Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 26th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXIV
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Nationwide Insurance Still Negotiating Renewal
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
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Today's Featured Commentary
SportsBusiness Journal has reported that Nationwide Insurance is gearing up for contract negotiations with NASCAR for title sponsorship of its secondary series. As this contract renewal date looms, the Ohio-based company has requested more time to take into consideration which television network will broadcast this series races after 2014.
As I mentioned in last Wednesday's WTF column, the sanctioning body is planning to begin its talks with ESPN in July to determine its interest in negotiating exclusive rights to NASCAR coverage after 2014. If a deal isn't reached by the end of August, the search for another interested broadcaster will begin. With media being one of Nationwide Insurance's primary vehicles for obtaining a return on its $10 to $12 million deal with NASCAR, will we fans need to begin to not only wonder if we will be able to tune into this series after 2014, but if we will still be calling this Sprint Cup development series the NASCAR Nationwide Series?
If you have been a NASCAR fan for long enough, you will remember when longtime sponsor Anheuser-Busch stepped away from the primary sponsorship of this series just five short years ago. After 25-years of serving as the series sponsor this announcement was shocking to many of us, but you can't blame this company for this decision based on the rising cost of this sponsorship.
Flash forward to the future, as many fans and drivers may be warming up to the idea of this now being the NASCAR Nationwide Series and we could be trying to remember what we should be calling this series in the future.
As television ratings for both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series continue to drop and the cost of sponsorship continues to skyrocket, this writer's concern continues to mount as to whether or not potential sponsors will have interest in supporting this sport?
The largest part of my concern regarding the current situation in the Nationwide Series is for the up-and-coming drivers who are racing with hopes to someday compete in the Sprint Cup Series. Fortunately, there is a bright spot in this worrisome conversation. According to Matt Jaucius, chief marketing officer for Nationwide Insurance, this company's 15-year presence in NASCAR has continued to carry momentum including an added sponsorship with Roush Fenway's Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series.
We continue to have productive conversations with NASCAR about our position in the sport and plan to be active for many years to come," said Jaucius.
Nationwide also reported that after only two years as the exclusive sponsor of NASCAR's secondary series, consumer awareness increased by more than 50 percent and were at 183 percent of their goal with their leads. While this seems like a great reason to continue its support of the series, the question that needs to be asked is – will these numbers continue if the past media support disappears and if NASCAR's greed continues to rise?
In fact, if this company is asked to pony up the kind of dough that it has continued to or even more why wouldn't they just use this money to continue its relationships in the Sprint Cup Series versus the current Nationwide Series?
I just pray that the powers that be at NASCAR will care enough about this series and what it brings to those who compete in it before hoarding every bit of support for its top level series. Don't these high profile drivers already have enough? WTF?
Ellen Richardson is a Newsletter Contributor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com. Follow her on Twitter @EllenNRich.
GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2013. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!
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Tweet 'N' Greet
by Kevin Rutherford
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Kevin Rutherford will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@KurtBusch: I hate that I messed up speeding & put us in position to come from the back. We had a strong car today & I gave it everything I had.
@AndyLally: Man... @maxpapis .... If youre gonna make such a big deal out of it on the cool off lap, dont bitch out when you get out of the car.
Kevin Rutherford is an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at kevin.rutherford@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at@Surfwax83.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice?... What's New Is Old, Ratings Mean Money And NASCAR Quick Hits
Top Ten Things a Crew Chief Never Wants to Hear His Driver Say On the Radio
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In addition to NASCAR's top-3 series at Kentucky, the Rolex Series is at Watkins Glen for the Sahlen's Six Hours at the Glen. 1993's edition of the race, known simply as the Camel Continental, was marred by a massive crash in the Esses. What happened?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: Unfortunately, parking has been an ongoing issue at Kentucky. The inaugural Quaker State 400 was plagued by the track failing to procure enough land to park cars for 120,000 fans, plus a terrible traffic procedure. The first races at the track had a slightly different issue. What was it?
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite Frontstretch writers are back to discuss a variety of weekly storylines. Topics this week include the Martin Truex, Jr. and AJ Allmendinger's feel-good wins, Furniture Row Racing's improvements and so much more.
Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your NASCAR questions and answers them to the best of her ability. Be sure to send your questions in if there's something that's been nagging at you and you might see your name in print.
Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Mike has a Sprint Cup Series crew chief stop by to talk about the technical side of NASCAR. This week, Paul Wolfe stops by as the series heads off to Kentucky.
Fantasy Insider by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff brings fantasy racing back to Frontstretch this season. The week, he has your best bets as you fill out your roster for Kentucky.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth LunkenheimerBeth is back with all of the latest and greatest to come out of the Truck Series. This week, Beth introduces you to Brett Moffitt, the newest driver to join the series.
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2013 Frontstretch.com
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