Adaptability is key, especially in a sport like NASCAR. The stock car racing series has continued to evolve, whether it’s the technology used in Next-Gen cars, the variety of tracks being raced on, or simply the way news is being consumed. The dynamic motorsports landscape spares nobody, except those who can evolve with the times. Journalists have been forced to acclimatize as well, with many jumping through hoops to get access to information that used to be easily available in the past.

Reflecting on how the NASCAR industry has changed over the years, veteran journalist Holly Cain speaks to Jeff Gluck about the evolving motorsports world. Citing accessibility as a key problem, the writer addresses some of the problems media personnel have been facing in recent times.

Veteran journalist voices out accessibility concerns

NASCAR has stringent rules when it comes to media protocols and rightly so. At a time when the sport is growing faster than ever, the digital age has given a ‘casual fan’ the tools to become a ‘journalist’ as well. To prevent fake information, safeguard the interests of its stakeholders, as well as improve security, all media personnel are expected to be properly credentialed by either NASCAR or the track where the race is being held. Moreover, drivers, especially in the Cup Series, have dedicated public relations teams to handle media obligations, and journalists are expected to contact them for interviews.

Holly Cain has worked as a journalist for the past 30 years at major newspapers such as The Tampa Tribune, Dallas Morning News, and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Reflecting on how things have changed now, the veteran journalist said, “When I started out, you could literally just walk around the garage, grab Dale Earnhardt, and say, ‘Hey, do you have a minute?’ or Rusty Wallace or whoever it was, and have a conversation. Their public relations people were understanding of it and they were very good about it and my point is basically compared to now, it’s much more formal.” She went on to say, “Now you know you’re walking around the garage and there are citizen journalists I think and they’re just shoving their cell phones up and getting things and publishing it.”

To prevent such instances, NASCAR has adopted very strict measures when it comes to post-race interviews. Before the end of each race, a communications team member provides the media with a designated pit stall location, where the top 10 drivers will be stopped. After a quick debrief, those drivers are allowed to speak with accredited media personnel for up to 15 minutes, while a communications member has to be contacted well in advance to interact with a driver who finished outside the top ten.

If an incident occurs on the track that forces a driver to retire early, journalists are no longer allowed to interview the racer before they have visited the In Field Care Center. Only accredited media personnel are forced to remain in the designated bullpen area, after which NASCAR Communications coordinates with the driver and his PR team if they will do interviews. While the measures may seem excessive, having a set structure in place helps avoid unnecessary drama, that comes with unaccredited ‘citizen journalists’ getting access to drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners.

Trending

1

“RIP” – Brad Keselowski and Racing Family Joined in Mourning After the Loss of Close Confidant

2

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Recalls How Chase Elliott’s Father Antagonized the Intimidator Even Off the Track

3

Denny Hamlin Appeals to Joe Gibbs for a Move Away From the Cup Series Amid Declining Quality

4

Team Owner Joe Gibbs Roasts His NASCAR Rising Star Over Shocking Dallas Cowboys Confession

5

Denny Hamlin’s Bizarre Texas Prep Leaves NASCAR Community Stunned: “TF”

NASCAR has evolved in more ways than one

It’s no secret that the Next-Gen vehicles have the latest technological and mechanical developments in the motorsports world. To ensure that the integrity of the sport is maintained with a level playing field, NASCAR has adopted plenty of innovative techniques, such as an Optical Scanning Station, which was not always present in the sport. Back in the late 40s and early 50s, the inspection process was fairly rudimentary, with basic checks of the engines, shocks, safety mechanisms, and fuel tanks. However, everything changed in the 1990s with the fourth-generation car.

The fourth-generation cars in the early 90s had a chassis that was heavily modifiable, which meant NASCAR had to use highly precise templates to ensure the vehicles were legal. However, that changed in 2007, when a massive claw template was used to check the entire car simultaneously, while laser inspection techniques were adopted in 2013. Fast forward to the present day and the ‘Hawkeye’ technology uses precise lasers to check the cars, by creating a heatmap using sixteen cameras and eight projectors.

According to reports, 157,000 laser beams are used in the space of 30 seconds to generate a heatmap, which allows officials to check if anything is out of the ordinary. It seems like NASCAR has come a long way, not just in terms of its media-related protocols but also the technology it has adopted to make the sport fairer and safer for all. While the rules may seem tiresome, the structure in place helps deal with issues that weren’t present in the past and seems to be a step in the right direction from the sanctioning body.