March 25 – Today in Jayski’s NASCAR history

March 25, 2016

• • • O’Donnell talks about “full fields”, race winnings: Interviewed by the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell talked about various issues including the size of Sprint Cup fields and why race winnings are no longer released:
      Q: Although there are four spots available each race for non-charter “open” teams, they haven’t all been filled since Daytona and fields have been composed of 39 of a possible 40 cars. Is that a concern?
      O’Donnell: “When we looked at the charter system, we decided to leave four spots open. We didn’t necessarily think those four spots would be occupied at each race and we’d love to maybe have them filled. But we’re concentrating on the quality of the race teams that do show up each week. We’re happy with that. We’ve got 36 teams and whichever open teams that show up and it’s provided quality racing.”
      Q: Why is prize money is no longer released after races?
      O’Donnell: “All the teams know what they are racing for. It’s listed in the charter agreements. Teams and tracks are aware. We don’t have anything to hide from the team owners and tracks. But it’s something we could continue to look at.”(Charlotte Observer)(3-25-2016)
  • • GM exec says Chevy’s success forced Ford to get Stewart-Haas: Mark Kent, GM’s director of racing, has described Ford’s joining forces with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017 as a “bold move” but has pledged support to the team to season’s end. Kent told Motorsport.com: “Ford hasn’t won a drivers’ or manufacturers’ championship in over a decade. So obviously they’ve been looking at Chevrolet and realizing it takes great teams and great depth to be able to win championships. We’ve been able to win the last 13 manufacturers’ titles and nine of the last 11 drivers’ championships. So Ford realized they had to do something. They made a bold move.” While Kent acknowledged the achievements of SHR, he stated that the team’s use of Hendrick Motorsports equipment had also made the team susceptible to outside offers. “Satellite teams are obviously the easiest takeover candidates,” he observed, “because they don’t build their own chassis, don’t build their own engines and so it’s easier for them to switch alliances.(Motorsport)(3-25-2015)
  • • Sonoma Raceway adding new Panasonic LED scoring pylon: Sonoma Raceway will offer fans an entirely new perspective on the racing action, as the wine country facility upgrades its spectator experience with more than 5,000 square feet of Panasonic LED digital signage. Most notably, the raceway will replace its outdated lap/leader board, which has stood above Turn 1 of the road course since 1994, with an 85-foot tall, four-sided LED scoring tower. The new pylon will provide real-time running order for up to 20 positions, dynamic race-related graphics and fan information. The new scoring tower will be located in approximately the same position above Turn 1, but is more than 26-feet taller than the old board and will be easily visible from almost every seating area around the road course. The new fan amenity will make its debut at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, June 24-26. In addition, the raceway will add an 84- x 12-foot Panasonic LED video board on the front of its three-story Drag Tower building. This video board will be easily viewed from the Main Grandstand, as well as the temporary grandstand during the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in July. This new technology will allow the raceway to create and deliver videos, graphic overlays, real-time statistics, custom content and sponsor advertisements.(Sonoma Raceway)(3-25-2016)

2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997