"More than other sports sites" on the Web, auto racing
venues "tout cutting-edge features designed to make users
feel they're at the race," according to David Sweet of the
WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERACTIVE. However, Quokka Sports
VP/Entertainment Richard O'Connell says the features may
"never" be an exact replication: "I guess smell is the one
place we'll never deliver an at-track experience, but we
make up the difference on the Web by giving you control over
what you want to see, hear and experience." Sweet added
that auto racing "seems ready-made to take advantage" of the
Web because the sport "is driven by technology" from engines
to car designs. Sweet noted the visits on racing sites, and
according to Media Metrix, NASCAR.com attracted more than
one million unique visitors in November, more than
FoxSports.com or Sportingnews.com, and NASCAR.com is "even
able to slap one of the heftiest charges on content known in
the online sports world." While CART.com's audio of six
driver/pitcrew conversations is free, NASCAR.com charges
$4.95 a race for 25 driver/pit crew chats. Geoff Reiss,
Senior VP/Programming & Production for ESPN Internet
Ventures, producer of NASCAR.com, said, "We've created a
revenue opportunity where one didn't exist, though no one's
getting rich off of it" (WALL ST JOURNAL INTERACTIVE, 2/16).
ON THE RADIO: Speedway Motorsports (SMI) has acquired
Racing Country USA radio show from Morris Int'l. The show
is nationally syndicated to more than 300 affils. The
acquisition will complement current programming available on
the SMI's Performance Racing Network (SMI). Morris Media
Productions "will continue producing the show from
Charlotte" (Audrey Williams, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/17).
