By JEFF ROSEN
The Kansas City Star
NASCAR racing has been around for decades, but CEO Brian France continues to stress changing with the times as crucial to retaining fans and attracting new ones.
In the final session of the first day of the 2015 APSE Commissioners Meetings, France stressed a trio of what he called “big initiatives” for 2015: areas of focus involving technology, “managing our rules package for the sake of safety and competition,” and continuing to push for greater diversity in the sport.
Tech advances include “Pit Road Technology,” a 45-camera system that this year replaced the old system of stationing human spotters along pit road.
The HD cameras are monitored from a mobile rig parked at the track; inside, officials monitor teams as they enter and leave pit road. It’s believed the new system will increase accuracy in spotting violations and decrease the chance of a dangerous person-car collision on pit road.
Also prioritized is increasing the number of SAFER barriers lining tracks around the Sprint Car circuit. NASCAR generally leaves it up to individual tracks to add more of the foam-and-steel devices, but France said he’s ready to step in and mandate their installation if a track is slow to act.
“You can’t run around and say safety is your number one priority and get this stuff wrong,” he said.
Therein lies a hint of the balancing act with which France’s sport continues to wrestle. No one wants to see injuries or fatalities, but spectacular crashes and occasional fist fights are part of what NASCAR fans enjoy most.
“They want high intensity,” France said. “The reality is that’s part of the game; the fans do like it and we don’t really shy away from that.”
With advances in technology and safety comes the need, France said, to continue to safeguard a fair playing field for the Sprint Cup series’ 43 teams. He believes garages with smaller budgets should have a shot at winning races, not be drowned out by the big-money outfits.
“They’re all trying to gain a competitive advantage,” he said. “Money does buy speed.”
On other matters Thursday:
–France expressed faith that NASCAR’s efforts to build diversity into its ranks of drivers is close to paying off, citing the rise of Camping World Trucks driver Darrell Wallace, who’s African American, and Latin driver Daniel Suarez, who’s racing on the Xfinity Series.
“We are close to a breakthrough there,” France said.
NASCAR hasn’t seen that Sprint Cup breakthrough yet, France said, because unlike other sports, “There aren’t hundreds of players or positions” available to would-be racers. “The opportunity has to line up for them. For anyone.”
–On this being Jeff Gordon’s final season as a driver, France said, “We’ll be sad to see him leave, but he’ll still be involved in the sport in some way.”
–On the notion there could one day be a track in the New York City area, France said nothing is imminent.
–On NASCAR’s stance on legalized gambling on the sport, he said, “We’ve never been as averse (to it) as some of the other leagues have been.”
–On the possibility that some races run too long for fans’ tastes, France said, “Generally speaking, we want to see shorter events.”
–And on the current elimination format of the Chase for the Cup, one of France’s signature initiatives of last season, he said, “We had an incredible run of ratings in the last three or four events last year. It worked. It worked really well.”
