poston in which he acknowledges that action was taken. He didn’t deny it, nor were these drivers told to keep the fines a secret. NASCAR is allowed to deal with problems internally, and not everything warrants a press release. The last time you were written up at work for being late 47 days in a row, something tells me your HR manager didn’t send out a press release to the local paper.
I also want to point out here that if NASCAR wanted something to be secret, it would remain secret. The community is extremely small, and if you think there aren’t things you don’t know about, then you are sadly confused.
With all of this being said, I’m not the enemy here. I agree with you that the drivers need to have their own personalities, and be able to speak their minds. Showing emotion is what makes us love and hate these guys. But drivers can show emotion without bashing NASCAR every five minutes in their post race press conferences. There is already way too much negativity in the press, the drivers don’t need to help.
I’m siding with NASCAR on this one because they were right to do what they did. Myself and thousands of other people depend on this sport and the jobs provided by it to pay our bills and feed our families. Fans not showing up and sponsors pulling out affects me and a lot of other people I know personally. I’m lucky to still have a spot in racing, but I know a ton of guys who don’t.
So the next time a driver wants to bitch and moan in an interview about what they perceive to be phony debris cautions, maybe they should think a little more about the ramifications of their words. It just might turn out that they unknowingly killed their own career.
NASCAR Hard Card: The annual credential issued to NASCAR officials, drivers, media, and team personnel.
One of the most important articles I bring with me to the race track each weekend is my NASCAR hard card. A hard card is a plastic ID card that is very similar to any school or employer ID card. It’s about the size of a credit card and has my picture, my name, what series I work in, and what team I work for on it. On the back of the card is a NASCAR disclaimer statement, and a place for the holder to sign. This very important piece of plastic grants me access to the infield, garage area, and pit road. Without it, I’m stuck on the outside of the fence looking in.
I’ve often been asked how or where somebody can get their own hard card, or if I will let them buy or borrow mine. I obviously can’t help with either request, but it shows how sought after these credentials can be.
While we are at the track, our cards must either be displayed on our person (as they say) or somewhere very close by. If you get the chance to get into the infield, you’ll notice that many choose to wear their hard card on a lanyard around their neck. When one receives their card from NASCAR, they usually provide a lanyard for you. For some however, the basic lanyard just isn’t good enough. The many wives and girlfriends, along with the many PR and business women are the usual offenders for elaborate and ornate hard card display devices. I guess they figure if they are going to wear a piece of plastic around their neck, they might as well bling it out a little. Bedazzler sold separately.
On the flip side, many crew guys choose to just leave them in their wallets, as wearing it around their neck can cause issues while they are working on the cars. For the rest, the standard lanyard works just fine.
For the young or up and coming crew guy, obtaining that first hard card almost becomes a career goal. It signals that you’ve made it to a solid place in your advancement. Why is this so? It boils down to money. Everyone that works at the track for a NASCAR team must have a NASCAR license. This license costs around $500-$600 a year. A hard card however, costs a few thousand dollars for the year, and means it’s owner can forgo standing in line at the NASCAR credential trailer to get a paper pass each weekend. Only teams with a solid footing can afford to get hard cards for their employees. So having the plastic means you will probably be at the track each weekend and you work for a solid team.
The next logical goal once someone obtains the hard card, is figuring out how to keep it. Racing is a tough, performance driven business, and hanging onto this little piece of plastic can be very difficult. When a guy is fired from a team, the hard card must usually be returned before the last paycheck is given. The reason being that hard cards are transferable, and teams can use it for someone else over the course of the season. Having to give back the card when you aren’t ready to sucks.
The license and hard card are also used by NASCAR as a way to have power over the many team personnel. As a form of punishment for some infractions, NASCAR sometimes pulls hard cards from their holders. NASCAR can also refuse to give people these credentials, if for example, a fine hasn’t been paid or suspension served. No hard card and license, no access.
So as you can see, these pieces of plastic we often wear around our necks carry an awful lot of power. Mine gets me access to places others can’t go, but it can also be used against me. And that’s the mystique of the NASCAR hard card.
And by “she,” I mean Danica Patrick.
