April 15, 2002
- NASCAR Legend Buck Baker passes away: Buck Baker [Buddy Baker’s father], a two-time Winston Cup champion on NASCAR’s 50 Greatest drivers list, died Monday at 83. He won 46 Winston Cup races — 13th on the all-time list — and 44 poles. Baker was the first back-to-back series champion, winning titles in 1956 and 1957. Baker started 631 races, seventh most in NASCAR, and ran the most laps and miles for three consecutive years beginning in 1955. He was a three-time winner of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, one of NASCAR’s most storied races. Baker, who retired in 1976, was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame in 1982 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.(ESPN) Baker is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susan Painter Baker; two sons, Buddy of Sherrills Ford and Randy of Kannapolis; a daughter, Susie Baker of Charlotte, a sister, two grandsons and two great granddaughters. The funeral will be held Thursday at the Calvary Church Chapel in Charlotte.(4-15-2002)
- Harvick Fined: NASCAR officials announced that driver Kevin Harvick has been fined $35,000 and his probation has been extended through the remainder of the year for his actions this past weekend at Martinsville Speedway. NASCAR also put Harvick on notice during this probationary period that if there are any actions, in NASCAR’s opinion, that are deemed detrimental to the sport or disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, he will be suspended indefinitely. Harvick, already on probation following an incident March 23 during the BGN race at Bristol, was initially “parked” by NASCAR officials after an on-track incident with Coy Gibbs during Saturday’s Truck Series race. The penalty was then extended to include Sunday’s Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event. Following further review of the incident by NASCAR officials, a fine was levied and Harvick’s probation, originally scheduled to conclude Aug. 28, was extended through the end of the calendar year to Tuesday, Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR)(4-15-2002)
- Pay For View Close? UPDATE: In Demand L.L.C. and cable operators have scored a major coup in their battle with DirecTV Inc. for sports content, acquiring a groundbreaking multichannel pay-per-view package from NASCAR. The ‘NASCAR in Car on In Demand’ package, set to be announced this week, will offer motorsports fans seven dedicated PPV channels that feature in-car cameras, live team communications and real-time race-car statistics displayed on animated dashboards. Unlike other high-profile sports PPV packages, which have been the purview of direct-broadcast satellite provider DirecTV, the NASCAR service will be exclusive to 12.5 million digital-cable subscribers beginning in June.(TV Insight)(4-15-2002)
UPDATE: NASCAR and iN DEMAND have partnered to launch ˜NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND,” a multi-channel season-long television package that offers fans, for the first time ever, flag-to-flag in-car camera coverage for NASCAR Winston Cup Series events. ˜NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND” was developed by NASCAR Digital Entertainment and iN Demand in conjunction with NASCAR’s broadcast partners to complement NASCAR’s live event coverage on FOX, FX, NBC, and TNT. The package offers fans five dedicated channels of in-car cameras, live team audio communications and real-time race car performance data displayed on animated dashboards.. This multi-year agreement between NASCAR and iN DEMAND runs through the 2004 NASCAR season. ACTV will produce the ˜NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND” package week-to-week while NASCAR Digital Entertainment and iN DEMAND will serve as executive producers. ACTV, Inc. (Nasdaq: IATV) is a digital media company providing proprietary technologies, tools, and technical and creative services for enhanced TV advertising, personalized programming applications and enhanced media. ˜NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND” consists of seven sequential digital channels. The first channel will duplicate the free live network event broadcast from NBC, TNT, FOX, or FX.. Five additional channels will feature dedicated in-car camera coverage with on-screen enhancements from Sportvision, a leader in sports media technology. Features include a real-time animated dashboard with needles, gauges and information including the driver’s name, car position, miles-per-hour, and RPMs, and each in-car channel will also include a mix of ambient car sounds and/or team communications.. The seventh channel will feature additional event information and in-car camera perspectives. In-car cameras are provided by Broadcast Sports Technologies, a leader in microwave transmission and custom remote controlled miniature camera systems. The broadcast network commercials will be aired across all channels in the package. ˜NASCAR IN CAR on iN DEMAND’ will offer digital cable customers an annual package with as many as 36 races. The green flag is scheduled to drop on Sunday, June 16, 2002, from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. The 2002 package will be offered at $99 for 22 races, although there will be an early promotional offer of $89 if purchased prior to June 22, 2002. The complete season packages for 2003 and 2004 will offer 36 races.. ˜NASCAR IN CAR On iN DEMAND” will be offered on AT&T, Time Warner, Comcast, Cox and other Multiple System Operators throughout the country. iN DEMAND, the nation’s leading PPV & VOD provider, delivers television premieres of the best movies, championship boxing, mega-event wrestling, professional and college sports, plus original entertainment. iN DEMAND’s 60-channel digital lineup also offers MLB EXTRA INNINGS, NBA LEAGUE PASS, WNBA SEASON PASS, NHL CENTER ICE and ESPN FULL COURT, plus half-hour start times for its top movies each month, and VOD in select cable markets across the country. The company’s shareholders are AT&T Broadband, L.L.C., Time Warner Entertainment – Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast Programming Ventures, Inc. and Cox Communications, Inc. Further information about the company can be found on the Internet at www.indemand.com.(NASCAR PR)(4-15-2002) - Last Time Time a Driver was suspended: Until Sunday, no NASCAR Cup driver had been banished from a race since D.K. Ulrich in 1987. In 1991, Junior Johnson’s team was banned for three races after an engine violation uncovered at The Winston.(Gaston Gazette), also in Jeff Burton’s rookie year, 1994, the #8 Stavola Brother’s car was disqualified at Richmond in September after the roll bars were found to have holes in them.(4-15-2002)
- Gossage Statement: Statement by Texas Motor Speedway General Manager EDDIE GOSSAGE regarding comments made by Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell: “We were disappointed by the uncharacteristic comments made by Clay Campbell, president of Martinsville Speedway, to media members attending this weekend’s Virginia 500. Mr. Campbell said that Texas Motor Speedway officials had recently told the media that Martinsville Speedway should not be on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule. No such statement was ever made. “I spoke with Clay Sunday evening by telephone and he admitted that he had not seen or heard any such statement, only that he responded to rumors that a quote of that nature appeared in either The Dallas Morning News or on television last weekend. I told Clay that we made no such statement – it simply does not exist. “We are disappointed by his comments; however, Clay Campbell is a good friend and an important figure in our sport. Personally speaking, races at Martinsville Speedway rate among my favorites. Today’s race was another exciting Martinsville event and we are proud that it was won by a native Texan — Bobby Labonte.”(TMS PR)(4-15-2002)
- Sad News: On the 5th lap of the AC Delco Sportsman Late Model Main Event at Altamont Raceway in Tracy CA, on Saturday April 13, 2002, driver Mark Hutto died after a an accident at the track.(RacingWest) AND Michael R. DeSantis, 53, of South River, N.J., was fatally injured during the “Legends Cars” feature race on Saturday night at Wall Township Speedway in NJ. The accident occurred at 10:12 p.m. during the eighth lap of the 20-lap feature. It was the final scheduled event of the evening and was not completed due to the circumstances. Condolences to the families and friends of both Hutto and DeSantis.(4-15-2002)
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