NASCAR Track Operators Business Meeting in Daytona, FL
by Shon Sbarra
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and NASCAR Touring Series track operators and promoters kicked off Speedweeks in Daytona Beach with their annual business meeting Saturday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
The event got underway with an address from NASCAR President Mike Helton, who explained how important the developmental levels of the sport are to NASCAR.
“Everyone here is as critical to the health, well being and future of NASCAR as the company’s senior management and its most high-profile personalities,” said Helton.
He also asked the tracks in attendance to join the effort in becoming more environmentally aware.
“I ask each and every one of you here today to join (NASCAR) in becoming a good neighbor to the environment and engage yourselves within your community,” he added.
The environmental initiative was part of an announcement that the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series programs are going to join the campaign headlined by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to plant trees in select markets based on the number of green flags waved throughout the season. The goal is to help combat the carbon footprint made by NASCAR events.
The markets selected for 2011 are Seattle, Wash.; Denver, Colo.; Columbus, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minn. and the state of Connecticut. They were selected due to the presence of a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track and not being a market currently involved with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program.
In addition to Helton, Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president for racing operations, spoke of the need for a combined effort to help grow the sport.
“If something works for you, then chances are it will translate and work for NASCAR’s highest levels,” he said. “You all have great passion for this sport and NASCAR wants to hear from you.”
Following that session, the track operators and promoters attended an afternoon seminar on the growing importance of social media in today’s marketplace.
Later, the attendees were on hand to watch the Budweiser Shootout in the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on the recently repaved track.
The event got underway with an address from NASCAR President Mike Helton, who explained how important the developmental levels of the sport are to NASCAR.
“Everyone here is as critical to the health, well being and future of NASCAR as the company’s senior management and its most high-profile personalities,” said Helton.
He also asked the tracks in attendance to join the effort in becoming more environmentally aware.
“I ask each and every one of you here today to join (NASCAR) in becoming a good neighbor to the environment and engage yourselves within your community,” he added.
The environmental initiative was part of an announcement that the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series programs are going to join the campaign headlined by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to plant trees in select markets based on the number of green flags waved throughout the season. The goal is to help combat the carbon footprint made by NASCAR events.
The markets selected for 2011 are Seattle, Wash.; Denver, Colo.; Columbus, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minn. and the state of Connecticut. They were selected due to the presence of a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track and not being a market currently involved with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program.
In addition to Helton, Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president for racing operations, spoke of the need for a combined effort to help grow the sport.
“If something works for you, then chances are it will translate and work for NASCAR’s highest levels,” he said. “You all have great passion for this sport and NASCAR wants to hear from you.”
Following that session, the track operators and promoters attended an afternoon seminar on the growing importance of social media in today’s marketplace.
Later, the attendees were on hand to watch the Budweiser Shootout in the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on the recently repaved track.
