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Merry Christmas from NASCAR North

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

December 24, 2010 7:24 am CST No Comments

It’s Christmas Eve or day 32 of NASCAR’s raceless off season.

That makes it about 30 days since the Homestead Hangover ended, for those either celebrating success or commiserating for falling short. And less than that before we all get wrapped up in another ten month marathon of Brian France’s favorite toy.

I have a few holiday wishes to pass out. If I leave someone out - and I leave out many - try a bribe in 2011.

For Jimmie Johnson - the man who has everything - I hope Santa stuffs his stocking with all the respect and awe that one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of sports entitles him to have. And a wonderful first Christmas with Chandra and the little one.

To Jamie McMurray an encore season to one of the sports real good guys.

Kevin Harvick should have more Happiness with the chick who wears the Budweiser firesuit.

For Brad Keselowski, a long, successful and stormy run in the Blue Duece. Let the Beer Wars begin.

For Denny Hamlin - the same opportunity he had in 2010.

Tony Stewart - another 25000 seats at Eldora.

Dale Earnhardt Jr gets a chemistry set.

Mark Martin gets a ride, if he really, really wants one.

Carl Edwards gets a Cup. It’s time.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Filed under: Brad Kesolowski, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, NASCAR, Tony Stewart, jimmie johnson

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NASCAR Pictures: Kasey Kahne Bud Stud to Red Bull

by BethAnne, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I am the field producer/photographer of the syndicated radio show/website ON PIT ROW. When Steve and Charlie ask me to 'jump', I say "Yeah right."

December 14, 2010 9:03 am CST No Comments

Exclusive NASCAR Driver Photos featuring Kasey Kahne

Ch ch ch ch changes….Kasey Kahne may have been the poster boy for the times that are changing in NASCAR. Early season Budweiser team to later team Red Bull Kasey keeps a positive attitude about his future…And it looks Bright.

: Kasey Kahne checking out fireworks Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne waiting for race Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne and crew Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne qualifying Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne pre-race Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne national anthem Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne getting in car Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne preparing to race Michigan International Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne strapping in Michigan International Speedway 10

: #9 Kasey Kahne #16 Greg Biffle Michigan International Speedway 10

: #9 Kasey Kahne on the track Chicagoland Speedway 10

: Kasey Kahne Red Bull #83 on track Phoenix International Raceway 10

: Kasey Kahne waiting for qualifying Phoenix International Raceway 10

: Kasey Kahne pre-race Phoenix International Raceway 10

: Kasey Kahne preparing Phoenix International Raceway 10

: Kasey Kahne walking Phoenix International Raceway 10

: Kasey Kahne entering the Red Bull #83 Phoenix International Raceway 10

: Kasey Kahne in #83 Red Bull car Phoenix International Raceway 10

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Kasey Kahne, NASCAR, NASCAR photos, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: NASCAR pictures, Red Bull Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports

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Old School has no Chance in Sports Marketing

by Charlie Turner

December 11, 2010 8:58 pm CST No Comments

I have been searching for the spark that would make me want to write again. I found it watching a college hockey game.

The game was The Big Chill. The University of Michigan and Michigan State University faced off in a hockey game, outside, in U of M’s stadium. Announced attendance was over 113,000. Incredible spectacle. Great story with tons of hype. Not much of a hockey game as UM won 5-0. Almost sounds like a Cup race at the Brickyard. But I digress.

I watched it. Felt like I had to. But here’s what I kept thinking about.

Michigan’s uniforms didn’t match the helmets. At least the colors didn’t.

UM’s hockey helmets had the unique, traditional (weird) look of the UM football helmet, with the yellow (maize) wing at the front and three stripes trailing to the back. It looks as it should (not the same as “it looked good”).

The jerseys (in hockey they are called sweaters, I know) were my problem. They had a strange, multi-stripe look. Whatever. But the “maize” was the wrong color. It didn’t come close to matching the helmet’s yellow color. And the helmet color was right. I know. I’ve been to enough UM football and basketball games to know what passes as maize in Ann Arbor. This wasn’t close.

I couldn’t believe that the PR machine at Michigan would cheap-out on this deal. I mean they had 113 freakin’ thousand fans there for a HOCKEY GAME!!

Then I started thinking that these unies might be some kind of “old-school” throw-back hockey sweater. Maybe. If Nike is involved, anything is possible. (you’ve seen Oregon’s football unies, right?) But seriously, could there be more than 113 (total, not thousand) people who would even recognize a throw-back COLLEGE HOCKEY SWEATER?

The answer is, I think safely, no.

What works in sports, and sports marketing, is newness. Hockey, outdoors in exciting stadiums works ’cause it’s a new phenomenon. For now. Throwback jerseys work, when they look right, and fans have a connection to them. But flat-black, non-traditional, U of Oregon football helmets work too. So did bright blue Astro-Turf at Boise State. Those things appeal to new fans. And there are more new fans than old ones. You can argue that fact if you want. But old fans die. New ones (at least potential new fans) are born every day.

What’s this have to do with NASCAR? There are more (potential) new fans, than old ones.

The Chase was a brilliant innovation, as it turns out. I know a bunch of you old schoolers hate it. Or think you do. Sorry. It doesn’t really matter. The product (Sprint Cup racing) is more interesting to more people with the Chase format.

Old school stock car fans will have to get their nostalgia fix from occasional up-front runs by recognizable numbers and paint schemes, though those are getting scarce too. At least if they expect to get that fix watching NASCAR.

Or just get over it.

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: The Big Chill

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Paving Daytona: NASCAR Pictures

by Charlie Turner

December 7, 2010 12:51 pm CST No Comments

It’s all Digger’s fault!

Remember that little gpher hole NASCAR had to patch during the 2010 Daytona 500? Well the Family France doesn’t deal with rodents the same way you and I would. They re-paved the whole damn track! This’ll teach that frickin’ gopher!

We have pictures.

I would love to give credit for these photos, but they were sent to me without attribution. If they are yours, or you know where they came from, contact me so I can give proper credit, please. Good work by whomever itt was though.

Filed under: Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR photos

Tagged with: Daytona re-paving, NASCAR pictures

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