This post serves as your official 10 day hype warning. You’d better enjoy the nice, quiet, normal Nationwide Series coverage this weekend on ESPN, because it will be the calm before the storm. Danica returns to the JR Motorsports #7 on June 26th at New Hampshire.
Through the first three Nationwide Series races of the season, you may not have even realized there were 42 other drivers in the field. Or really, you may have thought Danica was the only NASCAR driver there was. Danica Mania hit NASCAR hard, with constant coverage of her during the races, and plenty of stories about her to read about online. Since her last race at Las Vegas in February however, the hype has died down.
The hype is about to get shocked back to life.
While she’s been away from NASCAR, Danica has been busy working on a very mediocre Indy Car season. Through seven races this season she has one top five and three top ten finishes. She currently sits 11th in the points standings, and her average finish is the worst she’s had since her rookie year in 2005. Some have gone so far as to suggest that her foray into NASCAR has taken something away from her open wheel skills this year.
The Danica haters have been quieted a little in recent weeks, as she finished sixth at Indianapolis, and then followed that up with a second at Texas on June 5th. Jumping back into a Nationwide Series car right when it appears she has the open wheel ship righted might not bode well for her, however. Couple that with the fact that her summer NNS starts are coming at New Hampshire, Chicagoland, Michigan, and Dover, and it might be a tough summer for Ms. Patrick.
After her Loudon start, Hurricane Danica will reappear in NASCAR once a month through September, and then starting October 9th at Auto Club Speedway, Danica will run the final six NNS races.
So now that you’ve been warned, you have plenty of time to go buy canned goods, flashlights, batteries, and other necessities. Also, don’t forget to board up your windows and batten down the hatches. Looks like Hurricane Danica could be a CAT 5.
Pages that don’t work. Under construction banners. Replayed press releases. Poorly produced video content (or clipped TV interviews). Lackluster traffic. Pitiful efforts.
All these things and more describe the websites of NASCAR’s biggest teams. For all their sponsorship dollars and sales savvy, the sport’s elite have largely failed in their efforts to attract a strong audience to their Internet presences.
In our very unscientific TNI poll we found a little less than half of respondents regularly visit the websites of their favorite teams or drivers. According to comScore Hendrick Motorsports had just 68,000 unique visitors in March. The traffic numbers for other teams are lower (by comparison NFL teams regularly have unique numbers from the low six figures to the low seven figures per month).
The popular excuse is that NASCAR fans follow the drivers, not the teams, so they don’t visit the team sites. I don’t believe this is the whole story though. The teams, for their part, have done very little over the years to utilize the potential of their sites.
What you currently find on their websites is non-exclusive content (press releases), some photos, and the occasional video collage set to ridiculous music. Some teams have attempted blogs, but they get forgotten; and while others have done a good job with video recently, I don’t trust they’ll continue to do it.
Roush Fenway is making steps in the right direction, but the end result is still to be seen. According to Sports Business Journal, the team is spending close to $500,000 on a new team website (this includes the site, a relationship with the Barbarian Group and a new studio) – the new site will be “half competition/half sales.” Team president Geoff Smith said this was a way for them to modernize their outreach. Welcome to the 21st century Geoff (you’re only 10 years late).
One of the key components of this redesign is video content, and the team has already started to wade into that. They recently produced a Home Shopping style infomercial for Ricky Stenhouse. It was mildly entertaining, but about 4 minutes too long. Don’t get me wrong, it was well done and having a guy like Sean Pragano (Ricky’s PR guy and a former broadcast sports reporter) host is great. Every team should attempt to put out viral videos. Roush just needs to be very careful about who they’re marketing this to, and whether or not there will be an actual benefit.
Unfortunately, many teams are online just because they feel they have to be. As Michael Smith so accurately wrote, “…most teams don’t tout their sites as a legitimate source of exposure. It’s mostly a value-added component to a sponsorship deal.” While very correct, the statement is fundamentally flawed. How can a site be a value-added component if nobody sees it? Perhaps more important to this post though is why isn’t it being used as a source for exposure?
NASCAR, just like every other sport in the country, is facing dwindling coverage by downsizing newspapers, newspaper chains and broadcast outlets. Where most sports teams are looking to increase their online presence, especially on their own sites, NASCAR teams are doing nothing. I think it’s bizarre.
