Truck-tastic: Busch Beats Out Peters in Closest NCWTS Finish at Daytona

Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 ToyotaCare Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning during the Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2014  Photo - Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 ToyotaCare Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning during the Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2014
Photo – Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Kyle Busch’s prowess was on full display Friday night during the Camping World Truck Series (CWTS) race at Daytona. Busch led a good part of the 100-lap event and he edged out Timothy Peters at the line to win his first career CWTS race at Daytona. The finish was the closest at Daytona for the Truck Series and it was eighth closest in Truck Series history. Continue reading

Kwasniewski Wins the Pole for Daytona Nationwide Race

Dylan Kwasniewski, driver of the #31 Rockstar/FOE Chevrolet, runs during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2014  Photo - Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Dylan Kwasniewski, driver of the #31 Rockstar/FOE Chevrolet, runs during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2014
Photo – Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Dylan Kwasniewski will start from the pole in his NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) début in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.  Continue reading

NASCAR Announces Nominees for 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class, Inaugural Landmark Award

HOF Finals 4.18.07

Baker, Elliott, Labonte, Stefanik, Yates Added To Ballot 

Following the first in-person meeting among the NASCAR Hall of Fame nominating committee in the hall’s history, NASCAR today announced the 20 nominees for the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame’s sixth induction class, as well as the five nominees for the inaugural Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.  Continue reading

NASCAR Breaks Next Evolution of ‘Unpredictable and Dramatic’

Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, signs autographs in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2014  Photo - Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, signs autographs in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2014
Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Campaign Includes Three New Spots,

Two Spanish-Language Versions And Fan Engagement Component

Building on the success of last year’s visionary brand campaign, NASCAR once again will weave a compelling story for racing fans through new creative and a fan engagement program that celebrates the unpredictability and drama of stock car racing.

Beginning with three unique spots designed to connect NASCAR’s biggest stars – the drivers – with NASCAR’s most treasured supporters – the fans – this on-air campaign will drive home the experiences, sights, and sounds that make NASCAR unique. Two of the spots will be available in Spanish-language versions as part of NASCAR’s commitment to broadening its fan base among millennial and multicultural audiences. The creative campaign will début during “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500, on Sunday (1 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Our fans are inspired by the drama and passion of racing, so we crafted spots that would bring the NASCAR experience to life,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR vice president, marketing. “This creative exudes excitement and anticipation, from drivers prepping for race day through grueling fitness regimens, to the children who look to them as their heroes. These spots will ensure that the NASCAR brand continues to move forward in an authentic and relevant way.”

The spots are:

“Machine” (English and Spanish) – Matching the human movement of a grueling training regimen with the movements of a car being prepped for a race, this spot poses the question of which entity on the track is the “machine.” Is it the world-class car, which is meticulously monitored and maintained, or is it the élite mind and body of NASCAR drivers, who devote all of their energy, strength, and focus on training to be the best?

English

Spanish

“Heroes” (English and Spanish) – NASCAR drivers are larger than life for a wide demographic of fans, but they evoke awe and admiration from children in particular. Kids marvel at the star power and sheer fun of being a NASCAR driver, and they dare to dream of one day battling other cars at speeds up to 200 mph in a race to cross the finish line first.

English

Spanish

“Change” (English) – NASCAR is built on the timeless stories of daredevil drivers who made history in decades past. But true to its roots, this sport doesn’t stand still and is continually pushing the boundaries through new, bold drivers and younger generations of fans. Some things have changed over the years, but the true thrill of the race will never change.

NASCAR’s new brand campaign was developed by Ogilvy & Mather’s New York office, inclusive of Ogilvy Rojo, the Hispanic arm of the agency.

“With a dual challenge to attract the next generation of fans, while deepening NASCAR’s emotional connection to avid fans, driver star power is the focal point of the campaign,” said Adam Tucker, President of Ogilvy & Mather Advertising New York. “The work reinforces a core truth; at the heart of NASCAR are megastar drivers who serve as role models, train like super-human athletes and ultimately represent everyday heroes in the hearts and minds of fans.”

In addition, NASCAR collaborated with FOX to create an all-new social engagement campaign centered around the key phrase of “#drafting”. Led by participation from NASCAR drivers, teams, and tracks, the  sport’s key personalities built anticipation for “The Great American Race” by capturing creative photos reminiscent of pack-style racing and sharing those moments via their social media handles.

Anchored by a landing page that aggregates the best #drafting content for fans to view, this cross-platform campaign has generated excitement for the 2014 season and will continue to build momentum leading into Sunday’s Daytona 500 race. Click here to visit the #drafting landing page: www.nascar.com/drafting.

Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 Preview

2014_Daytona500_REVAustin Dillon grabbing the Daytona 500 Pole victory with a Richter-scale rating may only be the beginning of news-making storylines in 2014.

On Sunday, Austin Dillon created a tidal wave of news, putting the iconic No. 3 car on the Pole. The No. 3 car last raced in the Sprint Cup Series in 2001, and hadn’t been on track in the series since Dale Earnhardt’s fatal wreck on the last lap of that year’s Daytona 500. In winning the pole, Dillon became the fourth driver to win the pole while driving the No. 3 car, joining Buddy Baker (1969), Ricky Rudd (1983) and Dale Earnhardt (1996). Continue reading