NASCAR and FOX Sports have adopted SMT’s
GhostCar™, its Broadcast Analytics platform, for NASCAR’s Monster Energy
Cup Series and Xfinity Series for the 2019 season. NASCAR broadcasting
partner FOX Sports is leveraging SMT’s GhostCar tool to help tell a more
in-depth story during single-car qualifying, giving fans a compelling
and captivating look into the intricacies of turning the fastest lap
possible.
On May 1, NASCAR announced its three national series will return to
single-car qualifying at all oval tracks after more than five years of
using a group qualifying format. The changes went into effect May 6 for
NASCAR’s tripleheader at Dover International Speedway, and SMT’s
GhostCar technology was featured in FOX Sports’ qualifying coverage.
“In an environment where every second counts, SMT has created an
invaluable visualization tool integrated with a data feed that’s quick
and easy for talent and fans to digest,” said Michael Davies, Senior
Vice President, Field & Technical Operation, FOX Sports. “This
extraordinary platform has an enormous impact on detailing the
differences between winning and losing, really giving the talent in the
booth storylines to discuss.”
SMT, the pioneers of Emmy Award-winning sports broadcast technology,
released its GhostCar technology on FOX for single-car qualifying for
this year’s Daytona 500.
“The combination of the broadcast video with our live virtual
visualization and leaderboard data created a compelling Daytona 500
show, bringing storytelling for the broadcasters to a new level,”
said AJ Mead, digital product manager, SMT. “Viewers were able to see in
real time how drivers were racing vs. the bubble or pole sitter and
where they were gaining or losing.”
SMT’s GhostCar application visualizes SMT’s RACEf/x® tracking-system
data — a combination of GPS location data, NASCAR Timing and Scoring
data, and ECU (engine control unit) data — in a 3D virtual environment
based on virtual track and car models using SMT survey data.
“In 2018, GhostCar was primarily used to visualize one driver’s
qualifying lap vs. another’s. While that is a compelling execution, it
was only scratching the surface of the tool’s capabilities,” said Mead.
“This season, FOX and SMT have used GhostCar to visualize more
scenarios, including a car’s performance on old tires vs. new tires and
team performance on green-flag pit stops. These additional
visualizations are a great tool for the talent to effectively
communicate with the audience.”
“Innovation is in NASCAR’s DNA, and the same can be said of SMT,” said
Steve Stum, VP, Operations and Technical Production at NASCAR
Productions. “We employ technology in several areas, all with one goal
in mind — a stronger, more engaging experience for the fans. We want
fans to enjoy our sport in a deeper way, and innovations like SMT’s
GhostCar help accomplish that goal.”
SMT has provided cutting-edge solutions for NASCAR since 1992, when SMT
introduced NASCAR’s first televised live official timing and scoring
graphic and race crawl. SMT’s Emmy-winning products include the yellow 1st
& Ten® line, the K-Zone™ pitch-tracking system, and RACEf/x®.
About SMT
SMT,
a leading innovator and supplier of real-time data delivery and graphics
solutions for the sports and entertainment industries, provides clients
with cutting-edge storytelling tools to enhance their live sports and
entertainment productions. SMT’s technology for scoring, statistics,
virtual insertion, tracking analytics and messaging for broadcasts and
live events has been used to enhance the world’s most prestigious
events. The 33-time Emmy Award-winning company is headquartered in
Durham, N.C., with divisions in Jacksonville, Fla., Fremont, Calif., and
London, England.
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