Marketing a near tragedy

[FOYTFAN14]

What are everyone's thoughts on the whole NASCAR media blitz with the Michael McDowell crash? It borders on morbid, but you could argue it's brilliant on NASCAR's part to get the exposure. And I'm not even sure which is worse, the fact that they're getting so much exposure for it or that he still made the field while others who actually completed an attempt got sent home.

Yes I know, I'm on a anti NASCAR thing these past couple of days, but the whole Michael McDowell thing and it's aftermath just brought everything I hate about NASCAR to the surface.

[hdolan]

What are everyone's thoughts on the whole NASCAR media blitz with the Michael McDowell crash? It borders on morbid, but you could argue it's brilliant on NASCAR's part to get the exposure. And I'm not even sure which is worse, the fact that they're getting so much exposure for it or that he still made the field while others who actually completed an attempt got sent home.

Yes I know, I'm on a anti NASCAR thing these past couple of days, but the whole Michael McDowell thing and it's aftermath just brought everything I hate about NASCAR to the surface.

So NASCAR is to blame for the media coverage...is that what you are saying...if so, you are correct...that's what happens when you are popular...

[Doc Austin]

What's so morbid about walking away without a scratch?

What's obscene is something like replaying a fatality over and over and over every half hour like CNN did with Gordon Smiley's gruesome crash.

Even if nascar went out of their way to promote this accident, what's wrong with noting progesss in safety and keeping the issue at the forefront?

The only danger here is backslapping to the point that complacency sets in. Everyone needs to start looking at the catch fencing in addition to protecting the drivers. The drivers are pretty safe for now, but if we kill even one more fan we may have to fight the do-gooders off for survival.

We need to put our resources into that, because, bluntly, we have been lucky.

[AdamM]

I seem to remember a certain us open wheel racing series using numerous big crashes in their advertising.

[logjammer]

My opinion is that they are more proud of the fact a horrific crash happened and the driver walked away vs. advertising the sport. I do not believe it will bring more fans but it will allow even casual fans know that post Dale Sr. the cars and safety equipment are ALOT better. Much needs to be said about the safer barriers as well.

[midtown]

I think STP used Richard Petty's Daytona (or was it Taladega) wreck in advertising.

[mattndallas]

Same thing happened with us last year after Franchitti's flip at Michigan.

The series has a right to celebrate it's safety in these instances, and if it brings press - good.

I have no problem with the treatment of McDowell's incident by NASCAR, or the press.

[athletics68]

Same thing happened with us last year after Franchitti's flip at Michigan.

The series has a right to celebrate it's safety in these instances, and if it brings press - good.

I have no problem with the treatment of McDowell's incident by NASCAR, or the press.

Agree. No one died. And attention from the press is good. Show's they're still interested.

[Jim Wilke]

I don't have a problem with a series showing footage of wrecks that have occurred without injury. I do have a problem with promoting likely crashes as a reason to watch:

'Tune in to Talladega on Sunday. It is high-speed, close quarters racing so you never know when The Big One will happen.'

[hdolan]

I don't have a problem with a series showing footage of wrecks that have occurred without injury. I do have a problem with promoting likely crashes as a reason to watch:

'Tune in to Talladega on Sunday. It is high-speed, close quarters racing so you never know when The Big One will happen.'

You obviously missed some promos for St Pete...

[indyracefan]

...Buddy Rice's flip at Kansas, both of Franchitti's flips and Andretti's two inverted adventures from last year have made promo's and highlight clips. I believe all are on the ICS web-site too.

[Mindervillain]

A race promoter once told me how much he hated big wrecks. They're expensive to the teams, they're scary for the fans, as well as the friends and relatives of the drivers, and they have the potential of causing huge injuries.

And every time there was a big wreck at his track, his ticket sales went up the following week.

I don't believe that people go to races to see wrecks. But I do believe that wrecks validate the sport - if it weren't for the risk of losing control, anyone could do it.

[midtown]

Don't forget the "Agony of Defeat" skier from ABC's Wide World of Sports. ABC used that for 30 years.

[owfan19]

They market Dale's death, why not market a crash that a driver walked away from.



NASCAR even marketed the wrecks Dario had last year.



Dont forget NASCAR invented the wheel, popcorn and sliced bread.

[midtown]

...and Fire.

[owfan19]

Don't forget the "Agony of Defeat" skier from ABC's Wide World of Sports. ABC used that for 30 years.

"Moose"

He is a good guy, and still ski's. I met him several years ago at a charity celebrity ski race that I marketed.

[MoparsRule]

And I'm not even sure which is worse, the fact that they're getting so much exposure for it or that he still made the field while others who actually completed an attempt got sent home.

I find the latter to be beyond ridiculous.

