NASCAR is often seen as a traditionalist sport, one that is set in its ways and rejects any sort of jump into the modern world. This, however, is completely incorrect, as anyone who has paid any level of attention to the sport over the past few years will know. Far from being stuck in its ways, NASCAR is arguably the leading sports outfit when it comes to technological incorporation. In this blog, we’re going to run through just some of the ways in which the organization has embraced the possibilities of technology to the benefit of drivers and fans.
Immersive Experience
Fans want to be as close to the action as possible. That’s why the front row seats are always the most expensive. The issue is that there’s an upper limit to how close you can get to the actions. Short of becoming a NASCAR driver, that was an experience that was always going to be out of reach. Or, at least, that was the thinking. Now, thanks to technology, the immersive, close experience is within reach. Cameras are fitted in the cars, which allows fans to ride along with their favorite drivers. Crews are also mic’d up, so fans can listen to the goings-on between the driver and the team at base. This is an element of NASCAR that will only continue to become more impressive and immersive, too, especially once VR becomes more widespread.
Online Engagement
Technology is critical for the NASCAR fan experience in more ways than one. Fans utilize it in non-official ways, outside of the NASCAR organization’s domain. This takes place mainly via the internet, which is something of a playground for NASCAR fans. Online, fans can listen to fan-operated podcasts (the Glass Case Of Emotion podcast is particularly recommended), follow the latest NASCAR odds and available free bets promotions with bookmarkers such as DraftKings, and discuss races with other fans on social media. While much of these actions and activities are beyond the scope of NASCAR, they’re elements that the organization is happy to promote. Ultimately, any increase in fan engagement is good for NASCAR—it doesn’t matter via which means this engagement came.
Back In Time
We talked earlier about how NASCAR is typically viewed as a traditionalist sport, one that looks back rather than forward. But of course, as we’ve seen, that’s just plain wrong. NASCAR looks to the future in the right areas, such as its use of tech. But that’s not to say that the organization and fans don’t also cast an eye over history. NASCAR is an intergenerational sport that brings families together; without doubt, history plays a big role. Every NASCAR fan knows the name Dale Earnhardt, for example.
The future and prosperity of all sports rests on its ability to connect with the people. And nostalgia is an excellent way to connect. To this end, NASCAR partnered with Coca-Cola to offer fans the chance to step back in time and experience the biggest moments from NASCAR’s history. By doing this, the organization successfully created a bridge between the key moments in history and the modern audience, just through technology.
Data Analysis
Most professional sports teams are waking up to the potential of data. NASCAR has understood this power for a while. They’ve been working with AWS to make sense of the large amounts of data they hold. This data refers to the fans and also to the performance of the big hitters within the sport. The end result is better-informed decisions, which can have a positive impact for fans – who get more of what they want—and for teams who understand how to utilize their talents better, which ultimately helps them to win more races. Indeed, so committed is NASCAR to the power of data that they have a data center just two miles from their headquarters.
Final Thoughts
Technology is not an afterthought for NASCAR. It flows through everything that they do, and it shows. In an age when those that ignore the power of technology will be left behind, they’ve shown that they know how to use it in smart ways.
