SPEED’s Farewell Brings Sadness, FOX Sports 1 Brings Optimism
A little part of every motorsports fan died last weekend as SPEED, known by many as the “Motorsports Authority,” signed off the air for the final time.
“For 18 years, it’s been our honor and privilege to present motorsports and automotive-related programming to you on the network that began as Speedvision, became SPEED Channel and is now known as SPEED,” Mike Joy stated in the final minutes of the channel’s existence.
“But now it’s time to switch off the ignition and turn in the keys. This is the end of SPEED in America.”
From the day it launched to its final hours, SPEED brought fans something no other network had: a sole spotlight for motorsports. For many, SPEED was the place to enjoy racing, from motorcycles to NASCAR, whenever they wished – there was no sharing the channel with other forms of sports.
The channel, with so much potential, lived up to expectations and was successful in the eyes of many. People connected with the programs, the hosts, and of course the racing itself. SPEED had quickly developed the power to connect fans of all kinds of motorsports together. From WindTunnel to Trackside, fans could not get enough.
Now, SPEED no longer exists and gone are many of the popular shows that once made the network great. Programs like Trackside, WindTunnel, and the fairly new but popular SPEED Center are no longer a part of a racing fan’s weekend.
While the recent years have brought much criticism to SPEED over some programming changes that many felt were unnecessary, the channel still upheld its core value: showing the racing action on a regular basis. Despite the backlash of SPEED’s final years, people were still in love with the network and would always tune in.
So when SPEED officially went dark, fans felt empty and sad. But when FOX Sports 1, FOX’s new all sports network that replaced SPEED, took over, there was a sense of optimism.
While many race fans are quick to say negative things about FS1 – they of course feel robbed of motorsports content – the new channel offers NASCAR, and motorsports in general, something very exciting.
Despite the loss in motorsports programming, NASCAR is still a major part of FS1. On day one alone, the channel aired over six hours of live content dedicated to NASCAR specifically. As more sports content floods the new network, so the do the eyeballs of many sports fans. So, when the same NASCAR content that fans love pops up on the screen, more people will be exposed to it. This gives NASCAR a chance to increase the fan base and grow the sport.
FOX Sports 1 also brings hope to motorsports fans that racing will be covered heavily with other sports news. FOX Sports Live, FOX’s version of SportsCenter, brings hope for extensive coverage of NASCAR and other motorsports leagues. This can also increase interest in the sport.
As FOX Sports 1 grows as a sports channel, it will do so around NASCAR. FOX has the rights to the full Camping World Truck Series season through 2024, all on FS1. The first 14 Nationwide Series races will also air on the channel beginning in 2015. And soon, select Cup races will migrate to the network.
There is no doubt that FOX Sports 1 is committed to NASCAR for a very long time.
Hey, it might not be that bad after all.
Martin hoping to strengthen Stewart-Haas while replacing injured Stewart
Mark Martin has a new ride. Again.
In fact, it’s his fourth organization in the last seven years. Martin will be the interim driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet at Stewart-Haas Racing in place of the injured Tony Stewart, who broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg earlier this month in a sprint car crash and will remained sidelined for the rest of the season.
Of the season’s remaining 13 races Martin will drive the car in 12 of them with Austin Dillon, who ran the car this past Sunday at Michigan, running at Talladega in October. For Martin, who has become the super-sub in the NSCS, it’s another opportunity to keep his career going in another top-notch car.
“Well, I’m incredibly honored. Sometimes I have a hard time understanding how Tony could possibly feel that way toward me when the guy is so amazing, the modern-day A.J. Foyt,” Martin said on Monday after the official announcement and Stewart’s approval.
“It’s an honor to be in the situation where we’re able to do this. I’m really, really sorry that it comes at the expense of Tony getting hurt. But one thing I do want to say is that is really important here is the amazing amount of cooperation that it took to get this deal done by so many parties, and I haven’t seen this much cooperation in the past, and I think it was largely in part for the incredible amount of respect that everyone has in the sport for Tony Stewart.”
Martin now vacates his partial schedule at Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota. Both the sponsors and manufacturer gave MWR and Martin the OK to head to SHR and Chevrolet. It works out for both companies since Brian Vickers, who will drive the 55 full-time in 2014, now gets a head start in working with his team.
At SHR, Martin takes over beginning this weekend at Bristol. While he won’t be racing for a championship, Martin made it clear that he still loves to race and not just race, but finish each race in a respectable position. It’s why he’s been with so many teams over the past few years.