[Twehttam]

He completed his first qualifying lap and crashed on his second.

Does crashing during the second invalidate the first?

[ovalfan500]

I don't have a problem with a series showing footage of wrecks that have occurred without injury. I do have a problem with promoting likely crashes as a reason to watch:

'Tune in to Talladega on Sunday. It is high-speed, close quarters racing so you never know when The Big One will happen.'

Agreed. And many of the fans will let this soothe their conscience as they wait for the wrecks. This guy was lucky, and the next guy may not be so lucky.

I'm a NASCAR fan, too. But the number of NASCAR fans that watch/attend for the accidents really bothers me. They consider a race without accidents "boring" for some strange reason.

[Jim Wilke]

It makes my skin crawl every time there's a Big One and all the "fans" start cheering before the cars even come to a stop.

[redmist]

He completed his first qualifying lap and crashed on his second.

Does crashing during the second invalidate the first?

if he destroyed the car it should. i assume he didn't run the same car right. perhaps he qualified a back up, i don't know i didn't watch qualifying.

[SoundMan360]

switching to the backup car meant going to the back of the field (along with two locked in cars that didn't complete qualifying laps, and one other penalized car)

Same as back when Indycar had the morning warmup. Wreck that, and you still ran, but got sent to the back (except Indy, IIRC).

[Twehttam]

if he destroyed the car it should. i assume he didn't run the same car right. perhaps he qualified a back up, i don't know i didn't watch qualifying.

Actually, this is really a moot point as the 00 was already locked-in the Top 35. He was only qualifying for position and a pit-stall - there was never a doubt the car would make the race.

[MoparsRule]

I still can't believe they didn't let Reutimann take the points he earned in the #00 to the #44 - especially when the ONLY thing that changed on the car was the paint scheme & the number, all cars, people, everything, remained the same.

[AdamM]

'Tune in to Talladega on Sunday. It is high-speed, close quarters racing so you never know when The Big One will happen.'

Reminds me of how the IRL for years has marketed their Texas race. In fact, for many years, the IRL promos all season long have been almost totally crash footage.

[redmist]

Actually, this is really a moot point as the 00 was already locked-in the Top 35. He was only qualifying for position and a pit-stall - there was never a doubt the car would make the race.

oh yeah, i forgot about the top 35 nonsense. question, so if you're locked in do you even need to make a qualifying run at all?

[brickyard1911]

Even Miss Legge made the morning show rounds after her big road course shunt a couple of years ago.

[indycool]

Adam, your post is simply inaccurate. Yes, IRL promo stuff has contained some accident footage. Some of it is produced by the networks, not necessarily by the IRL. No, it hasn't been anywhere near "almost totally crash footage." That's baloney.

And I really haven't seen NASCAR say or do anything of consequence with McDowell's accident. It happened. It was televised. It was spectacular, so it's been replayed. He walked away. Certainly NASCAR hasn't "marketed" it.

[tbyars]

Reminds me of how the IRL for years has marketed their Texas race. In fact, for many years, the IRL promos all season long have been almost totally crash footage.

Post born of total ignorance.

First of all, please let us know what marketing based on crash footage the IRL has done whatsoever to market the race at TMS. Anything? Anything? I've got a feeling I'll hear the crickets chirping on this one.

The IRL in general doesn't market races at individual venues; the event promoters (in this case, TMS) market those events.

Probably the three most spectacular wrecks that have ever occurred at TMS have been Kenny Brack's accident, the accident which injured Davy Hamilton and the first lap crash at the initial NASCAR race. I hope you'll point us to the marketing based on those three incidents.

Over the years, I can think of literally hundreds of promotional approaches TMS has used to promote their races that center on positive aspects of racing, citing its personalities and excitement.

Anyone who seeks to paint the TMS marketing staff or Eddie Gossage as folks who dwell on the more morose side of the business just does not know of what they speak. I was sitting about 15 feet from Eddie when Brack had his accident. I was around him and heard him speak to the press several times the weekend Tony Roper, Jr. was killed at TMS in a truck accident. No one - and I mean not a single person - takes accidents that result in injury at TMS any more seriously than Eddie Gossage.

[AdamM]

First of all, please let us know what marketing based on crash footage the IRL has done whatsoever to market the race at TMS. Anything?

Well, *the IRL* has probably done about as much as *NASCAR* has done. The point of the thread was blaming *NASCAR* for marketing crashes and strangely, a whole chorus of folks seem to agree.

FWIW, I'd like to see where I accused Gossage of marketing based on crashes? The IRL's tv production folks and certainly ESPN do rely heavily on crash footage to promote IRL races. If you've watched the lead into most races, especially the Texas race, it's almost nothing but scenes of past mayhem.