A transcript of the statemens frmo Daytona track president Joie Chitwood, NASCAR VP of Competition Robin Pemberton and The Boss, Brian France.
Transcript courtesy of NASCAR.com PR
KERRY THARP: We are just 31 days until the 54th running of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, and here to talk about that spectacular event, along with the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which gets underway this weekend, please welcome the president of Daytona International Speedway, Joie Chitwood.
Last year when I spoke, I talked about polymer modified asphalt cement with an elevated softening point. For those of you who don't remember, in layman's terms, I called that no-pothole asphalt. So I'm proud to tell you, after a huge project we had such a successful season of not even mentioning that word, so it's nice to talk to you about that guarantee coming to fruition.
But more importantly, that new pave job represented two fantastic races for us, the Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 with two first-time winners in victory lane. So not only did we live up to our guarantee of fixing our challenge but produced some of the best racing that we've seen.
Before I talk about the Daytona 500, it is important right now that we're in the midst of our 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24, America's most premier sports car endurance challenge, and for the 50 years we have some great things that we've planned. 47 former winners will be in attendance, over 30 of the former winning cars will be there, but more importantly, GRAND-AM is experiencing a resurgence in manufacturer support with Ferrari choosing to put a factory ride in this year's effort. We expect the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 to be the biggest ever, and I promise you come Sunday after that race I'll be making that announcement, as well.
When I think about the Daytona 500, it's tough to not think about what just happened this past year. We all go about our business and try to provide the proper stage for NASCAR to put on a great race, and I think sometimes we get caught up in the logistics of doing that, but for anyone who was in victory lane, when Trevor Bayne lifted that trophy over his head, you can't help be caught up in that infectious enthusiasm that he has for the sport.
I think about the magnitude of that day and what really happened. We're all in the sports business, but to think that this one day changed this young man's life, he's no longer Trevor Bayne, he is Trevor Bayne, Daytona 500 champion, for the rest of his life. It's amazing to think that that one day in sport has now propelled his career into a different stratosphere.
There's so many things that we are excited about, but probably more important than anything is that we kicked off the season with some energy and enthusiasm and more importantly momentum that carried through the entire season all the way to one of the best championship races I have ever seen. And so that is our goal for this year as we look to what we do to improve the experience for our customer and make sure that we grab that baton from Miami and produce that kind of event again.
We always look at how we invest in the customer experience, whether it's socially or at the racetrack itself. I'm proud to tell you that we have the largest social following of any racetrack out there with over an 800 percent increase this past year, year after year. We've invested millions of dollars in our racetrack as it relates to camping areas that our fans enjoy as well as producing a multimedia app that fans can use to navigate the Daytona International Speedway and other technology enhancements that we do around the property.
So I tell you with 30 days to go, our team is ready for the challenge as we prepare the property for what I consider to be one of the best events there is, the Daytona 500, but more importantly, to maintain that momentum and generate excitement for our sport in NASCAR.
Thank you very much.
KERRY THARP: Thank you, Joie. The competition on our racetracks has never been better in our sport, and here to provide an overview of what's in store on the competition front in 2012, please welcome NASCAR vice president of competition, Robin Pemberton.
ROBIN PEMBERTON: Thanks, Kerry. Before we fast forward to the 2012 season, I want to take an opportunity to look back on the 2011 season for just a minute. I'd like to thank all the teams, the competitors, the fans, the tracks and sponsors for all they did to help make last year the most exciting NASCAR season that I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of.
Now, like I say, thanks to the media for all their coverage and reporting and how you helped tell the story to all of our fans, so thank you. I appreciate it, and I know coming from me, it should mean a lot because I don't often compliment you guys on what you've done.
So let's take a look ahead to this season. For 2012, one of the big initiatives that will be implemented in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is electronic fuel injection. That project is several years in the making, and we worked with engine builders and manufacturers to be able to associate ourselves with world class technology, partners like Freescale and McLaren for our fuel injection system. This is a major initiative to us in our sport and helps make our cars more relevant and our engines more efficient.
You'll be excited to know, I know I'll be excited, that this winner of the Daytona 500 will be the first time that they'll win with electronic fuel injection.
We've had just a few minor tweaks to the rules this year. There's been a lot of conversation surrounding the driver-to-driver radio communication, particularly at the superspeedway events. Several of the drivers and the teams came to us late last season and they asked us to do away with the driver-to-driver radio chatter. So starting this season, we have eliminated the driver-to-driver radio communication. Team-to-team communication, that will still continue as we've known it in the past.
