Brusimm » sports

Super Bowl and Daytona 500 Telecast Times

Bruce Simmons — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:13:18 +0000

Just in case you were cruising the web looking for a few TV telecast dates, here’s some info from NBC on the 2012 Super Bowl TV schedule and (like totally related… or not) NASCAR’s Daytona 500 telecast date:

SPECIAL SUPER BOWL EDITION OF “NFL TURNING POINT” AIRS THURSDAY AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK

Final Episode examines Turning Point of the season for Giants and Patriots and Turning Points that shaped season for other teams

Bill Belichick and Eli Manning also featured in Final Episode

Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison to Conclude Program with Super Bowl XLVI Quarterback Analysis

On NBC (All Times are Eastern):

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

12 p.m. – 1 p.m.: ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL (live)

1 p.m. – 6 p.m.: SUPER BOWL XLVI PRE-GAME (live)
Commentators: Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Peter King, Alex Flanagan, Mike Florio, Randy Moss, Jim Cantore, Liam McHugh, Doug Flutie

From Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.: SUPER BOWL XLVI ON NBC: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (live)

Commentators: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, from Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

= = = = =

NASCAR Speedweeks:

Budweiser Shootout: Saturday, Feb 18th, on Fox

Gatorade Duels: Thursday, Feb 23rd, on SPEED

Daytona 500: Sunday, February 26th, on FOX.

NASCAR Extends Contracts With Turner, Gets Some Control Back!

Bruce Simmons — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:10:54 +0000

NASCAR announced that they’ve extended (and restructured) their digital partnership through the year 2016.

And something that many folks behind the industry think, will be a good thing, is that NASCAR is regaining control of their interactive, digital and social media rights while Turner will continue to represent sponsorships and advertising for all NASCAR digital platforms.

Believe it or not, this regain of control that starts in 2013 includes NASCAR.com and such. Yep… their own site was run by another entity. Turner had managed all their digital content since 2001.

And for the SiriusXM fans, this could finally mean more content streamed from the satellite radio station and other digital content.

If you’ve ever wondered why they haven’t done one thing or another with their site, and kept hearing the term “rights issues,” well, more than likely you won’t be hearing that as much any more.

I can’t wait to see what they do with the place!

“Turner Broadcasting and NASCAR have helped make each other successful for more than 28 years through a working relationship that, over time, has evolved with the media and technology landscape,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “The latest extension of our partnership is a strategically and fiscally enhanced business model for our company and ensures that NASCAR.COM remains a core asset of Turner’s leading digital ad sales portfolio. Our unrivaled sports assets and scale offer advertisers the means to deliver the most targeted and relevant marketing messages across multiple digital and mobile platforms and properties.”

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America’s premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. Also part of NASCAR is GRAND-AM Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the 54th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, will air Feb. 26 on FOX at 1 p.m. ET. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.

[NASCAR Press Release]

Boys Have At It Might Be Getting Revamped? At Least Reviewed [NASCAR]

Bruce Simmons — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:55:22 +0000

You know what they say, it only takes a few to ruin it for the many.

It seems that after a few incidents with Kyle Busch, NASCAR is pondering the “Boys have at it” stance, and trying to determine where the line should be drawn when it comes to letting the drivers settle things amongst themselves.

It wasn’t just Kyle Busch, but also incidents with Brian Vickers “fencing” Tony Stewart onto a pile of tires at Infineon an then again, Vickers raging vendetta against Matt Kenseth at Martinsville. (If you remember that race, that was a pretty piss-poor move on Vickers part… blatant and arrogant.)

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton feels that generally speaking, the self-policing policy is working. It would only be the intent of a few that are making headlines from the sport.

He also pointed out that he’s also aware of differences like retaliations at a small track vs a high-speed track, and takes everything into consideration.

At one point, drivers weren’t sure where the line lay, as far as having gone too far with their need for retaliation.

Common sense says one thing, but in the height of competition, it can become an entirely different beast.

The old-school way of handling things was a mix of on-track and off-track “opinion exchanges.”

On-track meant bent up fenders while off-track meant a one-time deal and a black eye. And to be honest, black eyes create much stronger memories.

But drives like Kyle Busch, while he used to be totally willing to send a driver into a wall or push an empty car down pit road, will never get out of his car. I think Richard Childress made that point clear when he “old schooled” Kyle that one day back in mid-2011.

But what has me wondering is why in 2011 is the sanctioning body now taking action?

In 2010 Carl Edwards inflicted a horrid amount of damage across multiple race series involving many cars, including when he sent Brad Keselowski flying through the air… but despite the obvious, was only hand-slapped. It just seemed oddly silent on actions that had much more heinous repercussions than what Kyle Busch did.

But it’s all still a learning curve, as far as when one steps in to break it up.

