March 13, 2008
By Rebecca Gladden
If you are part of NASCAR in any capacity and haven't signed up for Twitter yet, you're missing out.
Twitter is a free, user-friendly networking tool that describes itself as a "service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"
What Twitter users do is described as micro-blogging -- sending short messages to a group of "followers" who've signed up to receive your updates. Each message is limited to 140 characters, which amounts to about two sentences.
The fascinating thing about Twitter and NASCAR is the way it levels the playing field among users. A regular race fan, for example, can sign up to follow driver Max Papis and receive frequent updates that make you feel like you're part of his inner circle. Max "tweets" just about every day, telling you what he had for breakfast or that he just visited the chiropractor. He also tweets from the shop, the garage, the racetrack, sponsor meetings, and even the helicopter he's riding in. Here are a few examples:
Monday, March 2, after the plane flight following the Las Vegas race: "Back in Charlotte now, had a great talk to Jimmie Johnson on his plane, next race full attack."
Monday, March 9, playing golf with AJ Allmendinger: "On the golf course I suck but is a great walk. AJ is really ticked off as he (plays) really bad."
Papis is a prolific photographer and frequently tweets links to the incredible photos he's taken, like the two images below:
But Papis is just one example of the amazing NASCAR connections you can make on Twitter. There are a number of drivers, teams and sponsors who tweet regularly, some posting during the race itself. UPS Racing, for example, follows the action of driver David Ragan during each Cup race, posting live messages like these from Atlanta:
"Reporting the No. 6 is a little bit freer than previous run. Having to slow down too much in the corners. Crew will try and adjust next stop," and …
"Headed into the pits under caution for four tires and fuel. Going to try a new line back out on the track."
In fact, logging into Twitter during a race adds a whole new level of interaction, combining the best features of a message board and a live chat. Fans and pundits from across the country post observations and opinions during the race, including members at the track who report on the live action from their vantage point.
A number of NASCAR writers participate on Twitter including yours truly (follow me at Twitter.com/NscrWriter), Dustin Long, Jerry Bonkowski, Mike Mulhern and David Poole. The SpeedFreaks radio show interacts live with fans on Twitter every Sunday night and incorporates tweets into its broadcasts. The NASCAR Insiders, a duo of bloggers consisting of a current NASCAR team member and journalist, share their thoughts and insights. SpeedWeekly newspaper also has Twitter account.
Several racetracks have staff members who post news and updates on a regular basis and more are joining every day. Current track Tweeters include Bristol, Dover, Las Vegas, Michigan, Pocono and Watkins Glen. As I was writing this story, Phoenix International Raceway tweeted about a new sponsor for the "Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150" race in April, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway posted that it is offering free admission to active military personnel on April 3rd for the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals.
This is just a brief sampling of the NASCAR-related content available on Twitter. Check it out for yourself by visiting Twitter.com and signing up for a free account. You can search "NASCAR" and find some folks to start following, and once you follow a few members, you can click on their lists of followers and find even more people to follow.
A few current Twitter members have put together lists of NASCAR "Tweeps" to get you started. Check out:
Answer This...
and
The Final Lap...
By the way, NASCAR on Fox just tweeted this breaking news: "Can't wait for FOX's prerace to rock out to Keith Urban's 'Lil' Digger' theme song? Download now on iTunes now."
Okay, I was kidding about the breaking news part. But seriously, Twitter is a lot of fun and a great way to network with the NASCAR Nation.
Once you join, I hope you'll sign up to follow me first! Twitter.com/NscrWriter
You can contact Rebecca at.. Insider Racing News
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The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
