April 27, 2015
- Richmond TV Ratings: NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Richmond drew a 3.1 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, up a tick from last year’s regularly scheduled Saturday night race (3.0) but down 9% from 2013 (3.4). Keep in mind last year’s overnight was the lowest ever for NASCAR on FOX at the time, since surpassed by this year’s Texas race (2.9). Though up from last year, the 3.1 is not particularly impressive. It ranks as the third-lowest Sprint Cup overnight ever on FOX and easily the lowest for a Sunday afternoon race – with the caveat that the postponement provides an asterisk. In a rarity, NASCAR finished well behind the NBA head-to-head – trailing both Cavaliers/Celtics (4.2) and Clippers/Spurs (5.0). Depending on how far the NBA falls from the overnight to the final rating, NASCAR has an outside shot of topping Cavaliers/Celtics in the final tally.(Sports Media Watch / Sports Business Daily)(4-27-2015)
- Talladega qualifying likely to have 2 cars on track at same time: Qualifying will have a different look this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, as NASCAR debuts its new format for restrictor-plate tracks. Instead of group qualifying – which has drawn some concerns since it was implemented at those tracks – NASCAR will go with a revamped version of single-car qualifying. NASCAR likely will have two cars on the track at the same time for qualifying, Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said during his weekly appearance Monday on “The Morning Drive” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. That way, O’Donnell noted, there could be one car running on the backstretch and one on the frontstretch at the same time. By separating the cars, the trailing car will not benefit from any aerodynamic advantage. NASCAR announced the change last month after drivers complained at Daytona in February about accidents in group qualifying.(NBC Sports), for more info on qualifying, see the Qualifying News & Rules page.(4-27-2015)
- NASCAR will investigate XFINITY race pit road fire: NASCAR plans to review the circumstances surrounding a pit road fire that occurred during Friday night’s Xfinity Series race at Richmond International Raceway. Two Richard Childress Racing crew members and one member of driver Eric McClure’s team were injured when fuel ignited at the rear of RCR driver Brendan Gaughan’s car during a mid-race pit stop. A huge fireball erupted at the car, sending pit crew members scrambling. Safety workers extinguished the fire quickly. “We’ll go back to Concord (N.C., the NASCAR Research and Development Center) and look at all the parts and pieces and try to recreate what happened,” said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. “We’re in the initial stages of looking at all that.” Shane Wilson, Gaughan’s crew chief, told NASCAR.com the fire started because of a malfunction in the head of a gas can, preventing the nozzle of the can from sealing against the fuel intake. “We’re not sure what happened yet,” Childress said. “It looks like a piece of the fuel can came off. Until we look into it and know all the facts, it’s hard to say.” Childress, who said he would review video of the pit stop, said he planned to meet with NASCAR officials about the incident.(USA Today)(4-27-2015)
- Richmond Race and Commercial Breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race.(This race was originally scheduled to run Saturday night, but was rained out.) Began recording at the Invocation of the race at 1:01 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 4:24 PM (all times are EDT). Did not keep records for the pre- and post-race coverage, or rain delay coverage. Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 109
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 57
Number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 99
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 56
Number of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during race broadcast (split-screen): 10
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 8
Number of times Fox utilized ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials during this broadcast: 2
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast (including company logos ‘floating’ in corners of the screen): 80
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 4 min. 5 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 1:01 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 4:24 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 203
Minutes of race broadcast: 156
Minutes of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 47
Minutes of ‘Side-by-Side’ commercials (split-screen): 2
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of ‘mystery cautions’ (debris not shown): 1
Total race brdcst time 156 Total comm. brdcst time 47
