What do you get when you combine grassroots racing, some of the most recognizable names in motorsports, and everything fans have been clamoring for across the racing industry? Answer: the Superstar Racing Experience.
The newly formed series announced on July 13, 2020, blends all of America’s beloved professional racing organizations into one for something that has the potential to breathe life into a dying pastime. What sets SRX apart from other series? Think of it as the XFL experiment in 2001 with the time, investment, and knowledge needed to succeed.
From a marketing standpoint, the idea of this new series in itself is genius. Looking at NASCAR specifically, the voice of the fanbase has been long campaigning for a return to racing’s dirt and short track roots. Instead, with entertainment value and cash flow being the sole motivator, they were given a revitalized schedule for 2021 featuring the addition of five road course events and one dirt while removing a coveted short track race.
SRX’s founders chose to listen to the masses by fielding all six inaugural events at some of the most historic short tracks in the U.S. — four paved and two dirt. Eldora Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway are just half of the storied venues the series will head to.
Hearkening to traditional dirt racing, there will be two heats that determine the starting lineup for the main feature, and all three contests will award points to the field of 12 drivers towards the championship. Each feature will be 100 laps (excluding Slinger Speedway — it will be 150) and unlimited green-white-checkered attempts.
So, who will headline the 12-car “superstar” field? SRX co-founder and former NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Hélio Castroneves and father of NASCAR’s current most popular driver Bill Elliott are among the 10 drivers who will compete full-time. In addition, other motorsports specialists and all-stars like Hailie Deegan, Scott Speed, and Scott Bloomquist will make cameos in select races, as well as hometown heroes at each track.
In the final race of the season, the series will also award the winner of the infamous Slinger Nationals with a ride in the finale at Nashville Fairgrounds on July 17.
Beyond the star-studded field that’s sure to draw eyes from racing fans around the world, SRX will feature an all-star lineup of commentators. Allen Bestwick, known for his play-by-play expertise in NASCAR, will pick up the microphone once again and assume the same role. Lindsay Czarniak serves as the studio host, and Matt Yocum and Brad Daugherty taking on pit reporter duties.
Additionally, three different color commentators will take turns giving their insight in two races each. Danica Patrick will open up the season, followed by James Hinchcliffe, and Dario Franchitti will close out the final two races.
If the return of familiar faces both on the track and behind the mic at these historic venues wasn’t enough, the 12-car field will consist of stock cars housing 750-horsepower V8 engines. In all actuality, you need more than names and fast cars to achieve success, and the Superstar Racing Experience will be doing so with a rock-solid foundation.
The series was created by Tony Stewart, Ray Evernham, Sandy Montag, and George Pyne, who all play an integral role in ensuring the longevity and success of SRX. Stewart serves as the sport’s ambassador, who has mainstream appeal from his tenure in NASCAR. Evernham, the Hall of Fame crew chief, oversees all racing operations and production of the stock cars. At the same time, Montag and his group will assume business operations, as Pyne will be a member of the board as an advisor.
Perhaps the most vital factor in SRX’s growth is the convenience of distribution. The series will be available for streaming live on Paramount+ via CBS sports beginning June 12 and will air each Saturday until the finale on July 17. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the streaming service had 34.2 million subscribers in the first quarter and 2021 and is projected to jump to 49.5 by the second. There’s an expectation for Viacom’s service to increase as it owns the rights to stream sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA tournaments.
To add another element of optimism towards SRX’s trajectory out the gates, Marcus Lemonis — who’s played a prominent role in revitalizing the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with generous sponsorships and fan interaction — put his faith in the new series by signing Camping World on as the title sponsor.
As for the competition side of things, it will be fascinating to see how things play out. It’s a field of 10 full-time drivers who’ve either retired from racing outright and some who are nearing the backend of their career, in addition to other talents in or entering their prime. There will undoubtedly be a redemption narrative and something to prove for many of the former champions, as the average age of the full-timers is about 50.
One of the biggest selling points for SRX was the physical aspect of stock car racing making a return, as opposed to the currently squeaky clean product seen in professional motorsports series. Under Evernham’s supervision, they’ve even gone as far as reinforcing the fenders and left-rear quarter-panels to ensure durability for the assumed beating and banging.
While this assumed aggression throughout a field of motivated drivers is sure to add some excitement, it begs the question — will it be too much? Aside from letting the race “breathe” and form consistent runs, there’s also the glaringly important element of driver safety. Even though they’ll be competing on short tracks, we’ve seen major wrecks with injuries occur, even at lower speeds than 1.5-miles tracks and beyond.
Either way, this level of racing being advertised fits right into co-founder Stewart’s wheelhouse. Should he be deemed the favorite going into a plethora of unknowns surrounding SRX? It would certainly appear that way, but there are also champions in Castroneves, Elliott, and Bobby Labonte, along with younger stars in Ernie Francis Jr. and Marco Andretti. The diversity in personality, age, and racing backgrounds should make for an all-around awesome spectacle.
Between the superstar appeal from those involved with SRX, founders who genuinely care about motorsports fans with an outstanding business model, and the vast distribution reach, the possibilities are endless for what the new series can achieve. While hopefully capturing the attention of die-hard fans and newcomers, this should bring much-needed exposure to grassroots racing with the potential to revive the American tradition.
Sorry, I do ‘t buy the hype and I will not be watching. Mixing a bunch of has-beens with a bunch never-will-be’s is not something I am going to waste my time on. The potential for embarrassment is high. This is IROC part 2 and IROC Part 1 with actual racing stars was a bust. The very presence of Tony Stewart is enough of a turn-off in itself. Hope this dies a quick death.