I’m constantly working on new ideas and trying to develop creative ways to help promote today’s up-and-coming drivers. I’ve decided to try something new next week…
For the first time, I will be holding a LIVE Q&A session with Jonathan Summerton at 8PM EST on Monday night. I will be using CoverItLive as I have in the past during a few of my Live Blog broadcasts. For those not familiar with CoverItLive, please outclick on the link above and replay one of my previous Live Events. The software is pretty cool in that it allows fans to interact during a Live event. You simply add your name and type in your comment or question. You won’t need to register or sign-up in order to participate… just simply tune-in and ask questions.
The idea here is to give today’s open wheel prospects a chance to interact with fans and gain some additional exposure. I encourage everyone to tune-in on Monday night and participate by asking Jonathan questions. I can’t guarantee that we will get to everyone, but we will certainly try our best.
Assuming the format is popular and I don’t have any major technical disasters, I’d like to continue this series in the future. I will post a reminder link sometime this weekend. Make sure to help spread the word and support one of America’s most promising drivers (Jonathan Summerton).
Make sure to tune in Monday night at 8PM EST for a Live Q&A session with Jonathan Summerton right here at Junior Open Wheel Talent.com.
This morning I was reading through some of my favorite blogs and I came across a piece by Norris McDonald that I think every aspiring race car driver should read.
The particular piece revolves around the importance of public relations and fan interaction for drivers and teams. You never know when your big opportunity might come. It’s important to keep that in mind as you pursue your dreams, especially during times like these when sponsorship dollars are at an all-time low.
There has been a lot of talk this week about ‘ride buyers’ and the lack of signed contracts in place with the 2010 season looming. Perhaps one or two of the deserving drivers may have missed out an opportunity already due to a miscued social interaction with a potential sponsor. Let’s hope not.
Make sure to stop over and give Norris McDonald’s story a read. It just might help you find that elusive sponsor. The day Sammy Swindell insulted Canada’s richest man.
The Atlantic Championship announced their 2010 prize fund today featuring a race-to-race payout—which will be made directly to the drivers— through the top-ten places. The top-three will receive $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 in prize money respectively. You can read the full press release here.
Related Reading:
It was announced this morning that Team Moore has terminated the contract of Junior Strous for the 2010 Indy Lights season. The details surrounding this announcement are minimal for the time being.
Here is the release from Team Moore:
Team Moore Racing regrets to announce that due to circumstances beyond its control, it has released Junior Strous from his contract with the team for the 2010 season.
“This is obviously not what anyone wanted to happen, because I believe Junior is a very talented racecar driver and we wanted him in our car this coming season,” said co-owner Mark Moore. “Unfortunately, we as a team have to move forward at this time.
The only hint we have is that Strous was released due to circumstances beyond its (Team Moore) control. Which isn’t much. It doesn’t do much good to post hypotheticals here so we will just have to wait and see if this situation remains hush-hush.
Regardless of the reasoning it’s an unfortunate situation for everyone involved.
I received some sad news this morning that racing icon Joe Stimola has passed away due to complications following open heart surgery. My thoughts and condolences go out to Joe’s family and friends. The F2000 Championship posted a nice story on Joe this morning. RIP Joe.
The 2010 racing season is just over a month away with the first Skip Barber National race scheduled to take place on March 5th, 2010 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Most of the other junior formula series in North America start their season later in March or early April. It’s hard to believe that we are about 1-2 months away from a full-on racing season in North America. One would expect most drivers and teams to have their 2010 plans in order with the season being just around the corner, unfortunately this just isn’t the case.
The lack of roster updates for 2010 isn’t due to a lack of effort by drivers. For those of you on Twitter…. you know exactly what I mean. Drivers are doing their best to utilize the various social media outlets to aide their quest of getting back behind-the-wheel in 2010. Those of us who follow them hear a lot of the gory details about the day’s workout and the distress of a sponsor search gone bad. Despite the financial barricade holding them back they all seem to embrace a somewhat sanguine mindset. And so do I.
I fully expect the number of roster announcements to increase this month. Coming up with the necessary funds to compete at this level is difficult at best during times of inflation and expansion. So, it goes without saying, the current economic climate makes the task of putting together a full program for 2010 exceptionally difficult. Let’s just hope that those—who are in the position to do so— step up and help these talented drivers out.