See full reports, sponsor links, much more details at CawsnJaws.com.(4-27-2015) - Crew members injured at Richmond UPDATES: NASCAR says three pit road crew members were taken to a hospital after a fire broke out on pit road Friday night during the Xfinity Series race at Richmond International Raceway. Two of the crew members were working in Brendan Gaughan’s pit, where the fire erupted, and one was in Eric McClure’s pit. There was no additional information about the extent of their injuries, or what sparked the fire. Television replays showed a huge ball of flame that appeared to engulf at least one crew member in Gaughan’s pit. NASCAR identified the three injured as Gaughan’s rear tire changer, Anthony O’Brien, and fueler, Josh Wittman, and Clifford Turner, a crew member from McClure’s team. McClure’s team said later that Turner had been treated and released. There was no word on the condition of O’Brien or Wittman.(Associated Press)(4-24-2015)
UPDATE: McClure’s crew member was treated and released Friday night. As of Saturday evening, both RCR crew members remained in the hospital.(4-25-2015)
UPDATE 2: “Following last night’s pit road incident at Richmond International Raceway, Richard Childress Racing pit crew member (gas man) Josh Wittman of the #62 XFINITY Series team has been released from a Richmond, VA-based hospital after overnight observation. Thanks to quick action that was taken by the Richmond International Raceway fire crew and NASCAR medical staff. Rear tire changer Anthony O’Brien remains under the care of physicians at the local hospital for further evaluation and is in good condition. The Sparco safety equipment, including the crew members’ firesuits, did its job in protecting them. We thank the NASCAR community for their continued support.”(Richard Childress Racing)(4-25-2015)
UPDATE 3: #62 XFINITY Series rear tire changer Anthony O’Brien has been treated and released from a Richmond, VA hospital.(RCR)(4-27-2015) - New team to debut at Talladega UPDATE: Deese Racing Enterprises has been issued the #35 in the Xfinity Series by NASCAR and have begun operations in Mooresville, NC. The team will debut the #35 Chevy Camaro at Talladega on May 2nd with plans to compete in the full remaining schedule. Sponsorship agreements are being finalized at this time and announcements regarding sponsors and driver lineup are coming soon.(Deese Racing Enterprises)(4-15-2015)
UPDATE: Conyers, Georgia native Chris Cockrum returns to the track with a new team for both himself and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The 28-year-old will run the #35 Advanced Communications Group/Remembering Captain Herb Emory Chevy Camaro in Saturday’s Winn Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. Cockrum and his sponsor Advanced Communications Group are partnering with Xfinity series team owner Duane Deese. Cockrum’s crew chief and mentor of sorts, Jeff Spraker, has been tasked with the complete preparation and set up of this car and will oversee all track activities.(WSB Radio Race Blog), see an image of the car on the #35 team paint schemes page.(4-27-2015) - Sonoma Raceway introduces Real. Strong. Humboldt Redwood Deck: Sonoma Raceway will introduce a new, club level option for race fans just in time for the 2015 major-event season. The “Real. Strong. Humboldt Redwood Deck” at Turn 2 will feature a 135-foot redwood deck that extends above the existing Turn 2 Terrace seating area. This exclusive area will feature panoramic views of the raceway and Sonoma Valley, plus a redwood-arbor covered private bar with TV monitors and dedicated food service. The Real. Strong. Humboldt Redwood Deck will also feature a limited number of reserved seats perched at the edge of the deck. The Real. Strong. Humboldt Redwood Deck is the result of a sponsorship from Mendocino Forest Products, the company that is providing the Humboldt Redwood Deck and is the leader in environmentally certified redwood decking, fencing, landscaping and dimensional products throughout the U.S. Construction of The Deck is expected to begin in early May and it will be unveiled at the upcoming Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend. Located atop one of the most action-packed sections of the track, The Deck at Turn 2 puts race fans at the heart of the action, plus it’s just a short walk to the main paddock, Wine Country Winner’s Circle and vendor midway. The Real. Strong. Humboldt Redwood Deck will be open on race day at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event (June 28) and the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Verizon IndyCar Series Finale (Aug. 30), with two ticket package options to choose from. The raceway has also worked with Mendocino Lumber to construct two new “Grille Garden” seating and shade areas where fans can relax, cool off and enjoy a bite to eat throughout the weekend. These new areas, featuring redwood arbors, will be located at Turn 2, near The Deck, and above the Turn 9 Terrace on the road course, and will be open to all fans. (Sonoma Raceway)(4-27-2015)
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