Motorsports Execs Bullish On NASCAR's New Chase Format

More than 200 people attended the “Motorsports 2.0” conference today in Charlotte. In a panel on the state of NASCAR, the new format for the Chase for the Sprint Cup received strong support, with Roush Fenway Racing President Steve Newmark calling reaction among drivers, business partners and fans “overwhelmingly positive.” “It makes it a lot more nerve-racking, but it’s a phenomenal change,” he said. He added that the full impact of the change will not be entirely evident early on, saying, “You really won’t see the full impact until it continues to build.”

NASCAR CMO Steve Phelps called it one of the most significant changes NASCAR has made on the competition side, but agreed to it being a work in progress. He noted the videos the series has produced to inform the fan base on the new format. “I think there is still some confusion,” he said, but “once people understand how it works, it’s going to grow new and casual fans to become more avid fans.” 

This was one of several events leading up to Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Also today, driver Kasey Kahne joined BofA execs, employees and Habitat for Humanity volunteers to frame a house in one day at the track. The build is part of the bank’s "Express Your Thanks" military appreciation campaign (THE DAILY).