Wide range of issues addressed at NASCAR's recent town-hall meetings
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said a wide range of issues were discussed at NASCAR's recent town-hall-like meetings.
Jim Fluharty
NASCAR Scene
TALLADEGA, Ala. – NASCAR conducted town-hall-like meetings last week at its research and development center in North Carolina to talk about the sport, and officials also have recently talked to the manufacturers about a long-term project to try to increase brand identity in the Sprint Cup cars.
Each race team was represented at the meetings last week – one on Tuesday that dealt with competition issues and one on Wednesday that dealt with business issues. The manufacturers’ meeting took place a week earlier.
While no changes were immediately planned as a result of the discussions, participants said it was good to bounce ideas off each other as well as learn about what works well at one race team that could also work well at another.
“We learned about NASCAR’s research and some of their initiatives,” said Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson. “We talked about building some more efficiencies in the sport, analyzing the schedules, looking at what rules changes have helped, what rules changes have created maybe unintended circumstances.
“It was a new experience. The first one was back in a May. [The teams] were enthusiastic to have this forum to be able to learn what the other teams are doing, for NASCAR to hear what we’re thinking, for us to hear what they’re thinking.”
Expenses, schedules, travel, hotels, horsepower, scorers, spare engines, spare race cars, tires and the media were all topics of discussion at the meetings, NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said.
“It was a good discussion on a lot of things,” said Pemberton, who estimated there were about 25 people in the competition meeting. “We talked about everything from tires and how many tires they use in the race to qualifying procedures.
“It was a really good conversation. … It’s something we’re going to try to put together about every three months or so, try to get a small group together to talk about just those things to keep the teams healthy, keep us healthy, and it helps us not get too removed.”
At the manufacturers’ meeting a couple of weeks ago, the manufacturers stressed brand identity for the Sprint Cup car, said Ford Racing aero engineer Bernie Marcus.
“It was an open discussion of where everybody wants to go from the manufacturer’s point of view and NASCAR’s point of view,” Marcus said. “There’s going to be some ongoing discussions. The Cup car is now in its third year, and we all know there’s some room for improvement in brand identity and looks.
“We have to work out a sensitive plan that can be implemented that keeps the racing good and that’s cost effective. It’s all on the table for further discussion.”
Pemberton said the brand identity issue is more of a long-term project.
“That’s a little bit farther off,” Pemberton said. “There are some things that we’re working on short term and long term. [We’re] trying to get a feel and get synced up when it would be the right time to strike with new stuff as it relates to the manufacturers’ vehicles they’re rolling out.”
All teams were invited to the meetings last week. In the business meeting, ideas for selling the sport were discussed, especially where there are different ideas on how the sport should be administered that can come across with a highly negative tone.
“Sometimes, we’re our own worst enemies,” said Torrey Galida, executive vice president of TRG Motorsports. “We’d like to find some ways to make that a more positive message.
“On the revenue side, it’s going to be what it’s going to be, and we’re all working as hard as we can to put the right kind of packages together for sponsorship, putting the right spin on the [television] ratings, but we talked a lot about the cost-savings side as well. If we can limit the number of crews or eliminating scorers would be a help. Two-day shows is where we started off. There are things that we’re going to have to solve to get that done.”
Carlson said he expects more discussion and research of the issues talked about but no imminent changes. And while at some point there needs to be action, Carlson said he didn’t think this was just a meeting of talk that would result in no action.
“This is one of the first times that we’ve been able to do this in this way,” Carlson said. “If we’re sitting here a year from now and all we’re doing is still talking about stuff, I’ll give you that [it was just talk]. But to look at the last year and see how far things have come, where now we’ve got competitors, the sanctioning body and some track folks being able to communicate is a great start.”
