March 26, 2005
- Ryan’s Racecar for kids: Byrnes Enterprises announced the release of a 30-minute video and DVD produced for children between the ages of two and eight. Ryan’s Racecar gives kids a close look at a real racing stock car and it’s driver, Ryan Zeck. Ryan’s Racecar was produced, written and hosted by veteran motorsports broadcaster Steve Byrnes. Byrnes is in his fifth year with FOX Sports and the Speed Channel. “I wanted younger kids to have the opportunity to see a racecar up close,” said Byrnes. “We mounted on-board cameras so you can see the driver really working the steering wheel which gives kids the feeling of actually being in a racecar. I see so many young kids at the race tracks and I want them to have something that furthers their understanding. I also want their parents to feel like there is value in what their kids are watching. I have the perfect motivation, and focus group at home,” continued Byrnes. “I watch my two-year-old son, Bryson, viewing videos and television programs. He likes humor, action, colors and music. I incorporated all of those elements into a video that will be entertaining and provide positive messages on safety and education.”
“My father, Jerry Byrnes, was a career United States Federal Government employee and spent the last 15 years of his service at the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Byrnes. “Seat belt safety was a big issue in my house. That message is prominent in the video. We dedicated an entire segment of the video to safety and compared the Ryan’s racecar to the family car.”
The video was shot at the Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C. and depicts Ryan preparing for an upcoming race by testing on the tough short track. Ryan Zeck, the first recipient of the prestigious Alan Kulwicki scholarship at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, has been racing since the age of eight. The Alan Kulwicki scholarship is awarded annually in honor of the 1992 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion who died in a plane crash in April of 1993. Ryan Zeck graduated from UNCC with honors in 1999 with a degree in mechanical engineering and continues to pursue his racing career. Zeck also works as an engineer for MB2 Motorsports with drivers Scott Riggs, Joe Nemechek and Boris Said. “I thought this video was a great idea,” said Zeck. “The process of making a video was new and challenging to me. Racing is a family sport and this is a great way to bring kids into racing.”
During the video, Ryan is constantly asked to take the goofy television reporter, Byrnes, for a ride in his racecar. Worse yet, Byrnes asks to drive the number 95 car. “I didn’t think that was a good idea,” said Zeck. “Steve wasn’t properly dressed and my racecar was really against the prospect of being driven by a TV guy.” A talking racecar? Just a part of the fun of Ryan’s Racecar. Ryan’s Racecar is available in DVD and VHS formats and can be ordered via the Internet at www.ryansracecar.com.(FoxSports)(3-26-2005)
- France and the NFL rumor resurfaces MORE II: Brian France’s on-and-off plans to get into the National Football League as part-owner of a proposed new Los Angeles franchise may be back on again, according to sources who say France is working with Magic Johnson on various NFL-NBA angles. Johnson is on the NASCAR business roster to help this sport’s diversity program. The latest thinking on France-to-the-NFL is that he will complete NASCAR’s current round of TV renegotiations before making any big moves. France has insisted he’s not planning on leaving NASCAR anytime soon, though he has left the door open.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-21-2005)
MORE: Former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson says he and NASCAR chairman/CEO Brian France have held discussions concerning the purchase of an NFL team for Los Angeles. Johnson, a co-chairman of NASCAR’s diversity committee, said he has met three or four times with France in Los Angeles, where France has a home [it was announced last year France had sold his house in LA and moved to Daytona Beach…Philly Inquirer in Feb 2004], and he said the two will meet again in two weeks. “I’m working on trying to bring the NFL back to L.A.,” Johnson said in a telephone interview Tuesday night. “I’ve met with the league three, four, five times, hopefully to be a minority owner.” Los Angeles, the nation’s #2 media market, hasn’t had an NFL team since 1995. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said during his annual state of the game address before the Super Bowl that the league intends to return a team to the Los Angeles area sometime this decade. “It would be wonderful that Brian France would be interested in being a part-owner or owner in the Los Angeles franchise,” Johnson said. “He has the money, he has the marketing tools and he lives in L.A. He loves both the NBA and the NFL. So I would see him being an owner in one or the other league. I’d love to work with Brian.” France — a grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. who has been credited with increasing the sport’s popularity since taking over from his father, Bill France Jr., in 2003 — was not available for comment Thursday. “Brian and Magic have had several conversations,” said Ramsey Poston, managing director of NASCAR corporate communications. “Mainly they’ve talked about diversity in NASCAR, but … they’ve talked about a lot of sports. They both like the NFL, but there has not been any specific conversations between the two about acquisition or ownership of an NFL team. Brian is firmly planted as CEO and chairman of NASCAR and is here for the long haul.”(USA Today)(3-25-2005)
AND Despite the denials, sources continue to indicate that Brian France’s tenure as leader of NASCAR could be shorter than expected, NFL or not. There is credible word that Jim France, brother of Bill France and vice chairman/exec vp of NASCAR, and Bill France’s daughter, Lesa France Kennedy, are seeking to acquire Brian’s shares in the company. Why this would be done is not clear, and it may have nothing to do with the NFL. Brian France has denied this as well. “I have a huge economic interest in this industry today, and I plan to have for a long time,” he told USA Today in February. Credible sources say any such move by France would not happen soon, calling it “a slow burn.” Indications are that, if all goes as planned, the Frances would wait until after renegotiation of the network television contracts, due for renewal beginning next year. Brian France played an important role in negotiation of the current contracts in 2000.(Speed Channel)(3-26-2005) - Sorenson wins at Nashville: #41-Reed Sorenson dominated the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway, leading 196 of 225 laps to win from trom the pole, the first driver to do so at Nashville. #22-Kenny Wallace finished 2nd, one of 8 cars on the lead lap when the race ended. The rest of the top five were. #32-Shane Hmiel, #60-Carl Edwards and #2-Clint Bowyer. #60-Carl Edwards retained the points lead.
Results at:
ESPN.com
BGNRacing.com
MotorsportsOne
NASCAR.com.(3-26-2005)
- Sorenson wins pole at Nashville: #41-Reed Sorenson won his first career Busch Pole Award on Saturday for the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. The rest of the top-five are #2-Clint Bowyer, #60-Carl Edwards, #12-Tim Fedewa and #20-Denny Hamlin. Missing the race were: #16-John Hayden, #85-Damon Lusk, #23-Shawna Robinson, #24-Blake Mallory, #88-Brian Sockwell. The race airs on Saturday starting at 3:30pm on FX.
See Starting lineups:
BGNRacing.com – Starting Lineup
BGNRacing.com – Qual Speeds
NASCAR.com.(3-26-2005)
- Lots of Green: All three Green brothers will all start the race on Saturday, the first time since 2002. In an odd twist, Jeff was sponsored by Kleenex in 2002, Mark drove for Brewco and sponsor Timberwolf and now, David drives for Brewco and has been sponsored by both Timberwolf and Kleenex.(BGNRacing.com) #27-David Green starts 21st, #43-Jeff Green starts 29th and #7-Mark Green starts 41st.(3-26-2005)
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