As things have progressed, I’m sure that a line will have to be suggested… and it will be a judgement call on NASCAR’s part. But it also rests in the hands of the drivers and teams. When you retaliate and how will make a big difference as to when or if NASCAR will need to step in.

But as is all media, even bad media is good for the sport, because it brings the lookee-loos out of their corners to check out the boxing match that broke out on the race track!

–

Why KHI Really Closed Up Shop? [NASCAR]

Bruce Simmons — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:52:47 +0000

While balancing out pros and cons for keeping KHI afloat, Kevin Harvick had one tipping scale reason to NOT having kept the NASCAR Truck Series team going, it would seem, as Kevin put it,

“When your wife tells you she’s not starting a family unless you get out of the race team business, that’s a pretty big factor in things that are going on.”

No pressure there!

But all joking aside, it was a matter of evolving priorities and timing with other events going on around the NASCAR race industry across the different series that helped Kevin pull the plug on KHI.

So much for all the aspirating rumors!

On a side note, with KHI being mostly all absorbed by RCR (Richard Childress Racing) that now RCR will be fielding nine full-time teams across the threee NASCAR premiere series in 2012.

Cool…

And congrats to the happy couple, who are due in July.

[nascar]

–

So Why Can’t JR Motorsports Move to The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series?

Bruce Simmons — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:50 +0000

Did you know that at one point Dale Earnhardt Jr. was thinking about moving his JR Motorsports operation into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but believe it or not, he cannot do that while he’s driving for Hendricks Motorsports, of all things!

In a (weird) set of rules that (I think) should really be non-exclusive to each other, NASCAR has inadvertently put the ix-nay on Dale Earnhardt Jr. moving into the Sprint Cup Series.

Mike Helton made the point that

“if a driver owns a team but drives for another organization, then the total number of cars for both organizations counts toward the four-team cap.”

Which to me, initially makes absolutely no sense in how the Hendricks Motorsports team cap should affect JR Motorsports desire to field a Sprint Cup Series team.

Helton says that any component that would tie teams together is the limiting factor.

This same rule impacts Michael Waltrip and his desire to drive in the Daytona 500… since he owns three teams now, he has to be fielded by a single-car team.

As SpeedTV took a look at that ever-elusive NASCAR rulebook, they took note of

“Teams are not to have affiliations with shared control, ownership, financing, management or revenue sharing.”

“…the owner cannot have a relationship with another owner where he’s “entitled to receive (or actually receives), directly or indirectly, from the other car owner(s) any financial consideration or other form of value based upon the participation, performance, or degree of success of the car(s) entered by the other car owner(s).””

I find this to be an interesting facet from the NASCAR rule book.

I see two sides to this issue. I understand the premise of teams having affiliations and trying to put an ix-nay on certain aspects of a cooperative effort where both teams might benefit from it. But it’s a bummer for the world of NASCAR that Dale Jr. can’t start a Cup Series team because he drives for Hendrick. I’m befuddled.

I wonder if there’s enough fanfare about this restriction that NASCAR might let and the sports most beloved driver, if it will suddenly find itself lifted if Dale Earnhardt Jr. pushed hard enough. He’d have the fan support, that’s for sure.

nascar.speedtv.com

In other NASCAR news, JR Motorsports signed Cole Whitt to be their full-time NASCAR Nationwide series pilot in 2012 for their No. 88 Chevrolet.

Will NASCAR’s New Point System Hold Up Again This Year?

Bruce Simmons — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:56:06 +0000

Last year, the entertainment product that NASCAR produced was some of the best racing I’ve seen, across all three series, in a long time. Many races were decided by mere seconds as contenders traded paint and hand gestures throughout the season. And in the end, we saw one of the closest points finishes, well, technically, the closest points race, for the championship in the history of the sport, seeing as how it ended in a tie! That tie was thanks in part to the new points system NASCAR instituted last year and Tony Stewart‘s team.

When we watch any entertainment venue, it’s usually (for me) the first and last impressions that stick with me. Or, in NASCAR terms, the starts, the restarts and the finishes generate a lot of drama and excitement for me because that’s when the poop can potentially hit the fan.

And NASCAR is cursed with the long-lasting middle section of every race… the time-period that fans call snoozers, nap-time, break-time, do the laundry time, etc.. It’s a little bit different when you’re at the track but on TV, this is the dark period of any race.

But in the end, when two cars are rubbing fenders or Kyle Busch wrecks someone or Kurt Busch (Yes, they’re related: brothers) flips off the world and degrades a veteran ESPN reporter, well, those are the moments that generate the buzz. Those are the moments that send the fans to work on Monday, saying, wow, did you see that?!

And that can be said especially for that last race at Homestead where the only way Tony Stewart could win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship was by winning the race, beating Carl Edwards.