Our Daytona rules package, we've made a sizable effort to scale back on the amount of tandem style drafting we've seen at the superspeedways over the past few years. We've been to the wind tunnel on numerous occasions, we've had tests at Talladega and Daytona last season, and we've had a great test this month at Daytona.
We know that the fans want to see more of the traditional style pack drafting, and so do we. We won't be able to totally eliminate the two-car push. It will be a valuable tool that the teams will be able to use from time to time. However, we do believe that we've come up with a rules package that will help it be the exception rather than the norm.
We've had a good test at Daytona a couple weeks ago, received great feedback from the teams, and it was unprecedented, it really was. The communication was second to none.
We're going to Daytona with the following package: A larger restrictor plate at 29/32, smaller spoiler, softer springs. All of these combinations will help the qualifying be more exciting. We moved the radiator inlet up to the center of the bumper area; that's two and a half by 20 inches. Pressure relief valve will start out at 25 pounds. Another aero change, the rear bumper dimensions were moved downward an additional two inches.
The changes we made in the cooling system and the aero package we believe will aid in getting back to the more traditional style pack drafting that we've come to expect at Daytona and Talladega. We're also implementing some of the similar adjustments to the Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series.
The testing policy that we adopted in 2008 or after the 2008 season remains intact for 2012. Three of our tracks will get a new surface this season. Michigan finished up their repave last fall before the holidays; Pocono is nearly complete, they will complete it in the spring; and Kansas will repave in between the two races this summer. We'll schedule tests at each of those tracks before the events there either a few weeks out or the day before we sign in.
Throughout the 2012 season, you will be seeing and hearing a lot more about our 2013 car. The manufacturers will begin revealing their models, as we saw the new Ford unveiled earlier this week. There will be testing in mid to late summer. We should be in a good position to release our cars and have a good rule package for the 2013 season. It's certainly a milestone in our sport, and we've worked very hard and closely with the manufacturers on the new car and the four new models that are simply outstanding, and I think everybody will be impressed with them.
I think the fans are going to love them. It's going to be such a positive step in helping our race cars be more and more relevant to our fans, past, present and future.
And speaking of our test policy, while we may have done away with private fines, we do plan on having some private tests. The first will be next month for our four manufacturers with their new race cars. We will be having additional tests throughout the course of the season that will be open; however, the OEMs felt it was important for them to have this initial test in a closed environment, and we appreciate everybody's understanding and respect of that.
In closing, we're excited about building upon a great season that we had last year. We're working very hard to make competition better, putting on the best possible racing week in and week out for our fans. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you in the coming weeks at Daytona.
Thank you.
KERRY THARP: Thank you very much, Robin. Marcus Jadotte is NASCAR's vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. He comes today to share a few highlights from last season's Drive For Diversity success and introduce the new D For D class, which is primed to continue its growth and momentum heading into the 2012 season. Come on up here, Marcus, and let's meet the new class.
MARCUS JADOTTE: Thank you, Kerry, and thank you all for being here today and for playing the important role you do in the success of this great sport. I'm pleased to be here again today and to have this opportunity to introduce the NASCAR Drive For Diversity class for the upcoming season. But first I'd like to take a look back at the program's unprecedented success, as Kerry indicated, last season.
NASCAR Drive For Diversity drivers left an indelible mark on the K&N Pro Series last season. Drivers tallied six wins in 12 races and scored 10 top 5s and 23 top 10 finishes. The program placed two drivers in the top 5 final points standings and a third in the top 10. It was truly a landmark year.
And clearly the academy approach that we put into place two seasons ago is adding value to the development of Drive For Diversity drivers. Specific to that development, we'd like to acknowledge the contribution of several drivers who are embarking on the next step in their NASCAR racing career.
Darrell Wallace, Jr., and Sergio Peña, who each scored a series leading three wins in the K&N Pro Series East last year are slated to take the next step in their careers in 2012. Darrell will make his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, and Sergio is signed with Hattori Racing Enterprises.
In addition to that great news, Paulie Harraka, the 2010 NASCAR K&N West series Rookie of the Year and the first member of the Drive For Diversity program to win a track championship back in 2008 will run in the NASCAR Camping World series in 2012.
We're all excited obviously about the success that these young men have achieved. We're also excited about the legacy that they have created in the Drive For Diversity program and looking forward to the drivers who will follow in their footsteps. That really is what the NASCAR Drive For Diversity program is all about, creating a platform for young drivers of diverse backgrounds to develop and demonstrate their talent and really connect that talent to future growth in the sport.