On top of that none of these teams do anything to promote their sites (with the exception of the occasional sticker on the car or, driver’s firesuit). It seems quite simple and logical to think that a team would want to tell people that they have a site and there are great things on it, but none do.
Honestly there is a lot teams could do to encourage people to visit. Most important is getting capable individuals in place to produce exclusive content for the site. The fact is, it takes skill and knowledge to effectively write for and produce video content. It also takes a skilled individual to consistently write compelling and interesting stories and blogs that people will return to read. If teams can effectively add value to their sites, and increase traffic, it too could become a tool for making money. Go figure.
Too often organizations delve into things without asking the fundamental, why they’re doing it. It seems like such a simple thing, but often gets overlooked. Websites certainly take time and money to make right, but with the proper individuals and the appropriate investment they really can turn their sites into a valuable part of their marketing efforts.
Most NASCAR drivers like to talk. If things aren’t going well few hesitate to express their issues with those in charge. If they’re mad you can be sure the person on the opposite end will be fully aware of it. And luckily for them if their intended target isn’t willing to listen, there is a media corps that is more than happy to lend an ear and write a story.
Case in point: Mike Skinner.
Skinner of course went to work for David Dollar and Randy Moss last season after Bill Davis Racing closed its doors. The move positioned Skinner well with a team that appeared to be on the rebound/upswing. With veteran crew Eric Phillips on the box, the 52-year-old Skinner and his #5 team were able to score three wins and finish third in the points on a shoe-string budget. In classic Skinner style, he made sure everyone knew their money situation too – but he was a happy guy.
What a difference a year can make. Eric Phillips left the team in the off-season to take over a crew chief position at the new Kyle Busch Motorsports, and with Gene Nead at the helm, the team just hasn’t been the same. After five races Skinner is tenth with only two top-ten finishes. He’s no longer a happy guy.
The frustrated Skinner voiced his discontent with his hand-picked crew chief this past weekend to NASCAR.com.
“I appreciate Gene going like he went and helping Robby Gordon a couple weeks. I appreciate him doing that and getting the information on the tire and so on and so forth…By the same token, we really need to keep our eye on the ball.”
Note Skinner probably doesn’t actually mean he appreciates Nead’s excursion to help Robby Gordon. As I understand it, the extracurricular activity was supposed to be on the D.L.
Skinner also pointed criticism to Randy Moss for being an absentee owner.
“Randy’s a great guy, but he’s not involved as much … I’d love to see him get involved more. Maybe if we can win us a couple of races before football season starts …”
Now I understand Skinner’s frustrations with his team, and I think they are valid criticisms, but generally all of these things are issues you would want handled internally. I know if I’m David Dollar the last thing I want or need is for my driver to be spouting off to the media about the functioning of my organization.
Don’t get me wrong though, I’m not complaining. It’s always great to see a driver speak his mind. These insightful and at times cringe-worthy moments are what journalism is all about. Remember Kasey Kahne and his ‘I have no idea who is in charge moment’ last year? Priceless.
The media, fortunately for them, and perhaps unfortunately for team owners, can be a public conduit for getting things done. If drivers feel they aren’t being listened to at home, they have a means for broadcasting their grievances to the whole neighborhood. Chances are things will be changed. You can bet the Monday after Kasey Kahne’s comments he knew who was in charge. And I would imagine by now Mike Skinner and David Dollar have had a conversation about his comments this weekend.
Thankfully for all of us, for as long as there is a NASCAR and a media covering it, you can bet frustrated drivers will be more than happy to air out their team’s dirty laundry to get what they want.
In the last two decades NASCAR’s leadership has taken great pains to expand the sport to just about every region of this country. East to West, North to South, the once regional sport hosts events all over the country – including events in the nation’s largest media markets. On top of that, NASCAR has active offices in New York, and perhaps more importantly for the sport’s image, Los Angeles.
There are people working for NASCAR right now to get the sport and the sport’s talent placed into mainstream scripted and unscripted television programs. Yet for all that work, NASCAR continues to have this image as having a redneck, racist, ignorant fan base.
