Let's get NASCAR fans' attention again

   Let’s try to get some people’s attention.

   I’m a history buff and certainly appreciate tradition, particularly in NASCAR. The importance of tradition ranks as high among racing fans as those in baseball in my opinion.

   But there is also a time for a change. And for NASCAR a big one needs to be made now.

   It’s time to shorten the NASCAR Sprint Cup season and shorten the races.

   Yes, that’s right. Cut the season and cut the race lengths.

   I compliment NASCAR on the changes it has made in recent seasons to cater to fans’ desires, in making the racing safer and better, in trying to enhance excitement through rule changes. I’ve never been a proponent of the Chase format, but I give NASCAR credit for at least trying something.

   Let’s face it. Even with the Chase enjoying its closest points race since its inception, TV ratings are still dropping week after week.

   The racing product is good – last week’s Talladega race was one of the better ones I’ve seen from start to finish in my 13 seasons and the race still lost almost a fourth of its audience from last season.

   Is it football? Maybe so, but if it is, then something has changed because NASCAR and the NFL have shared Sundays for decades.

   What I think has changed are fans’ attention spans. In an Internet, Twitter, Facebook, photo-phone world, four-plus hour events are taxing people’s patience.

   Everyone who has watched races have heard drivers saying things like, “We were riding around biding our time,” or talking about “staying out of trouble until we could race for it at the end.”

   Fans – and media – rate Truck and Nationwide series races typically better than Cup and that’s in large part to their shorter length. Cup races have become in large part endurance events rather than a race to see who is truly fastest or has the best car.

   My solution? Cut the Cup schedule by six races so the season ends as the NFL season starts. Every race in Cup should be 400 miles/laps or less except for the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

   There are two choices here: Give up and wait the situation out and hope it gets better on its own or try again with a big swing at big change.

   You want to produce better racing? Create more of it by removing all the riding around.

Services set for NASCAR's Jim Hunter

   Funeral services have been set for former NASCAR vice president and Darlington (SC) Raceway president Jim Hunter.

   Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Darlington Raceway.

   A celebration of Hunter's life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Darlington Presbyterian Church, 311 Peark Street, Darlington, S.C., followed by a reception at Darlington Raceway.

   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The NASCAR Foundation, NASCAR Plaza, 550 South Caldwell Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202; or to Halifax Health-Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL  32129.

Did you know Jim Hunter?

   So many times in life you don't really find out some things about people you thought you really knew until their death. It's sad that happens, but in a way it's also serves as a reminder to all us that we don't always know people as well as we think.

   Also, it serves as a reminder that there is a lot more to people than what we find out from talking with them or spending time with them. So, it is with Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president for special projects and former president of Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

   In the last few days and weeks I've come across some very interesting tidbits about Hunter, things I didn't learn myself in the 13-plus years I've known them. I decided to share a few:

   Did you know Hunter was the recipient of the Order of the Palmetto? He was awarded South Carolina's highest civic honor in 1995 by then-S.C. Gov. David Beasley.

   Did you know Hunter was an author? In 1975, his book "The Gamecocks: South Carolina football" was published by Strode Publishers of Huntsville, Ala. He also authored a widely-read biography of David Pearson titled, "21 Forever."

   Did you know Hunter once worked for Dodge? He broke into the public relations business in the 1960s, working with Dodge motorsports. He also handled public relations for a number of top IndyCar drivers before embarking on his NASCAR career.

   Hunter spoke from authority because it did it all - he worked in newspapers, both at The State in Columbia, S.C., and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He worked in public relations. He worked as a track executive.

   He did all that and so much more.

Promoting the causes of Jeff Gordon

   As four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon advances further in his NASCAR career, race fans are getting an unintended closer glimpse into the things Gordon cares about most.

   Endorsing charitable causes is nothing new for Gordon.

   Gordon's most recent endeavor has been serving as spokesman for the Sounds of Pertussis campaign promoted by Sanofi Pasteur and the March of Dimes. The campaign encourages parents to protect themselves and their children by getting a booster shot for pertussis, or whooping cough.

   Beginning next season, Gordon will take on a bigger and more expansive campaign - fighting hunger in America. The AARP Foundation is coordinating a Drive to End Hunger campaign, which will serve as primary sponsor on Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet for 22 races in each of the next three seasons.

   So, it is by chance or by choice that Gordon seems to find himself engaged more in promoting causes than peddling products at this stage of his career?

   "I like to be involved in good causes and the work of my Foundation has picked up tremendously over the last several years and I think that sort of builds up the branding that comes with myself and my race team," Gordon said.

   "I think it's pretty well known we enjoy giving back. I think it's a little bit of where I am in my career, and I say that not just because I'm getting older, but I noticed this and I tell Jimmie (Johnson) this with some of the things he's going through - I'm telling you 10 years from now you have no idea what kind of respect you'll have and what type of interest you'll have in a totally different way."

   Gordon said he believes opportunities present themselves to those who remain consistent in their careers in what they say and what they do.

   "I'm at that stage in my life and my career where this type of sponsorship makes perfect sense," he said.