On-track success has paid off for those young men, and it's also paying off for Rev Racing, creating fertile ground for sponsors like Toyota, Goodyear and Sprint. We're grateful for their continued sport.
In an effort to continue the upward trend and results for Rev Racing, we're constantly evaluating the NASCAR Drive For Diversity program, looking for ways to enhance that success. Much like we did when we made the decision to bring all the drivers in house around the academy training model, this year we've decided to concentrate the majority of our resources on the K&N East series. We believe that in the end we'll get greater results and develop promise on a faster time schedule by doing so.
In short, Revolution Racing and the Drive For Diversity drivers achieved a high level of excellence in 2011, and we look forward to building on that momentum in the current season.
So now it's my pleasure to introduce the class of 2012, beginning with Jorge Arteaga, originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico, now residing here in Charlotte. He'll compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Jorge compiled an impressive résumé in the NASCAR Mexico series before moving up, and he also was voted twice driver of the year, most popular driver in that series.
Mackena Bell of Carson, Nevada, will also return to the Drive For Diversity program. She will compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American series for Rev Racing.
Next up is Trey Gibson, who will compete in a second season for Rev Racing in 2012, also in the Whelen All-American series. The Easley, South Carolina, native earned five top 5 finishes and ten top 10 finishes in 18 late model starts last year. He finished seventh in the NASCAR Whelen All-American series South Carolina points standings.
Next up is Ryan Gifford, who will compete in his third season for Revolution Racing. In 2011 Ryan finished 10th in points and collected two top 5 finishes and four top 10 finishes in the K&N East series. In 2010, you may recall, Ryan made history, becoming the first African American to win a pole in the K&N East series and also scored top 10 finishes in the series that year.
Next up is Bryan Ortiz from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Brian began driving for revolution racing in 2011, where he competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American series. In 2012 he'll compete in the K&N East series and also race in select GRAND-AM Continental Tire series events, including this weekend at Daytona. Looking forward to that.
Our final 2012 Drive For Diversity team member, Kyle Larson, is unable to be with us today because of a previous racing commitment. However, we couldn't conclude this introduction without celebrating his accomplishments and welcoming him to the team. 2012 will mark Kyle Larson's first season with Rev Racing and also his first season in the K&N Pro Series East. But to put it mildly, Kyle is no stranger to racing. Kyle opened the 2012 calendar year with a podium finish at the Chili Bowl, finishing third out of 260 entrants, and in 2011 he took American open wheel racing by storm in his first season competing on the national level by capturing 22 major professional feature victories. Kyle was nominated as SPEED's performer of the year and competed with Tony Stewart, Dario Franchitti and others for that award.
KERRY THARP: NASCAR begins its 65th season in 2012, and no surprise, here to bring our keynote address, please welcome NASCAR chairman and CEO, Brian France. All yours.
BRIAN FRANCE: Good afternoon, and thank you for being here today. First I want to thank everybody in the room and the media in particular for covering our sport all year long and every year. We know you work hard during the season, and I recognize that this season, this off-season, wasn't much of a break. We had a lot going on, and you had to be on top of it all, and you were. We thank you for that coverage, and I know the NASCAR fans really thank you.
Before I talk a little bit about the upcoming season, I want to say a few things that were touched on earlier about 2011. Last year at this event, we announced a number of changes we believed would build interest in story lines and most importantly would make it easier for fans to understand the championship race. We're very pleased with how all those changes played out. Adding the wild card brought significant drama through the summer and run-up to the Richmond event and through the Chase. It put a premium on winning among all the competitors and made the drivers throughout the top 20 in the points relevant and part of the story lines right up until Richmond. And that was exciting for our fans.
You know what, Pick a Series was also a great success. It returned the spotlight to some of the upcoming stars in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
Simplifying the points system was also a good move that was embraced by our broadcast partners, the media, and most importantly, our fans. And it was great to see Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Austin Dillon raise those trophies for their teams. It was fantastic to have 18 different winners in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including five for the first time. We were thrilled to see so many fresh faces in victory lane and be able to gain the type of exposure that only winning uniquely provides.
To be sure, the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field gave us a highly competitive season, capped by a championship battle that will be talked about for a long, long time. No question about it, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards gave us an incredible show that was exciting right to the very end in the last lap. And in the end, it came down to race wins. And you know what, that's exactly how it should be. So we congratulate Tony, his entire team, and salute Carl, as well, for giving us that great battle. He pulled off the Chase in such a deserving way. It's just a terrific number three for Smoke.
