FOX Sports Pulls Out All the Stops for the 50th Running of the Daytona 500
Gopher Cam, Virtual Q&A with Analysts & New Theme Among 2008 Enhancements
"FOX Sports Supports" Charitable Initiative Begins at Daytona 500 with Autism Speaks
Highlights & Replay Information for Daytona 500 Preview Call
FOX CELEBRATES THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE'S 50TH BIRTHDAY — On Sunday, February 17 (2 p.m. ET), FOX Sports proudly presents the 50th running of the Daytona 500 with an electrifying 80 minute prerace show to celebrate the races history and most memorable moments from the past 49 races. Hosted by Chris Myers along with analysts Jeff Hammond and Darrell Waltrip the show is a special tribute to living racing legends who have won the Daytona 500 including Bobby Allison, Richard Petty and FOX's very own Waltrip.
In addition to previewing Sunday's race, FOX welcomes motorsports broadcasting legend Ken Squier as a special contributor to the broadcast, adding historical perspective. It was Squier who called the first live televised Daytona 500 back in 1979 and who coined the phrase "The Great American Race." Also in the prerace, NASCAR on FOX analyst Larry McReynolds takes a look back at the late Dale Earnhardt's first and only Daytona 500 win in 1998 where he served as crew chief.
GOPHER CAM PROVIDES "HOLE" NEW PERSPECTIVE — Imagine that your ultimate wish is to stand trackside at the world's most famous superspeedway, inches away as the best drivers anywhere whiz by at a breathless 185 miles per hour. That's the view Gopher Cam provides at the 50th Daytona 500 and beyond. Gopher Cam is a small, stationary high-definition point-of-view camera buried underneath the asphalt track surface, inches below the yellow line at Daytona International Speedway. There are four Gopher Cams in-place for the 50th Daytona 500, one in each of the track's four turns.
This is the first instance where a camera has been installed below the surface of a superspeedway, and the first time that a sub-track surface camera is HD caliber. The cameras have also been paired with high quality condenser microphones, another first, for an unbelievably realistic audio/video experience. Cars rolling over them will have no idea of their presence.
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ONLINE Q&A BRINGS VIEWERS CLOSER TO NASCAR ON FOX ANALYSTS — During coverage of the 50th Daytona 500, FOX Sports and FOXSports.com unveil a unique online question and answer opportunity. On FOXSports.com, NASCAR on FOX analysts Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds, three of the sport's most knowledgeable experts, can answer viewer's questions in real time. Each individual has been recorded providing simple, concise explanations to hundreds of potential questions that might arise during a NASCAR on FOX race. The technology allows users to ask questions and receive video answers as if they were engaged in a face-to-face conversation with a live person.
One of the three NASCAR on FOX experts appears to answer the question or explain the term as though speaking directly to the viewer. When the project is launched on Sunday, over 300 terms frequently used during race coverage, such as wedge, marbles or camber can be explained. While not every possible question can be anticipated, items featured can be refreshed and updated based on demand.
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AUTISM SPEAKS KICKS OFF "FOX SPORTS SUPPORTS" YEAR-ROUND CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN DURING 50th DAYTONA 500 — FOX Sports has established FOX Sports Supports, an on-air charitable initiative devoted to raising awareness, providing financial assistance and spurring volunteerism for select health related charities. FOX Sports employees were asked to vote privately to determine the inaugural FOX Sports Supports charities.
The organizations selected for FOX Sports Supports' first year have been assigned to one of FOX Sports' primary broadcast properties. Autism Speaks, which kicks-off the entire campaign on Sunday during the 50th Daytona 500, continues through the entire NASCAR on FOX season. The Make-A-Wish campaign runs throughout the entire MLB on FOX season beginning in April, and includes the All-Star Game, National League Championship Series and World Series. The Children's Health Fund campaign runs throughout the 2008-2009 NFL on FOX regular season and postseason, culminating with the NFC Championship Game. Finally, Alzheimer's Association is featured throughout FOX Sports' coverage of the 2009 BCS, including the FedEx BCS National Championship Game.
More on Fox Sports Supports ...WALTRIP, MCREYNOLDS & JOY TALK RACING — NASCAR on FOX's broadcast team of analysts Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds joined race announcer Mike Joy to preview this weekend's Daytona 500 action and FOX Sports' coverage of the 2008 season today during a media conference call. For a full replay of the Q&A, dial 719/457-0820 and enter passcode 4096086 when prompted.
Highlights include:
Waltrip on rivalries and feuds in NASCAR: "I think that fans like 'good guys' and 'bad guys.' I don't necessarily want to see drivers out of control and abusing some of the un-written rules of this sport. There are a lot of gentlemen's agreements, a lot of things we have to do to get along and live in this community together. By the same token, I want to see passion. I don't like to see violence, I don't like to see race cars ramming into each other but I do like to see guys that are excited." Joy on the expectations for 2008 season: "It's been awhile since we had so much change in the sport. With drivers changing teams, drivers changing sponsors, we have a new 'Car of Today' platform in use at Daytona in all of the races. There's more anticipation going into this Daytona 500 than I can remember in a long, long time." McReynolds on questions leading into this season: "I think a lot of those questions about 2008 started getting answered Saturday night in the Budweiser Shootout. 'How is this new car going to race in Daytona?' We had an unbelievable race. I know it had Mike, Darrell and I on the edge of our seats in that booth the entire 70 laps. 'Did Dale Earnhardt Jr. make a good move going to Hendrick Motorsports?' I know that was just a non-points race but in the early stages here it looks he made a great move because he went back to victory lane in a Sprint Cup car for the first time since May of 2006. So many of the positive things of our sport is what's going to create the buzz and excitement for people to tune back in and watch starting this Sunday with the 500." Waltrip on NASCAR encouraging drivers to be more themselves: "It makes me a little bit nervous. I know how these guys are. They do have to have some restraints on them. They do have to know what their limits are and they do have to know where the lines are. I'm not a real big fan of saying, 'Hey we're going to lighten up and let boys be boys.' I think they still have to maintain the control they always have. NASCAR still has to police the way they always have. NASCAR has to maintain the same control they've always had and maybe just be a little bit kinder and gentler about it."
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