Indy 500: Danica Patrick's Last Hurrah

Saturday, May 26, 2018
By Shane Beck
Salt Lake City, UT

A race fan turned media member covering racing in general but a little heavy towards NASCAR, I find this years Indianapolis 500 to be a slight bit somber.  I know many of you are laughing right now, some of you may even be celebrating this day.  The day the Danica Patrick races in her last professional race as a IndyCar driver!

I remember the day Danica started her professional career in IndyCar, I even remember her fist victory in Japan on April 20, 2008, the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Montegi in Montegi, Japan.  Making her the first female winner in IndyCar racing history. 

Patrick had many firsts in her career, the first woman to win the pole of the Daytona 500 (February 18, 2013), or for that matter the first woman in the history of NASCAR to win a pole for any race.  She was also Rookie of Year in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 for Rahal Letterman Racing with three pole positions in her 2005 season. 

Danica Patrick grew up on Wisconsin, she began karting at the age of ten with much success, winning the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times in the mid 1990s.  She dropped out of high school with her parents permission in 1998, and moved to the United Kingdom to further her racing career.  Patrick competed in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford before returning to the United States in 2001 due to a lack of funding.

Danica was fortunate to have landed Go Daddy as a sponsor, a partner who was able to fund her way into NASCAR making Danica Patrick a household name.

Over the years many have become true Danica Patrick fans, I have personally witnessed her apparel trailer as one of the midway's busiest with lines 7 wide and 10-15 people deep waiting to purchase her merchandise.  I would look around and trailer just next door had no one in line or very few.  I've also spoken with fans who cut her zero slack, all based on her on track performance.  As a long time racing enthusiast I can completely understand how they may feel.  I also understand the bigger picture, how Danica has paved the way for many female competitor, giving young ladies hope that some day they to can race at NASCAR's top level or  perhaps race in the Indianapolis 500.  

I have become a fan of Danica Patrick, I admire what she has done, how she has achieved the success she has had and how she has given so many hope.  I WILL be pulling for Danica Patrick to win her final Indianapolis 500 race on May 27th of 2018.  I also hope that Danica doesn't completely walk away from racing, that she can get involved to help others achieve their life long dreams!  #GoDaddy #GoDanicaPatrick

Opening Night: Royal Purple Modified Series at Meridian Speedway

Saturday, April 8, 2017
By Shane Beck
Meridian, Idaho

A long off season for many, yet not long enough for some, the drives are awaiting to see just who shows up with what?  Coming off a great 2016 season, promoter Todd LaBronte is optimistic of 2017.  

The season kicks off at Meridian Speedway, a race track where driver and former Meridian Speedway Modified track champion Shelby Stroebel dominates.  LaBronte and Meridian Speedway have agreed to four events including a two night show at the historic Diamond Cup, June 2nd and 3rd, a show that features the return of Super Modified racing.  The Royal Purple Modified Series will also make the trip back to the historic Magic Valley Speedway (Twin Falls, ID) for four nights of racing.  

New addition to the schedule in 2017 for the Royal Purple Modified Series is Wenatchee Valley Speedway for the Thunder In The Valley two night show, July 15th and 16th.  

A surprising return to Rocky Mountain Raceways (Salt Lake City, UT) in 2017.  Coming off a decent showing in 2015 the Royal Purple Modified Series was not invited back for 2016.  Part of that decision due to schedule conflict and the other, two promoters not able to come to terms.  Both Mike Eames (General Manager of Rocky Mountain Raceways) and Todd LaBronte are excited for the August 5th 75 lap Hot August Nights racing event in 2017.

The racing action should be fantastic in 2017, with the return of many good drivers from the northwest, four to six different states, the competition should be fierce.  

Drivers to watch out for this season, Idaho drivers Chris Fenton, Shelby Stroebel and Kyle Lathem.  Drivers out of Utah, Zach Webster, and Eric Rhead.  California driver Kyle Tellstrom is always a tough competitor.  

You can follow the Royal Purple Modified Series on Facebook.

Follow Shane Beck on Twitter @racingfanradio or email racingfanradio@gmail.com

Ratings Down, Empty Seats; How Does NASCAR Stop The Bleeding

March 28, 2017

By: Shane Beck

After five races, NASCAR’s TV ratings are showing no signs of improvement, hitting record-lows, according to Sports Media Watch.

Auto Club Speedway - California Ratings dipped again, Fox drew a 2.9 overnight rating for Kyle Larson's win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, down 17% from a 3.5 for last year's event, which aired one week earlier in the season. Fox drew a 4.0 overnight for the Cup race from Fontana in both '15 and '14. 

Las Vegas TV Ratings In ratings delayed by the winter storm in the Northeast, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing from Las Vegas scored a 3.58 final rating and 5.973 million viewers on FOX Sunday (3/12/2017)

Atlanta TV Ratings Posted Fox drew 3.6 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race from Atlanta, down slightly from a 3.7 for the same race last year. However, the second race of the Cup Series season was down from a 5.1 in '15 from Atlanta and down from a 4.8 in '14 from Phoenix.

Daytona 500 TV Ratings With a thrilling, last-lap pass in the first MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES race to feature the new stage format, 2004 NASCAR premier series champion Kurt Busch won Sunday's season-opening DAYTONA 500 on FOX, with 23.3 million viewers tuning in for all or part of the event. An average audience of 12 million watched the race across the FOX broadcast network, FOX Deportes and FOX Sports GO, including 11.92 million on FOX alone.