Take this example from the brain trust of the Mobile Press-Register’s sports desk:
What is NASCAR doing saying “The Pledge of Allegiance” before the national anthem? They’ve never done that before. Now they’re showcasing some right-winger singer. Is NASCAR getting political? I know they cater to the uneducated, uninformed white male. There is a term called a NASCAR dad, and basically that is a manual laborer who isn’t educated. But why do they have to patronize with “The Pledge of Allegiance?”
Apparently saying the Pledge of Allegiance is purely a political act. And what’s so wrong with the NASCAR dad? Whoever wrote this has an incorrect conception of the term (check this out); and a lack of basic research skills. Even so, since when is it a bad thing in this country to be blue collar?
As absurd and ignorant as I think this little tidbit was, I think it speaks to a larger problem for the sport. How after all these years of work and expansion do we find ourselves as the continued butt of jokes.
I was watching NBC’s 30 Rock last week and was taken aback to hear the show take a shot at the sport. I won’t get into the back story (the quote is 15:03 in), but one of the characters said, “I wish I could help you, but I can’t sleep with a black guy; I’d lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR.” What!?!
I know NASCAR isn’t condoning this sort of thing, but they’re not helping it. Anybody remember Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby? Sure it’s a funny movie, but it’s everything that’s wrong with NASCAR in the mainstream. It’s been widely reported that one team owner refused to take part in the film, saying it would set the sport back 25 years. And it probably wasn’t a far off concern. It certainly didn’t do the sport any favors. This movie amplifies every ridiculous and ignorant stereotype surrounding NASCAR. This isn’t/wasn’t good for the image of this sport.
For those not involved with or interested in NASCAR, this type of thing reinforces all those stereotypes they associate with it (we’ve all heard them). Personally, this had me wondering if this is what Hollywood and the rest of the world thought about NASCAR.
For a sport very concerned with reaching wider audiences across the country, NASCAR sure does do a good job of alienating itself. It’s like two steps forward, three back. I don’t get it.
Reviving, or reworking the NASCAR image is something NASCAR needs to address as they pull themselves out of this current rut. I believe it’s important to do internally (which I think they’re working on) and externally in the media. If they want to attract new fans, and not drive the casual fan away, this, I believe, could go a long way. Whatever they do though, I think it’s hard not to realize that this is a problem.
The frenzy surrounding Danica Patrick in the weeks since she has begun her ascent to the highest level of American motorsports has been nothing short of a spectacle. When Patrick walks down pit road (or anywhere for that matter) a crowd almost constantly surrounds her, her pit stall is four and five deep and the huddled media jostles for a sound bite from her anytime she gets out of her car.
The media darling is certainly a popular presence in the garage right now. And why not? With her comes higher ratings and more page views. People want Danica, so Danica is what they’re going to get.
So you’d think a woman who loves attention and basking in the the lights of a TV camera would be more willing to talk following a race, something that just about every other driver manages.
Not Danica though. She got out of her car and stormed to her team hauler refusing interviews from ESPN (that pesky network that pays a lot of money to be there) and all others who tried. If you were willing to wait the half-hour afterward she did give those sound bites.
This isn’t even my gripe though. This is classic Danica (the sport’s first taste of her). The way it was handled by her representatives is what gets me. I’d expect a little more organization and order out of people who should be used to dealing with this (her frazzled looking, and dare I say acting, PR representative looked like this was a first for her).
The unfortunate part of all of this is not that media people are waiting (boo-hoo right?) but that it’s making the job for those who work in the sport that much more difficult. The poor teams that are parked next to her in the garage or on pit road (not to mention her own team) have to fight past (even larger) throngs of reporters and fans to do their job. In the case of her own team they now have to wait even longer to load their hauler and leave. Already difficult tasks now take a little longer.
I would think her top-notch representation would be a little better prepared to deal with a lot of people and a temperamental driver. In the future (because her finishing badly is likely to happen with frequency as she continues to learn) instead of making her team and a lot of other people wait, why not have a post race press conference (after the winner and second and third place finisher press conference of course) in the media center? It’s a win-win for everyone. Her representation gets rid of the fan element, she gets to fume for a while, and then gets to take questions in an orderly fashion. I’m sure NASCAR and the tracks would be pleased to set it up.