THAT, was one exciting race… to watch Carl Edwards dominate up front all day, but watch Tony Stewart drive his way up to the front, run into on-track issues, pit to fix, then drive his way up to the front again.

It was freaking magic people! A “meant to be” kind of thing.

Yet despite all that, despite Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards being tied in points and the tie-breaker being Stewart’s 5 wins over Edwards’ 1 win from the season, there’s something we might be overlooking, and that was the point spread out behind these guys.

Had Carl or Tony not been in the mix of points in that final race, the next driver back in the standings was Kevin Harvick, 58 points back. Then Matt Kenseth, 73 points back from first, and so forth.

In other words, if it weren’t for Stewart and Edwards gun-slinging, boxing match like press bravado, the Miami-homestead NASCAR season closer would have been a serious snoozer, despite some of the best season of racing I’ve ever seen.

And so there in lies my worry. Will we potentially see another close battle for the points at that last race, or will it already be locked up and the only drama will be, if the driver’s car starts and he doesn’t develop problems doing the pace lap and taking the green flag.

I hope that’s not the case. In fact, here’s one case where I hope I am wrong and that this season can once again produce the kind of fun and excitement that NASCAR delivered to the fans. I liked the fun NASCAR’s last season generated. I truly hope we see something like that again. But with all the hoopla, no one seemed to mention that huge point spread out behind the points leaders.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and watch for Danica Patrick to bring some excitement to both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series this year!

2011 Season NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Standings

1	Tony Stewart	2403	Leader
2	Carl Edwards	2403	Leader
3	Kevin Harvick	2345	-58
4	Matt Kenseth	2330	-73
5	Brad Keselowski	2319	-84
6	Jimmie Johnson	2304	-99
7	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2290	-113
8	Jeff Gordon	2287	-116
9	Denny Hamlin	2284	-119
10	Ryan Newman	2284	-119
11	Kurt Busch	2262	-141
12	Kyle Busch	2246	-157

NY Giants Win NFC Title, Twitter Erupts in Death Threats

Bruce Simmons — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:52:51 +0000

Nothing says class like how the San Francisco 49ers lost to the NY Giants, and seemingly to a tee, the team showed solidarity and support to Kyle Williams, who has one heck of a burden to bear.

Williams flubbed a return in overtime (his second flub of the game) which got NY within range for a field goal. (Williams’ first flub ended in a NY touchdown also.) My first impressions say that his two floundered moves gave it to New York, and that’s a shame. But it is a team sport, and that’s that. NY Giants are moving on to play the New England Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl.

At least I thought that was it. Then the demonstrative behavior started, which to me, seemed rather disappointing.

While the team was backing him up and told Williams to keep his head high, the media was reporting on TV that coach Jim Harbaugh was evidently upset enough and was declining TV interviews immediately after the game. I found that disappointing. His would have been the first best example of losing gracefully. Whether he later chatted with the media, I’m not sure.

But then it seems, Twitter erupted with death threats directed at Kyle Williams.

Seriously folks… death threats? Because one man flubbed a few times and seemingly gave the game away all by himself?

As if no one has ever made a mistake that’s affected others. And this isn’t life and death, it’s a television entertainment venue called sports.

Sure, you had your hopes up for a team, but they made a series of calls, all throughout the entire game, that set up the loss. Both defenses owned this game and I tweeted as they went into overtime that who ever makes the first mistake will lose the game. That mistake happened, and so be it.

To be honest, the man has to live with it and doesn’t need any additional torment and thoughtless Twitter banter tossed his way.

Be it as it may, there are two men carrying heavier burdens today than any other men… it’s Williams from SF and Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff, who missed a short field goal attempt, which could have sent that game into overtime.

Williams and Cundiff should hook up at a bar and commiserate. A way, out of the way bar. But they don’t deserve death threats.

It’s only a game and if they’re good enough, they can prove it because there’s always next year.

[NBC Bay Area: Kyle Williams Twitter Wrath]

–

The New Miss Sprint Cup Team Member: Kristen Beat

Bruce Simmons — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:12:32 +0000

The newest team member for NASCAR’s Miss Sprint Cup publicity awareness team is Kristen Beat, who is joining the squad for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

She hails from El Cajon, CA and once held the title of Miss San Diego. She has a Communications degree from the University of San Diego, and works within the broadcasting industry. Kristen was the youngest-ever credentialed on-air reporter for the X-Games.

She grew up racing motocross and spends what idle time she has by surfing, working out and making healthy food.

I’m going to risk sounding like a guy, but now they’re going to stick her in one of those bulky Sprint Cup Girl outfits! That’s OK… it’s about the job, not the sex-appeal. But I’m just saying! (And hoping the wife doesn’t catch this note! LOL)

With that said, check out this cool vid from the Miss Sprint Cup YouTube channel:

{header image of this article is a screen cap from the YouTube video.}

NASCAR News & Notes: Martin, Reutimann, Ragan, Benson, Robby Gordon

Bruce Simmons — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:47:15 +0000

Below are some random NASCAR news bites about David Reutimann, David Ragan, Johnny Benson, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, and a quickie on Robby Gordon’s Dakar Rally run!

