Daily Archives: February 22, 2017

Would a Championship also be a Retirement Party for Earnhardt?

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, speaks with the media during the Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Why would the legion of fans in Earnhardt Nation have mixed feelings about Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning a long-awaited Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship this season?

Because Earnhardt said on Wednesday during Daytona 500 media day that he’s likely to retire from racing if he wins the title this year, especially after all the rehabilitation work he’s done to overcome the effects of a concussion that caused him to miss the last 18 races of the 2016 season. Continue reading →

Michael Waltrip Hopes to go Out on High Note, Too

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Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 Aaron’s Toyota, during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Even though he has two Daytona 500 victories on his resume. Michael Waltrip has unfinished business at the Birthplace of Speed.

Waltrip, who first ran the Great American race in 1987, doesn’t want his last memory of the track to be the 30th-place finish he posted in last year’s race.

“Well, when we ran last year’s Daytona 500, it didn’t go well,” Waltrip said on Wednesday morning during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. “We didn’t run good, and I guess we got into a little bit of a fender-bender and messed up the car, and I finished 30th, and I just didn’t want to quit like that.

“I went to Talladega and we got a 12th-place finish, and I ran up front a little bit, and then I decided we would just try to have one more competitive run down here this year. You’ve got to quit sometime, and the partnership with (sponsor) Aaron’s has been important to me. They could wrap their arms around us doing a final race together.”

NASCAR Launches NASCAR TrackPass to Expand Reach of Live Racing Content

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Digital Subscription Product Facilitates International Fan Development for 2017

NASCAR TrackPass™, the sport’s first digital subscription product developed specifically for the international market, will now offer live racing action to more NASCAR® fans than ever before. Fans around the world can watch all 38 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ and 33 NASCAR XFINITY Series™ events either through NASCAR’s local television partner or by subscribing to NASCAR TrackPass. The product will be available in 120 countries and territories at launch, with plans to continue expanding the NASCAR TrackPass footprint throughout 2017.

NASCAR TrackPass will offer full race replays and features like a live leaderboard and highlights to give fans the complete race experience. International NASCAR fans in most territories outside the U.S. and Canada can go to TrackPass.NASCAR.com to subscribe to the product or download the application for Android and iOS through the iTunes and Google Play stores. Subscription costs start at $125 per year and $15 per month and vary by individual country and territory.

“Exploring new distribution channels for race content across both broadcast and digital platforms allows NASCAR to continue strengthening its global presence and diversify the sport’s fan base,” said Steve Herbst, senior vice president, broadcasting and production at NASCAR. “Given their experience in the sport and expertise around live streaming, NBC was a natural choice to lead our development of NASCAR TrackPass, providing our international fans more choice than ever before.”

NASCAR Track Pass is powered by Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Digital’s technology service providing end-to-end support for companies in need of best-in-class live streaming and VOD solutions.

International viewers can subscribe now to kick off the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season by watching the DAYTONA 500® at Daytona International Speedway this Sunday, Feb. 26.

Ford Drivers Employ ‘Island Hopping’ Strategy

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Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Photo – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski went island hopping last Sunday.

If that sounds like a Caribbean vacation, or a way for the Team Penske teammates to relieve the accumulating stress from pressure-packed Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, guess again.

Island hopping is the way Keselowski got to the front in Sunday’s rain-delayed Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona. It’s the way Logano ultimately won the race. And it’s the way the Ford drivers hope to win the biggest prize of all on Sunday in the Daytona 500 (2 p.m. ET on FOX). Continue reading →

New Format Can Help Ease Pressure in Jimmie Johnson’s Quest for Eighth Title

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The new format in place for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship this year will help Jimmie Johnson keep his mind off what could be a monumental accomplishment.

Johnson notched his seventh title last year, tying icons Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt for the series record. An eighth champion would put Johnson at the top of the pyramid. Continue reading →