Frank Jolley, a columnist for The Daily Commercial newspaper in Leesburg, Fla., certainly thinks NASCAR and World Wrestling Entertainment are virtually one and the same and makes no bones about making the comparison.
Jolley's column is sparked by NASCAR's likely move to alter its points system again this season.
"I guess with sagging television ratings and acres of empty seats at race tracks, NASCAR has decided to sacrifice reality in an effort to attract new fans and boost viewership," he writes.
"Why doesn’t NASCAR come out and admit they’re in the sports entertainment business?
It’s become wrestling on wheels."
You can read the whole column here.
Kyle Larson, who will embark on a rookie campaign in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season, has already earned a victory in 2014.
Larson snapped Sammy Swindell's three-race winning streak and won Tuesday night's Invitational Race of Champions during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at the Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway.
Larson earned $20,000 for winning the 20-lap event, which included Swindell, Kevin Swindell, Bryan Clauson, Tracy Hines as well as NASCAR Cup series star Kasey Kahne, among others.
To read more about the race, go here.
For the first time since its 2010 opening, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will offer fans unlimited access to the attraction ... for FREE.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, fans will be admitted into the Hall for free as part of NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day -- a full day of special activities that includes autograph and Q&A sessions with current drivers and NASCAR Hall of Famers.
"Our sport is unique in many ways, starting with our fans -- the most loyal fans in all of sports," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "Any successes we have start with our fans, which is why we always look for opportunities to 'give back.' "
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle headline a group of more than 20 NASCAR national series drivers scheduled to interact with fans during this first-of-its-kind event in uptown Charlotte. Several NASCAR Hall of Famers, including Class of 2014 inductees Jack Ingram, Dale Jarrett and Maurice Petty, will also be on hand.
Fans will have free access to the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket. However, fans need to secure free tickets for the driver autograph sessions in advance at nascarhall.com, where they can also find schedules and details about NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day.
Several new exhibits will be on display, including a revamped Glory Road; newly rewrapped Gen-6 racing simulators; a Champions exhibit honoring Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon and Matt Crafton; and a Memorable Moments exhibit highlighting recent significant NASCAR milestones. In addition, fans will be among the first to see the new Hall of Honor exhibit featuring artifacts from the Class of 2014, which will open Thursday, Jan. 30.
NASCAR not only likes sponsored cars but clean ones as well.
A business with a name tied to high-speed auto racing is scheduled to open this month in Elmwood Park, Ill., hoping to attract lots of cars to looking for a speedy wash.
Dean Tomich runs the day-to-day operations of NASCAR Car Wash, headquartered in Joliet. The company has other NASCAR Car Washes in Illinois and Michigan and is planning to expand into other states.
Read more here.
The team which will bring NASCAR telecasts back to NBC in 2015 is close to being finalized.
Dave
Burns and Mike Massaro, both members of ESPN/ABC’s NASCAR broadcast team, will
make the move to NBC Sports in 2015, The Observer and ThatsRacin.com have
learned.
Burns
is expected to become part of NBC’s pit road reporting team in NASCAR while Massaro is expected to
become an in-studio host, sources said. Burns currently serves in a similar
role with ESPN as does Massaro,
who has hosted the show “NASCAR Now” and worked pit road during race telecasts.
Burns
worked with NBC when the network previously broadcast NASCAR events.
Earlier
this week, NBC completed its lineup for its broadcast booth with the
announcement current crew chief Steve Letarte will join driver-turned-analyst
Jeff Burton and play-by-play announcer Rick Allen for NASCAR broadcasts.
A
spokesman for ESPN declined to comment. A spokesman for NBC also declined
comment.
Final speeds from Friday's rain-shortened preseason test at Daytona International Speedway (with car number, driver, car make and speed):
1. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 195.109 mph
2. (33) Brian Scott, Chevrolet, 194.582
3. (27) Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 194.342
4. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 193.828
5. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 193.411
6. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 193.353
7. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 193.249
8. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 193.116
9. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 193.071
10. (10) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 193.063
11. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 193.021
12. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 192.988
13. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 192.934
14. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 192.893
15. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 192.682
16. (26) Cole Whitt, Toyota, 192.480
17. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 192.448
18. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 192.201
19. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 192.189
20. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 192.102
21. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 191.857
22. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 191.693
23. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 191.657
24. (51) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 191.628
25. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 191.274
26. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 191.225
27. (7) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 191.160
28. (14) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 191.050
29. (52) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 190.828
30. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 190.706
32. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 190.070
33. (30) Parker Kligerman, Toyota, 190.018
34. (95) Michael McDowell, Ford, 189.865
35. (77) Dave Blaney, Ford, 189.553
36. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 189.482
37. (40) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 188.399
38. (93) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 187.986
39. (32) Reed Sorenson, Ford, 187.727
40. (87) Joe Nemecheck, Toyota, 185.399
On Friday at Daytona International Speedway, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte were asked how their approach will change to races once both move to NBC Sports and the broadcast booth and what they will add the broadcast and how.
Burton's answer provided an interesting insight into what race fans should expect to hear once the 2015 season gets underway.
"I think Steve and I both have a passion for this sport. It's something that we've both grown up with doing. It's not something you walk away from. That's the thing, I can't speak for Steve, but I feel like he feels the same way I do. We don't want to walk away from the sport. This is another opportunity in the sport, to bring our enthusiasm to the broadcast and hopefully bring our knowledge," Burton said.
"Steve has worked with some of the best drivers in our sport. I've driven for some of the best car owners in our sport. I think we bring a unique perspective, as every broadcaster does. But ultimately it's about enthusiasm, excitement and facts, honestly facts. When we're talking, we need to be talking accurately. When we're talking, people are assuming what we're saying is factual, and we've got to make sure it is because I think that's a disservice to our race fans if we don't know what we're talking about.
"Bringing truth to it and making sure we do it with enthusiasm and excitement, which I don't think that's going to be a problem, that really to me is what it's about."