So the real questions is why? So many opinions on how to fix NASCAR, we hear the following "if they shorten races the ratings will go back up" or "they need more short tracks and road course races". While some of these opinions may be true the problem is deeper then a small change here and small change there.

NASCAR has lost control, the product is now controlled by sponsors, what you say?  You mean the sponsors that have been so instrumental in putting NASCAR on the map? No not those sponsors, those were different. The sponsors like GM Goodwrench, Winston and others understood that NASCAR is a sport which is driven by it's drivers and their personalities.

The raw emotion of the drivers has been taken from the sport, the drivers are being promoted in such a way that you only identify them by their sponsors and what's best for business. Not so much as what's best for the fans and the sport.  

Fans are passionate, some so much as to name their kids after their favorite drives. Not to many fans have named their kids after the drivers sponsor. Hello...my sons name is Dewalt Beck.....you get the picture!!  

NASCAR has lost the villain, the drives genuinely competed and it bothered them to lose, so much so as they would fight, almost hate each other. Now they hang out, laugh and have fun and NASCAR can't decide from one week or another if they should let the "Boys Have at It" or fine them for saying or doing something detrimental to the sport, as they say in the NASCAR rule book. 

At Las Vegas Kyle Busch marched down pit road and punched Joey Logano in the face because he felt he was done wrong on the racing surface.  NASCAR....that is real raw emotion and that's what fans want.  

Kurt Busch the road to NASCAR reinstatement

By Shane Beck

Salt Lake City, UT - Suspended driver Kurt Busch has formally accepted NASCAR's terms to be ​eligible for reinstatement, a spokesman said Monday.

Busch signed an agreement late last week that laid out the guidelines he must follow in order for NASCAR to consider lifting his indefinite suspension, NASCAR vice president of integrated marketing communications David Higdon said in a statement to the press.

Busch lost two appeals to NASCAR to be reinstated and has missed two races so far for Stewart-Haas Racing.

"We understand Kurt Busch has begun the process for reinstatement as a NASCAR member," SHR executive vice president Joe Custer said. "NASCAR has laid out its expectations for Kurt, and while there is no timetable to meet those expectations, Kurt's willingness to embrace the conditions set forth by NASCAR is a positive step that we support."

Busch also is waiting on results of a Dover police investigation into the alleged incident. That information was turned over to the Delaware Attorney General's office before Christmas. Regan Smith has driven the No. 41 car for Stewart-Haas Racing in Busch's absence and will again be behind the wheel Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

I've thought this over for a while and know that Kurt Busch has a history of having a temper. His former girl friend, Patricia Driscoll, has been labeled as assassin! The both don't seem right and one could say that Kurt Busch should be more scared for his security then she should. This being said I don't believe NASCAR had any choice but to suspend Kurt Busch from NASCAR. There is too much at stake for NASCAR, with the domestic violence in the NFL lately, the last thing NASCAR needs it to jump into that pool with the NFL.

Will we ever see Kurt Busch race again? I personally don't feel we will, unless a police investigation clears him of any wrong doing. There are to many good drivers wanting so few seats in race cars. NASCAR doesn't need Kurt Busch, he needs NASCAR.

I personally wish Kurt Busch the best, I hope he is cleared of any wrong doing and can find his way back into a race car. Kurt is a driver who earned his ride on his own merit, no name helping him get there, no money, just pure driving ability.

Sweet 16 for John Force

By Shane Beck 

Salt Lake City, UT - John Force didn't need a paddle to spank the field at the Las Vegas Strip - just a fast race car. Chasing his 16th championship, Force knew it was possible to clinch the title in Las Vegas. His team knew it as well, especially crew chief Jimmy Prock who served up what the doctor ordered. 

Earlier this season things were just not right at John Force Racing, driver Robert Height was struggling to make it in the Countdown to the Championship and John Force felt a change was in store. He decided to move his tuner Mike Neff to Robert Heights team and Jimmy Prock to his team. Robert Height was able to squeak into the Countdown to the Championship and Force continued running well.

John Force received news midway through the season that long time sponsors Ford and Castrol would be leaving at the end of the 2014 season. Castrol has been with John Force since the beginning and Ford has also been with John Force for a very long time. Frustrated, wondering where he would find support in the future, his wife Lori told him that that one thing is certain, winning takes care of everything! This is when John realized she was absolutely right, he focused 100% of himself to winning his 16th Championship. 

With John Force at 64 years of age, one might wonder how long he can continue racing? Not only racing but how long can he continue to win? John Force claims he will continue as long as the good lord will allow but knows that the future of John Force Racing are his girls. 

John Force is living the dream, however he has had to work extremely hard for what he has built over the years. I would say he is a master at marketing, knowing how to not only get a sponsor to support him but defiantly knows how to keep a sponsor happy. He knows the power of the media, he understands who helps him and does everything in his power to give back to his sponsors and his fans. 

John Force will defend his championship in 2014, he will attempt to break "Sweet 16" and fight for his 17th Championship. 

Contact Shane Beck at mshanebeck@gmail.com and follow on Twitter @racingfanradio