While we all know that the economic climate around the country is still difficult, still presents challenges for everyone in the industry, we're pleased with some of the positive signs that we began to see improve last year. Obviously we're encouraged by ratings increases across all of our national series, excited about that. We were very happy to see some gains in attendance at a number of venues, including here in Charlotte, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami and Phoenix all had uplifts. And we're very happy to hear the announcement last month by the CEO of Sprint Dan Hesse in December, announcing that they will be part of our series entitlement sponsor for a long, long time. We were also happy to renew our XM relationship on satellite radio.
You know, in terms of our company, a lot of important work was done in 2011 to position us for the future. That work is still going on. It's improving safety, competition, cost management for the teams, and that mission never ends, and it happens mostly down the road here at the R & D Center. Team of engineers at the R & D Center continue to work closely with the experts to study further improvements, cost containment opportunities that we can pass onto the teams. NASCAR worked closely with the engine builders and manufacturers and enlisted the support of world-class technology partners like Freescale and McLaren to implement the new electronic fuel injection in the Sprint Cup Series beginning this season.
The development, the roll-out, the subsequent introduction of the new 2013 Sprint Cup race car has been an ongoing collaborative effort between NASCAR, the manufacturers and the race teams, unprecedented.
We bolstered our broadcasting team, as well, to better serve our current partners in promoting the sport and their presentation of the sport and to strengthen our position in advance of upcoming TV negotiations.
We elevated and expanded our industry services group and implemented some needed changes to make us more efficient and effective at working with the teams and the track in an unprecedented way. The dialogue, the cooperation, that's all been created to move the sport along. It's going to be invaluable to us as we work closer together as an industry.
And you know, significant investments of time, energy and money were made to overhaul the communications group. Most of you are well aware now, as part of a long-term plan to be more proactive, how we tell the story of the sport and how we deliver information in many, many mediums.
We completed an 18-month deep examination of our industry that will be a significant milestone for the company and the sport. The findings of those studies have inspired a five-year strategic industry action plan that's already being implemented.
The goal of this effort is to help us better serve our great fans, grow our audience and ensure that our sport stays relevant, vibrant and highly valuable to our sponsors and other partners, and that's the critical goal of NASCAR, moving the sport along, growing our fan base and doing it in a way that works much more closely with our key stakeholders.
You know, it's been a busy off-season, as well, for the teams, and now we're ready to get started here in 2012 with the 550th anniversary of the GRAND-AM's Rolex 24 this weekend, followed shortly thereafter by the Shootout and then the Daytona 500 in a couple of weeks. So we enter this season, as you've heard and you know, with great momentum. We're coming off arguably the best championship battle ever, and our focus for 2012 is continuing that momentum. We're very pleased with the changes we made last year.
We'll continue on the same path in terms of points, the championship format and the rules packages, all of which were very successful last year. And we've made clear we're working hard to find rules packages that break up the tandem racing at Daytona and Talladega and return it to a more traditional style of racing on those superspeedways.
We've had a breathtaking number of close finishes at those tracks, but the fans want a mixture of styles, including a return to that more traditional, more pack racing and that close side-by-side competition that's unique to Daytona and Talladega.
NASCAR and the teams are working hard at this, and based on the test earlier this month at Daytona, we're encouraged that we're making progress. The sport is in a very good place right now, no question about that, and we're working hard and even harder to achieve the very best things for the sport of NASCAR well into the future. We expect to have another highly competitive battle for the championship this year with our biggest stars and many new faces in the mix, and as you heard, aligned with some new teams.
So our style of racing continues to attract the best talent in the world, big personalities from other forms of racing. It'll be exciting to see Travis Pastrana, Danica Patrick and others competing in NASCAR full-time against the best drivers in the world. Having Danica compete in this year's Daytona 500, that will get it all started.
So we're thrilled to see the level of competition rise in the regional touring series, and we're very excited by the talent that is rich in diversity that we're seeing in the K&N Pro Series and the Whelen All-American series. You're really seeing that talent, saw the next class obviously today, but we are really getting some graduates of that program who are going to make an impact at NASCAR's highest level one day. I'm very confident of that.
And we've talked today and will continue to talk about our move to electronic fuel injection because it's the next important step in making the cars and the track more like the production cars the fans drive every day. It also helps us with smart technology at just the right time.
So now we look forward to Daytona. Will we have our 11th different winner in 11 consecutive Daytona 500s? We'll see. Can our reigning Sprint Cup Series champion get his first win in the great American race? And one thing is for sure; NASCAR is carrying great momentum into 2012, and I can't wait to see it all get started on February 26. Thank you very much, best of luck in 2012, and we will move the program along.
Thank you very much.
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