NASCAR OFFICIALS ANTICIPATE 2015 SEASON DURING CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY MEDIA TOUR PRESENTED BY TECHNOCOM
Charlotte, NC—Anticipation was the theme during the opening segment of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom as NASCAR representatives laid out plans and regulations for the upcoming 2015 season in a “State of the Sport” type session.
Saying NASCAR has “no glaring weaknesses,” NASCAR President Brian France touted the Chase for the Championship format debuted last season that based on feedback proved to be popular with fans, who France called the sanctioning body’s “most important stakeholders.”
“They liked the fact it tightened up competition and they liked the drama down the stretch and they liked the emphasis on winning and one of the things they told us they really liked was the idea we weren’t going to change anything,” France stated. While some drivers who fell short of the championship last season suggested some minor tweaks to the system such as a separate points system for the Chase drivers, France countered that any change considered severely impacted the simplicity of the system.
“We made it as simple as possible because that was goal number one, “France stated, “Any any change that we would make would still be something different and our view is let’s keep it exactly what we have now.”
France did call the process of getting rules packages where NASCAR wants them as the biggest challenge and greatest opportunity facing the sport this season using targeted tests to find what works with a goal of getting the packages to the teams perhaps as early as the All Star race in May.
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell addressed some of those rules as they applied to the 2015 season including plans to use any means possible to enforce teams flaring out fenders and side panels that became common during 2014. This season teams will be required to come back to pit road if it is determined the fenders or side panels were flared by the crew.
O’Donnell also addressed other 2015 rules changes including racing in the rain at road courses, a new digital rulebook, and a brand new way pit road rules will be enforced with a computerized system. The pit road enforcement system will consist of 46 cameras on the roof of the grandstands with 43 of them directed at the pit stalls. Video from the cameras will be analyzed by software which will make the initial assessment if a violation such as driving through too many pit stalls upon entry or exit occurs. Once the computer flags a possible violation, an official will review it and approve if a violation did in fact occur. This pit road data will also be made available to broadcast partners and fans.
Among other topics discussed during the session included Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III updating progress on his speedway’s Daytona Rising project which improved 40,000 seats and is set for completion in 2016 as well as a media blitz planned for the upcoming Daytona 500 which will take 20 drivers to 11 different cities across the country.
The 2015 Drive for Diversity Class was also introduced and this year’s group includes Wisconsin super late model driver Natalie Decker.
The 2015 NASCAR D4D roster includes:
Devon Amos: Returning to the team, the 23-year-old Rio Rancho, New Mexico, native will make the jump to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East after two full seasons in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Jay Beasley: Finishing 13th overall and sixth in a loaded Sunoco Rookie of the Year field in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East last season, the 23-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada will return for a second season, aiming to best his rookie campaign.
Collin Cabre: After an impressive NASCAR D4D Combine performance, the 21-year-old Thonotosassa, Florida, native will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in his first year with Rev Racing. Cabre has spent the past five years racing asphalt and dirt sprint cars.
Natalie Decker: A 17-year-old newcomer to the Rev Racing roster from Eagle River, Wisconsin, Decker collected feature wins in a limited late model and super late model, as well as earning Rookie and Sportsman of the Year honors in ARCA SCAG Midwest Truck Tour. She will compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2015.
Kenzie Ruston: Entering her third season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and first with Rev Racing, the 22-year-old El Reno, Oklahoma, native is also a member of NASCAR Next, an industry initiative to identify tomorrow’s stars. Ruston broke her own record in 2014 as the highest finishing female driver in the K&N Pro Series East with a runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway on her way to finishing ninth in points.
Dylan Smith: The 22-year-old from Randolph, Vermont earned a spot with Rev Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series after competing in his own Late Model last year. The Stewart-Haas Racing employee ran 15 races and finished 38th in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I national standings.