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18 responses to "Wide range of issues addressed at NASCAR's recent town-hall meetings". Post a Comment.
oldmanjob said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 4:42 PMThey can have all the town hall meeting in the world but it will always be NASCRAP'S way or the highway.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSheilaLovesNASCAR said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 5:06 PMI doubt they talked about the stupid chase. The fans hate it. And no matter how much the media likes it and talks about it, if NASCAR keeps it, the fans will go away. Because who wants to see Jimmy Johnson win year after year? Put it back to 36 races and let them race each race. If there are 43 drivers involved in all 36 races, what's the point of a chase? Just to give the media something to talk about? I'd like to see if Jimmy could win if more points were given for each race, but no more chase. Does NASCAR and the media really think we all go to chase tracks because they are chase tracks? NOT! I go to the Spring race at Dover, but I won't go to the one in the chase.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportiusewd40 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 5:48 PMHey Pemberton; Would you DARE to invite Race Fans [such as those that respond on this site] to a Town Hall Meeting? We don't want those "Hand-Picked" by ANY of the Media. Might be a good idea to include those Vendors.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbigj said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:00 PMJust watched Nascar Now where they said Nascar is going to make changes to the cup car for 2011 season..sounds great now all they have to do is throw out the Chase and we will see some real racing again.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportnascarnutsheeler said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:04 PMSaw speed last night after dinner.Those Pembertons sure think everything went well with the new Dega rules
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRainier said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:06 PMI think all they will do is get rid of the wing for the conventional spoiler like on the new nationwide car. And here is one Jimmie fan that wouldn't mind seeing the chase done away with. The 48 can win the cup chase or no chase.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:45 PMFrance and Helton leave the country?...
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:50 PMnationwide seems to be going in the right direction(slowly) but maybe it shows they are listening(only time will tell). one can only hope. keep working on the rear gear thing
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbud724 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 7:02 PMamen#4, 2xamen#7, we need the races back!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportwmvjr1960 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 7:13 PMOn a Nascar show last night Michael (Andy Griffith) Waltrip kissed some major corporate rear-end. Calling Helton "Mr Helton" and agreeing with every Nascar decision, defending the race and basically telling every fan that they don't know what they are talking about. Even though the posts are 10 to 1 against last sundays debacle. Maybe he is worried about his last drinking and driving incident. What a boot-licker he is! Boycott Aarons, hit him where it hurts! Sponsors are there for a reason, show your support, or not.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportscary2 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 7:15 PM#3 you hit the nail on the head Pemberton omits the ONLY PEOPLE who count...THE FANS..without us you are out of a job along with drivers and owners...we complain of the chase , rain delayed qualifying (why not Friday qualifying with Sat. if needed?...2 day races...these teams don't need 3 days practice at a track if all are equal for one race...wasted expense..prices and have to buy [package deals for race weekend etc..If the drivers want to ride around for 450 miles and race for 50 (as Knaus says) then charge Sat. Nite prices for 50 lap mains (about 10.00) and let theser guys get a purse of 1000.00
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbud724 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 7:23 PMway to go #11 our minds are on the same track
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdwiltone said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 7:59 PMSo was it the wing that made Ryans car flip?Funny, I did not see the roof flaps go up. Did we forget something here FRANCECAR?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjbbigrod said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 8:04 PMNo Werner, I think they are too busy counting money to fool with the little things like making the races better.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAndi said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 8:53 PMThe wings on Newman's car did go up, but as soon as he turned around and they went back down, so they were really pointless. I'm not a real big fan of the chase myself, and yes this coming from a JJ fan. I think they need to do something to do it because its not all that exciting, only the first year it was put into place when it actually came down to the last lap. It hasn't really happened since then. But it did always come down to very last race. They need to get rid of the wing and the bumpstops. The drivers can't see with that blasted wing, and that's not good. And I really do hope something comes from this town hall meeting to help the cup series. But if its just more talk then anything, then I can't say that I'm all that surprised. Which is just sad.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 10:23 PMBTHOMPSON...don give credit to NW yet...those cars haven't seen a race yet...theose who tested the COT, especially Hendrick were somewhat pleased with the car....
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Nov 4, 2009 at 2:59 AMwerner read my post again. notice the words time and hope? i'm very cautious about giving nascar credit
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlgerringer said:
Nov 4, 2009 at 7:35 AMNASCAR?
Report as AbuseWho cares anymore!!??
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