April 1, 2015
- NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Fan Vote Opens: Fan voting for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 opened March 31st on NASCAR.com and runs through Monday, May 19 at 11:59pm/et. The five nominees receiving the highest percentage of votes will comprise the Fan Vote ballot.
Following are the 20 nominees for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, listed alphabetically:
Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Harry Hyde, Bobby Isaac, Alan Kulwicki, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Hershel McGriff, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Larry Phillips, O. Bruton Smith, Mike Stefanik, Curtis Turner, Robert Yates. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 will be voted on and announced at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday, May 20.(NASCAR)(4-1-2015)
- Axalta, Penn State and Jeff Gordon partner to highlight STEM, business education: Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings, and Penn State on Tuesday (March 31st) jointly announced a partnership that will include an on-campus press event and special learning opportunities with #24-Jeff Gordon and his team at Pocono Raceway. The program, designed to drive awareness and support for STEM and business education, will focus on students currently engaged in the study of engineering and business.
“Engineering is an integral part of the racing industry, as it translates into practical applications we use every day,” said Charlie Shaver, Axalta Chairman and CEO. “We are proud of our 23-year motorsports partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon and are honored to have the opportunity to support Penn State University’s curricula with this special program. It is crucial to many industries, including Axalta’s, to have access to skilled engineers and business leaders, and Penn State is providing the specialized programs needed to prepare them for the future.”
The April 14 on-campus event will include a visit by Gordon, a student pep-rally and an unveiling of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy paint scheme that Gordon will drive at Pocono Raceway in the June 7 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race named the “Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400.” “The relationship between Penn State and Axalta offers our students the opportunity to learn about careers in business and engineering fields from the leaders of a global player based right here in Pennsylvania,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “Helping students toward career success is of critical importance to the Penn State experience, and partnerships such as this are another way of giving our students special, hands-on opportunities to learn about their fields of study and the job market.”
“Supporting STEM education and future business leaders is vital to our future,” said Gordon. “I depend on the mechanical engineers on my team to make sure that my racecar is in top form for every race. Linking STEM education to the technology behind successful racing is important. I’m proud to partner with Axalta and Penn State on this exciting program.”(psu.edu)(4-1-2015)
- Ernie Elliott’s wife charged with aggravated assault: The wife of famed NASCAR engine builder Ernie Elliott was arrested early Tuesday morning. Sheila G. Elliott, 63, was charged with felony aggravated assault in connection with an incident that occurred on March 18 at the family’s racing compound on Elliott Family Parkway. According to the arrest warrant, the suspect over revved the engine of her 2004 Mercedes Benz sedan and attempted to run her husband over with the vehicle, forcing him to climb “underneath a trailer for safety.” He was not injured during the incident, which was reported to local authorities on March 24, the same day a warrant was secured for Sheila Elliott’s arrest. Officers attempted to make an arrest that day, but were not able to do so due to a health concern. “Cpl. Ethan Taffar investigated and was about to take her into custody for aggravated assault under family violence when a medical condition arose, which had to be dealt with at that particular moment,” said Capt. Tony Wooten, sheriff’s spokesman. The nature of the argument that led to the alleged assault on March 18 was not publically revealed. Revered as one of NASCAR’s top engine builders, Ernie Elliott helped power brother Bill Elliott to numerous victories over the family’s 20-year collaboration, including his 1988 championship. He also built the engine that holds NASCAR’s Sprint Cup qualifying record. His engines have 39 wins, 148 top five’s, 291 top 10’s and 51 poles. As of Tuesday afternoon, she remained in police custody without bond. A hearing before a judge is set for today.(Dawson News)(4-1-2015)
- ARRIS Technology to Help Power Communications at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Events:ARRIS (sponsor of #19-Carl Edwards) announced that its technology and services will help power NASCAR Productions, LLC by providing NASCAR Productions with equipment for Internet services at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events this season. “Every second counts in NASCAR,” said Ron Coppock, President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing at ARRIS. “Our technology speeds up the crucial flow of information at-track between NASCAR Productions and the teams and for use by the teams to send information while at-track, so they can keep pushing the envelope of the sport.” Each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team will receive an ARRIS SURFBoard SB6183, and ARRIS’s E6000 Converged Edge Router (CER) will serve as the hub for delivering all services to the modems, ensuring a secure and reliable connection during races. In addition, the ARRIS Global Services team will be on-site at every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, providing full integration and support for the technology provided to NASCAR Productions throughout the racing season.
“Our E6000 Converged Edge Router provides the fastest, most advanced broadband services. And now, NASCAR Productions is relying on it to deliver its at-track Internet service,” added Coppock.