Anti-hunger campaign to sponsor Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet

  Jeff Gordon is taking up a cause and getting a new sponsor as a result.

   Beginning in 2011, the primary sponsor of Gordon's No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for a majority of races will be a major anti-hunger campaign, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

   The campaign, which may be the first multi-race cause-related sponsorship of its kind in NASCAR, will be coordinated through the AARP Foundation and eventually involve other companies, sources said.

   The AARP Foundation is the charitable organization of the AARP and dedicated to serving older Americans in need.

   While the anti-hunger campaign will serve as primary sponsor for a majority of races, DuPont and PepsiCo are expected to return as primary sponsors for the remainder of the races in 2011 as well, sources said.

   Gordon's sponsorship and details of the anti-hunger campaign will be unveiled at a news conference on Wednesday at Hendrick Motorsports, sources said.

   A Hendrick Motorsports spokesperson confirmed an announcement is being planned for Wednesday but declined further comment.

Q&A with Robbie Loomis, director of competition at RPM

  Robbie Loomis, Director of Competition for Richard Petty Motorsports, held a question and session outside the No. 43 team hauler Saturday morning at Martinsville Speedway.

   LOOMIS:
   First of all, I want to thank Kasey.  Kasey did a great job for us and if you look at the banners in the shop, a lot of them are there from Kasey and I really wish him well in his new deal.  I think that
started a lot of the stir and speculation throughout the whole week, but we’ve been working really hard and everyone is working hard.  I couldn’t be prouder of the job the guys have done with the Aric
Almirola seat change on Thursday at the last minute, and we’re just looking forward to continuing into 2011 and finishing this year up strong.  I’ve heard a lot of things about our relationship with Roush and Roush has been great to us.  They’ve been a great sponsor, a great provider and work for us in a lot of different ways to help us from the engine shop side with Doug Yates has been amazing.  If there’s anything I have not felt good about is they had three cars make the Chase and we didn’t.  That’s up to us to get our program better, but I think Robbie Reiser and the whole organization over there has always done everything we’ve wanted.  They work really hard to provide good cars for us.

   IS THIS TEAM GOING TO FINISH THE SEASON? 
   I think it’s our full intention to go forward.  Like I said, most of the things we’ve been working on throughout the week is, ‘What do we look like in 2011?  What’s our driver lineup look like the rest of the year since we lost Kasey?’  I told the guys yesterday, I sat back at lunch and said, ‘Look, this is no different than running a race when you’re a crew chief.  I’ve been right here at Martinsville leading a race and
all of a sudden hit a pothole and you’ve got to figure out what to do and how to react to it and move forward.’  That’s what we’re looking forward to do with Richard Petty Motorsports.  I think a lot of people
have their thoughts and prayers with Richard. He’s dealing with Lynda and she’s going through some issues and Richard is with her.  His thoughts are with her.  We might see Richard up here tomorrow.  As you
guys know, he usually comes to Martinsville on Sunday, but right now he’s spending a lot of time with Lynda.

   WHAT GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD THIS YEAR AND NEXT? 
   Like I said before, there’s been a lot of speculation about a lot of things, there always has been in this sport, but what gives me confidence is that we’ve always had the ability to move forward.  We do our best today.  I was thinking riding up the road this morning with Dale (Inman) and I said, ‘You can’t look too far out in the future because today is all that we really have,’ and many of you know that from being around this sport.

   ANY DECISION ON IF ARIC WILL REMAIN IN THE CAR PAST THIS WEEKEND?   Most of the things we’ve been working on has been our models for 2011 and what our race teams look like moving forward.  Aric is somebody we were looking at to drive for us next year and the timing of it didn’t work out and come together, so he got the deal with Dale Jr’s Nationwide deal, which is a great opportunity for him and a strong organization.  For us, we had Marcos Ambrose come available and we’re
real excited about AJ and Marcos as we go into next season.  All of the drivers have really stepped up.  I know AJ met with all the guys yesterday and have really been team leaders.  I called Marcos last night and putting a good qualifying lap up there was encouraging for that, too.

   HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES IN THE TEAM?
   There hasn’t been any change.  Max Jones, our president, has been working really hard with the Roush crowd and everybody on the plans for the future. I think it’s been a collective effort.  The only change we’ve really had is Kasey and his spotter, Cole.  I like Cole, Cole is a great spotter for Kasey, those are the two guys that are gone.

   THE GILLETT’S STILL OWN THE TEAM? 
   Yes.  The Gillett’s, they’ve been through a lot obviously – everyone knows that.  They’ve worked really
hard to be a four-car team last year and continue it this year, and now we’ve got to look at what our teams are gonna look like going into next year.

   YOU’LL BE IN TALLADEGA?
   Yeah, we’ll be at Talladega.  I hope we’re all in Talladega.  It’s our full intention to keep rolling right
along.
  
    IS IT TRUE THE KING IS TRYING TO GET A GROUP OF INVESTORS TOGETHER AND GAIN MORE CONTROL OUT OF THE ORGANIZATION?
   I don’t want to speculate on anything like that.  Like I said, there are a lot of people working collectively together to make this thing more successful as we go forward in the future.  Like Richard said when he
came down on Thursday, he said, ‘Look guys, we’re in the same business.  We’re trying to provide winning race cars and give them to AJ Allmendinger and Elliott Sadler and our drivers that are driving the cars today, so the game hasn’t changed.  It’s the same thing we’re doing.