After getting ousted by Michael Waltrip Racing, David Reutimann landed on his feet, so to speak, and landed a ride with Tommy Baldwin Racing, joining Dave Blaney in that Sprint Cup stable.

David Ragan was another driver that landed on his feet after being ousted by Roush Fenway Racing. Ragan will be driving for Front Row Motorsports for 2012. He’ll now be the teammate to David Gilliland.

Not his best shot at fame and glory, w/ no disrespect to the team, but I think we’ll be seeing his name every weekend anyway.

Bob Jenkins owns the team.

Last time I heard, though Johnny Benson was plotting a return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2012, it appeared as if the deals he was hoping for fell through, and he will not be competing in the 2012 season.

Reminder: Kasey Kahne will be in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy this year! His crew chief will be Kenny Francis.

Of course, I previously touched on Rusty Wallace Racing shutting down for the time being. (Which is a bit disheartening to see the economy to hit that team.)

I also touched on Greg Zipadelli crew chiefing for Danica Patrick under the Stewart Hass Racing roof.

Oh yea, Zippy joined SHR.

= = =

The never-retiring Mark Martin will be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, but in specific races, not full-time.

His first race will be in the Interstate Batteries Camry in the Nationwide race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.

We’ll see if he still has “it” for the 2nd tier race series. (Or, all full-time NNS drivers should just sit back and watch this one.)

Then again, Mark Martin is also driving for Michael Waltrip Racing in a limited schedule.

It will be very interesting to see how consistent Mark can be between teams and being part-time! Plus, Mark is wearing me out just watching everything he’s been doing.

Dakar Rally:

Robby Gordon won three of his stages, had to deal with questions about his car being compliant with Rally rules, but still ended up finishing fifth in the overall classification of this brutal off-road, terrain spanning endurance race.

Dakar.com: Dakar Rally Stage Reports

The man everyone liked grumbling about because if he wasn’t wrecking, he wasn’t racing, is coming back. John Wes Townley is returning to the NASCAR race gang in the Camping World Truck Series is will be racing a full season for RAB Racing.

No word on any sponsors, when I caught the RAB press release.

You have to wonder if being gone from the scene in 2011 gave Townley time to reflect and understand where things were going haywire when he raced in the NNS?

My gauge? If he gets “chicked” during the truck races.

In running, if a girl passes you up, you’ve been “chicked.” Trust me, it isn’t a bad thing really. Some women just rock and some guys just have to accept that. But in this case, in NASCAR, it might not look so good. Heck, if he gets Cope’d, well, never mind. Hehe.

Don’t forget to set your DVR’s, if you can’t watch it live: The Daytona 500 takes place February 26th, 2012!

[NASCAR PR]

NASCAR News & Notes: K Petty, Almirola, Edwards, Bayne

Bruce Simmons — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:48:38 +0000

I thought I”d pull together some NASCAR bits and pieces of news and toss them out there and see where they land… maybe you’ve heard of them, maybe you haven’t. (So I’ll count those items as reminders and apologize if you already knew these news bites!) Check it out…

Kyle Petty put up is Isle of Palms, South Carolina house for sale. It’s a 4,100 sf residence and he’s listing it for $4.5M. You should check out how the other side was living! (And all this time I was feeling bad for the non A-lister drivers!)

[WCNC: Kyle Petty's $4.5M SC home for sale]

We all know (I presume) that Aric Almirola is taking over the no. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports ride from A.J. Allmendinger.

A.J. Allmendinger is piloting the No. 22 car that was hastily evacuated by one Mr. Kurt Busch… because Busch apparently wants to have more fun than making millions.

Carl Edwards has bowed out of the NASCAR Nationwide Series this year. Conjecture over on TheDalyPlanet was that this would allow him to ride the ESPN announcers seat on Saturdays.

I’ve not known John over at TheDalyPlanet to take wild swings of conjecture, but intelligent ideas.

[ DalyPlanet: Wednesday's NASCAR TV Media Notes]

Trevor Bayne is sticking with the Wood Brothers for 2012. I think that’s good for Trevor to get more seat time in the No. 21 Ford Fusion. As such a wonderful story as it was to see him win the Daytona 500, I had a hard time getting past that half the field, including “name” drivers, had been smite in earlier accidents. (Yea… I’m a bit dour like that.)

Don’t forget: The Daytona 500 starts the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season on Sunday, February 26 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

Brusimm » sports

Super Bowl and Daytona 500 Telecast Times

NASCAR Speedweeks:

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