“At NASCAR, we are driven by technology. We use innovation to generate close racing; foster safety; and create compelling experiences for fans watching at home, in-person and on the go,” said Steve Stum, Vice President, Operations and Technical Production, NASCAR Productions.(ARRIS)(4-1-2015)
- Martinsville TV Ratings UPDATE: The first ever NASCAR race on Fox Sports 1 was no match for coverage on FOX last year, but still put up respectable numbers. NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Martinsville earned a 2.5 overnight rating on FS1 Sunday afternoon, down 34% from last year (3.8) and down 38% from 2013 (4.0), both of which aired on FOX. The 2.5 is the lowest for the race since at least 2002, the last time it aired on cable. Sunday’s telecast was the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race to air on Fox Sports 1 (previously Speed Channel). It topped other NASCAR telecasts on the network, including last year’s Sprint Cup All-Star Race (1.7), last year’s Sprint Unlimited (1.8) and this year’s four Xfinity Series races (0.8 to 1.7). Despite airing on cable, the race was the highest rated non-NCAA Tournament sporting event of the weekend in the metered markets. It more-than-tripled competing coverage of the IndyCar Series from St. Petersburg on broadcast network ABC (0.8). FOX was originally scheduled to air the Martinsville race, with FS1 making its debut April 25 from Richmond. The networks swapped the races to accommodate MLB coverage on FS1 that day.(Sports Media Watch / Sports Business Daily)(3-31-2015)
UPDATE: On Sunday (3/29), FOX Sports televised its first ever regularly scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points race on FOX Sports 1, and the audience from Martinsville Speedway was record-setting. Overcoming intense competition, the race attracted 4,061,000 viewers making it the most-watched motorsports event in network history, the fourth most-watched telecast ever on the network and the only non-MLB postseason event among the network’s top five. According to Nielsen, the race propelled FOX Sports 1 to its most-watched Sunday from 6:00 AM-3:00 AM since launch, averaging 1,068,000 viewers over that span. Moreover, FOX Sports 1 was the most-watched ad supported cable network from 1:00-5:15 PM ET on Sunday (4,089,000 viewers), posting a +170% advantage over the next closest network (Nickelodeon, 1,511,000 viewers). The audience for the race peaked at 5,450,000 from 5:00-5:11 PM ET as Denny Hamlin held off a final-lap charge from Brad Keselowski to cop his first win of the season.
The audience for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race supplanted the previous FOX Sports 1 motorsports record of 3,526,000 set Feb. 15, 2014 for the Sprint Unlimited. The only other Sprint Cup points event on FOX Sports 1 was last season’s Bristol race on March 16 which was moved from FOX to FOX Sports 1 due to rain. That race averaged 3,227,000 viewers.
Preceding the race, NASCAR Raceday posted 1,008,000 viewers, +52% above last year’s edition from Martinsville (661,000). Immediately following the race, a special airing of FOX SPORTS LIVE posted 1,904,000 viewers marking the show’s seventh most-watched edition ever. On Saturday (3/28) the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Martinsville scored 1,100,000 viewers, +22% from the 2013 race on SPEED (902,000). Last year’s race was rained out and moved to Sunday at 5:30pm and delivered 532,000 viewers.(Fox)(4-1-2015)
- Texas Motor Speedway to place tire packs at five locations: Texas Motor Speedway will present additional safety devices when its racing season begins next week with a NASCAR doubleheader. Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns TMS, began reviewing its facilities after Kyle Busch’s hard crash into an unprotected concrete wall at Daytona International Speedway in the season-opening Xfinity race. Busch incurred a broken right leg and left foot and has not returned. SMI assigned a group of consultants and engineers review TMS’ 11/2-mile track on Sunday. They recommended adding 244 linear feet of tire packs in five locations. That includes spaces of 33 feet in Turn 1 and 29 feet in Turn 4. TMS immediately went to work implementing the suggestions, at its expense. The track expects the tire packs to be installed in time for the first events of the season: the Xfinity O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on April 10 and the Sprint Cup Duck Commander 500 the following evening. The tire packs are a short-term answer. In the off-season, when the material is available, TMS is expected to replace them with the more advanced and more expensive SAFER barrier.(Dallas Morning News)(4-1-2015)
- Dover track and hotel will again ‘Light It Up Blue’ for Autism Awareness Month: Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs Hotel & Casino are pleased to once again support Autism Speaks’ global Light It Up Blue campaign. The Monster Monument and hotel exterior will participate by both being illuminated in blue throughout the month of April. With both companies partaking in this event, this will mean that two of the most distinguishable landmarks in Delaware will be lit up blue during April. The Monster Monument, made of fiberglass and standing at 46-feet tall, is also known as Miles the Monster, the track’s recognizable icon. Located in Victory Plaza, it is one of the largest fiberglass sports monument in the country. The 500-room hotel, Delaware’s largest hotel, will also be lit by blue lights. The Speedway and Autism Speaks have maintained a strong relationship over the last nine years, with the two organizations coming together during the track’s spring race weekend in order to assist in raising funds and awareness for the cause.
Recognized every year on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) was originally implemented by the United Nations in 2007 to help educate society about autism and how this worldwide health issue is rising over time. WAAD helps spread knowledge across the globe of the effects of autism and distribute appropriate information regarding topics such as early diagnosis and intervention. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
On a local level, Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs Hotel & Casino are proud to partner with Autism Delaware’s Productive Opportunities for Work and Recreation Program (POW&R program) to provide employment opportunities for adults with autism spectrum disorders. A total of nine individuals on the autism spectrum are currently employed by Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and Dover International Speedway in a variety of capacities. Both companies have gained highly productive, reliable employees. To help support this vibrant partnership, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino donated office space to Autism Delaware in 2013. The office supports the POW&R program at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and Dover International Speedway as well as provides for a Kent County office for Autism Delaware. The office provides adult services, clinical services and family support. For more information about Light It Up Blue, visit liub.autismspeaks.org.(DIS)(4-1-2015)
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