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NASCAR Tries New Ways to Improve Driver Rapports as Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney Kick Things Off

Published 04/04/2024, 1:30 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Ahead of the spring race at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR tried to initiate something new. The authorities have come up with mid-week media availability for local media. This action received widespread praise because it supported local media rather than the large broadcasting alternatives. With this, NASCAR wants to extend its reach through as many channels as possible.

These midweek media interactions will enable drivers to engage with local media representatives directly. During these sessions, drivers will share insights, stories, and updates that go beyond the race track. By collaborating with these media outlets, NASCAR aims to expand its reach and connect with fans at a grassroots level. How are they starting this?

Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney initiate the campaign

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Sportsnaut writer Matt Weaver opens up on his X handle to share images during the initiation of the campaign by RFK Racing star Brad Keselowski. He was later joined by other drivers like Ryan Blaney and Josh Berry.

He captioned the post, NASCAR is trying something new for mid-week media availabilities for local media, which is valuable, and Brad Keselowski is the inaugural guest.” RACEmag writer Kelly Crandall retweeted the post, “I really like this concept and look forward to more in the future. It’s a much different vibe and chance for content away from a busy race weekend.”

Weaver further added, “I thought Brad, Josh and Ryan were a lot less stiff than they are during Zoom calls. It felt more conversational and candid. 100 percent loved it. There’s a place for Zooms too but I like mixing these in for sure.” However, this does not mean that NASCAR authorities are not carrying out the historical deals that they have made. These are just to serve as an extension, to have better reach within the local community.

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The historic media agreements of NASCAR

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As described by NASCAR President Steve Phelps, “Our goal was to secure long-term stability with an optimized mix of distribution platforms and innovative partners that would allow us to grow the sport while delivering our product to fans wherever they are. And we’ve achieved that today.” At the beginning of this season, they announced groundbreaking seven-year media rights agreements for the NASCAR Cup Series.

These agreements involve partnerships with four esteemed distribution giants: FOX Sports, NBC Sports, Amazon’s Prime Video, and TNT Sports (a division of Warner Bros. Discovery). The primary objective was to provide live coverage of all 38 NASCAR Cup Series races from 2025 through the 2031 season. The races are allocated among these major broadcasters, determining which network will broadcast each specific race.

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While the financial details remain undisclosed, these agreements mark a significant leap forward in NASCAR’s commitment to delivering top-tier racing action to fans across various platforms.

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Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee

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Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.
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Edited by:

Shivali Nathta