Kasey Kahne talks about his early move to Red Bull Racing

   Kasey Kahne met with the media Friday at Martinsville Speedway to talk about his early departure from Richard Petty Motorsports and move to Red Bull racing, beginning this weekend.

   How excited are you for this new opportunity?

   I’m excited.  It’s a big change for myself.  I’ve been doing really the same thing for six and a half years.  To make a change like this is -- it’s new people, it’s new cars, manufacturer, sponsor -- everything is different.  It’ll be a big change for myself.  Just starting to work with new people, but I’m looking forward to it.  I’ve been looking forward to next year and now we have a little bit quicker start on that.  I was with the guys yesterday putting seats in the cars and just trying to get prepared as well as we could for today and for this weekend.  The atmosphere and the excitement up at Red Bull right now, it’s nice to be part of that.  I’m looking forward to the last five races and getting started this weekend.

   How did the decision to leave Richard Petty Motorsports come about?

   Really, to me I was leaving.  I was going on starting next year and it made sense for RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports) to start working on their things for next year and for myself to get with the Red Bull guys at this point.  It’s kind of a jump start on next year, is what I see it as.  That’s the biggest thing.  It’s been kind of a crazy week.  There’s been a lot of different things going on and maybe different opinions on what happened or what’s going to happen and that kind of stuff.  I’m looking forward to this weekend and I’m happy that I’m in the Red Bull car.  Hopefully, I can work well with this group of guys and go pretty fast at times.

   Are you still owed money from Richard Petty Motorsports?

   On that side, I’m paid up to date from RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports).  I’m paid up to date.  They’ve met their commitments there and that’s been really good that they have.  I thank them for that.

   Are you relieved to leave Richard Petty Motorsports?

   I don’t know if it’s relief, but it’s my future and it’s something that I’ve been looking forward to was next year.  We get started a little bit earlier.  Last weekend, Saturday night, to have a problem like we had on lap 30, that just doesn’t happen at a track that you don’t use very much brake at.  And then to happen before.  We’d had things go on throughout the season.  At that point in time, it was difficult and I think the timing of all this made sense.  It was nice for me when it happened and I think it’s good for RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports) when it happened.

   What have you heard about the status of Richard Petty Motorsports?

   I’ve heard a lot.  I think everybody has.  It’s just speculation.  I think it’s a lot of talk.  For me, I certainly hope that RPM (Richard Petty Motorsports) keeps rolling.  I hope that they finish out this season and put together another great season next year.  That’s what I want them to do.  I want that team to keep going.  There’s a lot of good people there that deserve to have job and deserve to be working on these race teams.  For me, I hope they keep rolling for sure.  You’d have to ask RPM about some of the other stuff to get the right answers because I think a lot of it could just be speculation.

   What have you heard about the financial situation at Richard Petty Motorsports?

   I’ve been able to stay out of it and start working on the Red Bull side.  I’ve talked to Kenny (Francis, former crew chief) and talked to the guys there, but as far as that stuff goes, I really have stayed out of it, so I’m not sure on that.

   How were you released from Richard Petty Motorsports and will Kenny Francis (former crew chief) join you this year?

   It was a mutual release and for me, I think that’s a good thing for both sides.  They’re happy about it and we’re happy about it.  On the Kenny Francis thing, he’s gonna stay there throughout the rest of the year.  That’s his deal and next year he’ll come over to Red Bull.  He’s gonna stay there and I’m gonna work with Jimmy Elledge (crew chief) the rest of this year and I look forward to it.  I think it should be fine.

   How do you respond to a driver calling you a ‘prima donna’ after Charlotte?

   On the things that have happened in the past, that’s the past and we’ve gotten through them.  I’ve worked hard to get through them. Everybody has that’s worked for Evernham, Gillett, RPM, that was part of it that time.  I don’t know who the driver was, but it’s what happened. I put a commitment in.  Anyone that questions my commitment doesn’t know me very well and doesn’t know how much I love this sport and how much I put into racing.  I don’t think there’s anybody out there that puts as much in it as I do throughout a week.  Some guys may, some guys may not.  I feel like I do everything I do to make myself the best I can be and we kept having problems.  And I was sick to my stomach. It was time for me to just call it a day and that’s what I did.  I’m happy I did it and ready to go onto this weekend.

   How did this situation come about this week?

   It just started Monday and we just put it together and got it figured out and we went our separate ways.  I think there’s a lot of things on both sides that made it make sense.  For me, next year’s going to be, it’s one year and it’s going to be a short year and I’m happy to be prepared and get prepared a little bit early, knowing a little more about the company, about the cars, the engines and the things that I’m going to be driving next year.  I want to come out and win next year and the only way to do that is to be prepared and get off to a great start at the start of the season.  Hopefully this will help in some of that and we will be a little quicker when we start at Daytona.