When race fans are watching the action at Daytona Int'l Speedway this weekend, NASCAR and its partners "will be using and testing new technologies for taking stock car racing to a whole new level on mobile phones, personal computers and even video games," according to Dinah Voyles Pulver of the Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL. DIS "unveiled a new mobile phone application for this season." Meanwhile, NASCAR is "rapidly expanding the breadth of its mobile and computer applications and enhancing the available digital content." NASCAR VP/Digital Media Colin Smith said that it is "all part of NASCAR’s expanding efforts to meet the increasing demands from its consumers, and stay on the forefront of new technological applications, through partnering with tech companies." NextVR Exec Chair Brad Allen said, “We have worked with Fox Sports for over a year to test live, virtual reality programming across several sports." He added the technology “provides an exciting and compelling option to witness great sporting events in virtual reality.” Pulver notes the track's new phone app "is getting nice reviews, including from some of the NASCAR drivers, as well as Speedway employees and fans, who can use the app for anything from listing how many steps to a sub shop inside the stadium to figuring out where you left the car, as well as for receiving proximity messages from the Speedway." Smith said that NASCAR's efforts also include "working to develop other projects, including things like getting pit road officiating information to fans on digital platforms and exploring the world of virtual reality with in-car cameras." Smith: “There’s some pretty cool things we can do" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/19).
IT'S IN THE GAME: In Orlando, Marco Santana notes Electronic Arts, which released "Real Racing 3" in '13, recently announced an update ahead of the Dayton 500. The in-game Daytona Experience "will give drivers a chance to race" on the updated track. In addition, the game "offers split-screen multiplayer for those using Android TV or Apple TV" (ORLANDO SENTINEL 2/17).
