NASCAR TV rights to remain as-is in 2014

   Statement from Steve Herbst, NASCAR Vice President of Broadcasting and Production:

   "Despite speculation over the last month that NASCAR's new television agreement could be pushed up to the start of the 2014 season, NASCAR has informed out broadcast partners today that Fox, Turner and ESPN will finish the current term as originally planned. While we humbled by the desire of NBC and Fox to start 12 months early, we now consider this matter closed and look forward to finishing our current agreement in 2014 with our great partners at Fox, Turner and ESPN."

Who is NASCAR's best 'better half' on the track?

   The better halves of some of NASCAR’s couples will showcase their skills at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the third consecutive season.

   The wives and girlfriends of several NASCAR drivers will compete in the “Better Half Dash,” a 25-lap race in U.S. Legend Cars International Bandoleros around the frontstretch quarter-mile track on Oct. 10 prior to Sprint Cup Series qualifying.

   The race will take place prior to Sprint Cup Series qualifying that night. The winning driver will receive $10,000 to be paid to different charities.

   Some of the drivers include Lyn-z Pastrana, wife of NASCAR driver Travis Pastrana; Jessica Park, wife of NASCAR driver Steve Park; Amy Gordon, wife of NASCAR crew chief Todd Gordon; and Wendy Venturini, motorsports analyst for Fox Sports 1.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/28/4350195/your-guide-to-todays-aaa-400by.html#storylink=cpy

Does NASCAR have a Republican kind of problem?

   John Dick of CivicScience Inc. - a resaerch company that polls millions of consumers each week - believes NASCAR's problems go much deeper than simple economics - but rather to a problem with its demographics:

   In July, author Gregg Gethard wrote an insightful column for The Classical about the precipitous decline of fan interest in NASCAR. Gethard attributed a drop in race attendance to the "Great Recession," which hit NASCAR's middle-class fans harder than most. With less disposal income, these gear-heads are less likely to gas up their RV, take a few days off work, and shell out cash for infield tickets. 

   But is that the full story?

   The consumer data our company collects suggest a deeper and more systemic problem for NASCAR, one that can't be simply blamed on economic cycles. If you look closer, you find an uncanny similarity between NASCAR's eroding fan base and the deteriorating foundation of another, mostly-white, male-dominated establishment -- the Republican Party.

   You can read the rest of his analysis here.

Brad Keselowski, Miller Lite sign contract extention with Penske

 

   Team press release:

 

   MOORESVILLE, NC (October 2, 2013) – Penske Racing today announced multi-year extensions of its partnerships with driver Brad Keselowski and long-time sponsor MillerCoors,  two key elements of the organization’s 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) championship.

   “The extensions of our agreements with both Brad Keselowski and MillerCoors put our team in a real position of strength moving forward,” said Roger Penske. “This is an important day as these agreements will allow Penske Racing to invest significantly in our people and our technology, two critical areas to a successful race team.”

   Keselowski, the 2012 NSCS champion, has agreed to an extension that will keep him behind the wheel of the No. 2 Ford Fusion for many seasons to come. The 29-year-old millennial face of NASCAR, Keselowski combines superb driving ability with acute social media prowess that has elevated him to the elite level of the sport.

   “I am fully committed to Penske Racing and Miller Lite,” said Keselowski. “This will allow us to further grow our program and contend for championships on a consistent basis. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this organization and I look forward to a successful future.”

   In 2014, Miller Lite will continue to adorn the side of the No. 2 Ford Fusion for 24 NSCS points-paying races. Miller Lite will maintain a position as a major associate sponsor for the remaining 12 races of the 2014 season.

   This new agreement extends a partnership between Penske Racing and MillerCoors that spans more than 30 years, one of the longest and strongest sponsor-team relationships in all of sports. This includes the 23-year partnership at the Sprint Cup Series level, but it also extends to historical relationships with the organization in IndyCar competition and sponsorships of race tracks formerly owned by Penske Corporation.  

Another NASCAR champ who drove the No. 3 has died

   Rene Charland, the cigar-chompin’ Hall of Famer whose pranks were almost as legendary as his driving ability, died Monday after years of failing health. He was 84.

    Although he won four straight NASCAR national sportsman championships in the early 1960s, Charland is probably best remembered for a fiery, near-fatal wreck at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in 1966. Once he recovered from his injuries, Charland began referring to the accident as “The French Barbecue,” further adding to his own legacy.

    Born in Chicopee, Mass., Charland later settled in Agawam, Mass., and began racing at Riverside Speedway in 1949.

    His familiar No. 3 was a frequent winner at the dirt bullrings in Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

    To read more from the Schenectady (N.Y.) Daily Gazette go here.

Roger Penske calls move to Ford camp in NASCAR 'a home run'

   Iconic motorsports owner Roger Penske was asked this week how he felt his first year back with Ford Motor Co. in NASCAR competition has gone thus far. He certainly seems pleased.

    Here was Penske's complete answer:

    "I’d say the transition to Ford has been a home run. The commitment from Ford Motor Company from top to bottom is something that we haven’t seen with many manufacturers, and certainly when we see NASCAR it’s a first-class organization. The support technically we get on the engine side with Roush Yates has been terrific, and, quite honestly, switching to the new Gen-6 car and also looking at going with a new manufacturer had a lot of challenges, but I think we’ve come together and we’re only going to get better," he said.

    "Obviously, I wish we had both cars in the Chase. We had some reliability issues as we got towards the end of the season, but that happens in racing. Overall, we’re glad with where we are and we’re looking forward to the future.”

Is there another Allison on the NASCAR horizon?

 

   Justin Allison, grandson of NASCAR legend and International Motorsports Hall of Fame driver Donnie Allison, and great nephew of former NASCAR champion Bobby Allison tested at Nashville Superspeedway earlier this week and will make his debut in the Automobile Racing Club of America series race Friday at Kansas Speedway with Team BCR Racing.

   "Testing at Nashville was very helpful," said Allison, 21. "I'm getting use to driving at a larger track than what I'm use to. Howard (Bixman) has given me a great car, along with the crew at Team BCR. I'm getting very excited to make my debut."

   In 2010, Justin  won the Allison Legacy Series points championship. He won seven races and finished in the top-five 20 times in 21 races. This season he has been competing in the PASS Super Late Model South Series.