When he announced his retirement in 2006 while driving for long-time owner Jack Roush, it appeared to signal the end of an incredible career that lacked only a Daytona 500 win and a championship. Instead, Martin found he couldn’t stay away forever and ran a partial schedule for the then Dale Earnhardt Inc. before finding his way to Hendrick Motorsports from 2009-2011 in which he returned to Victory Lane and finished second in the championship.
Still with the urge to race after leaving HMS when Kasey Kahne was hired, Martin landed with MWR where he’s been running a partial schedule the last two years. During that time he’s substituted for the injured Denny Hamlin earlier this year at Martinsville.
With how much has changed since 2007, Martin remains a constant. Even surprising him the amount of times he’s been called upon and how many opportunities he’s been given.
“I never dreamed of what would take place from 2007 on. It’s been a really great experience to have the opportunity to work with so many great people, teams, learn from so many people and make so many good friends throughout the time,” he said.
“I’ve had great times. I’m just really grateful for all the time that I’ve had in NASCAR racing and in all of racing. The battles that I had getting to NASCAR and ever since, a lot of years of my life have been dedicated to racing and these cars, and it’s really been a rewarding experience to have the opportunity to work with Hendrick Motorsports, DEI, and MWR and now Stewart-Haas. I’m excited about an opportunity to get inside the organization.”
But it doesn’t mean Martin’s going to use the rest of the season to see how good SHR is. Or what type of car Stewart gets to drive on a weekly basis. He doesn’t even see it as an audition for next season and where he might end up next. For Martin, it’s about making the most of a situation and helping SHR – just has he did MWR – in the long run.
“One of my goals is, I know that Zippy’s [SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli] main goal is to get good, solid performance, but more than that I want to be able to bring something to the organization in stability, and hopefully we can turn the 14 car back over to Tony an even stronger organization than what it was when he stepped away and got injured,” Martin revealed.
“That’s the thing I really want to work hard to do is when it’s all said and done with, I hope that they can look back and say they were glad that they had me in as part of the organization.”
The 2013 Future of Stewart Haas Racing According to Greg Zipadelli
Me, the dirt reporter just participated in a NASCAR teleconference for the first time in almost a year, with Greg Zipadelli from Stewart Haas Racing and Mark Martin, in regards to Tony Stewart’s SEASON ending injury. I sat here and thought and thought about how to put that so that it did not get misconstrued, in the back of my mind there was a voice that said people are going to turn everything around to suit themselves do the best you can. So I want to tell you all that Greg Zipadelli was very specific in his statement that Tony Stewart would be back for the Daytona 500 if not a little bit before. Probably for Mid January testing at Daytona. He was also very specific when he said, “Mark was Tony’s first choice as a driver replacement.”
Mark Martin. said, “The amount of cooperation that was required to make this happen in such a short period of time was amazing and a testament to the amount of respect that the industry has for Tony Stewart.”
Now the synopsis. Zippy was asked three times about the Kurt Busch rumors. He said point blank “at this time we are not talking to any other drivers. Our focus is on getting Mark in the 14 and to Bristol and getting the 39 another win and into the Chase.” Now let me sum that up for you folks….If you are not talking to other drivers it is a little hard to be signing one for a fourth team. He said, “Obviously if the right opportunity were to present we would certainly look at our resources accordingly. ” So for those who are all up in arms about the supposed Kurt Busch deal. From Zippy’s mouth to the worlds ears.
Zippy also said the decision was made to keep Stewart out the rest of the season to allow him to heal and go through the rehab process that is necessary to insure his health and his future. He did not at any time say that Stewart was happy about it only that it was for his own good basically.
There are a lot of pieces that have to come together yet for Steve Addington and the team. There are seats to be fit. Explanations on the differences in procedure from one team to another. There are discussions about set ups and driver wants and needs. There is the telling test to the medal of the team on Friday when Mark Martin crawls on board the Bass Pro Shops #14 Chevy for the first time. The tasks ahead for Addington and Zipadelli and the entire SHR team are monumental. But all believe one thing it is a win-win situation. Believing is two thirds of the battle.
Tony Stewart is a racer. To the bone and the rod has been in his body long enough that it too is also now a racer. This can not possibly be easy for him. Dale Earnhardt once said the most difficult thing he ever did was crawl out of his car and watch another man climb in. Stewart is living that now. Pain can be more than physical and sometimes the most excruciating pain is emotional and intellectual. There are no pills for that. The only resolution to that pain is time and a return to normal. Tony Stewart will recover and he will return to his team and his seat. He will race again with the same gutsy determination and skill that he has always had. #SmokeWillRise. Until then Stewart choose a driver whose skills he respects and whose experience can do nothing but make his team better and stronger for his return.
Whatever, the 2014 rumors maybe, they are just that rumors. Rumors that can not be confirmed do not warrant our concern or room in our press kits.