If you look at the latest EFCN Driver Rankings (from October 23rd, 2009), you will see that (to-date) only 4 drivers out of the top-20 have officially signed with a team for the 2010 season. That means 80% of the drivers ranked inside the top-20 are currently without a ride for 2010. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that’s a pretty scary statistic, especially when you consider that the 2010 season is just over a month away.
Let’s just hope others recognize this situation. We need those people who are in a position to do some good for the racing community to step up and lend a hand. Their assistance is vital to the success of our beloved sport.
In a time where negative news is least needed, the stark reality of the current economic climate has surfaced again with the demise of Vision Racing. The last direct link between Tony George and the IRL came to an end this week as Vision Racing announced they would cease operation due to the inability to lock a key sponsor for the 2010 season. Not only does this news affect the IRL but it will also leave a lasting mark on the Firestone Indy Lights as Vision’s Lights program will also come to an end. I guess it seems like it might be a bit early to throw in the towel for 2010, but perhaps the announcement revolves around more than just money or sponsorship. Lauren George, who is the daughter of Tony George and owner of Vision’s Firestone Indy Lights team, tweeted yesterday:
Strange feeling of peace today… and complete trust in God’s timing. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for my @VisionRacing family.
Perhaps it was just time for Tony George to take a step back and leave the weight of his controversial decisions behind. It’s hard to accept that as a reasonable possibility, but in reality it might not be that far off base. The good news is that if that is in fact the case, it leaves room for a Vision Racing return in the future. The team has done such a tremendous job of utilizing the various social media outlets and building a fan base that there are truly a lot of disheartened people out there mourning the loss of their favorite team. As Jeff Iannucci and so many other bloggers have pointed out, every team should use Vision’s fan building tactics as a benchmark for their own marketing program. It’s little things that help build a solid fan base and, as we all know, fans are the lifeline of the IRL or any sport for that matter.
As for what the future holds, we will have to just wait and see. It’s truly a shame to see Vision end their Indy Lights campaign after such a successful season with Australian James Davison behind the wheel in 2009. The team managed to finish 2nd in the final standings and won their first race last season.
The Vision team shared space with Bryan Herta Autosport in 2009, but since then BHA has moved into their own shop. It was confirmed yesterday that the cancellation of Vision’s 2010 efforts will not affect those of Bryan Herta Autosport.
Related Reading:
Earlier today, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory honored John Edwards— the racecar driver, not the politician— by declaring today John Edwards Day in Cincinnati.
Brian Stewart Racing announced that they will be adding a Star Mazda program in 2010. The team will now have all the steps in the ‘Road to Indy‘ available for aspiring drivers; USF2000 National Championship, Star Mazda and Indy Lights. It’s great to see Brian putting so much focus on driver development. Additionally, he sponsors the BSRKC (Brian Stewart Racing Karting Championship)… which should give him ample opportunity to scout some of the upcoming drivers.
Atlantic Championship standout Simona De Silvestro is hoping to make the move to the prestigious IndyCar series in 2010. She completed her first IndyCar test with HVM Racing in December and by all reports she did quite well in her inaugural outing. Regardless of her performance and success behind the wheel it would appear, at least for the time being, that her entry into the IndyCar series will be delayed.
This morning Curt Cavin, of the IndyStar, reported:
Atlantics product Simona de Silvestro, who recently tested with HVM Racing, has been told she must compete in some Firestone Indy Lights races and test an IndyCar on an oval track before she is allowed to drive such a car on an oval. She has no oval-track experience.
I don’t think anyone expected her to jump into IndyCar oval competition without extensive testing but adding a requirement to run a few Indy Lights races seems a bit much. I can think of a few drivers who were allowed to make the jump to IndyCar without any time in Lights or at least a significant amount of single-seater experience. Simona has certainly proved herself behind the wheel of a racecar and I think it would be a shame if she were denied entry into the 2010 IndyCar series (should the funding fall into place). That said, I’m all for proper development and safety. If the IRL officials give her an appropriate oval evaluation— in an IndyCar— and feel that she’s not ready, then perhaps she should be forced to run a few Indy Lights races. Until that evaluation is done properly, I think it’s a bit soon to require her to run Lights.
What do you think?
