NASCAR is a sport unlike any other. The combination of man and machine, the spectacle of the contests, and the rabid fan base set NASCAR apart from any other sport. Consider that auto racing is the only individual sport that includes a support team. Or is it the only team sport that features one individual? And now NASCAR has gained outside recognition for one other unique aspect of the sport – they listen to their fans.
Last year, NASCAR introduced a forum called the Fan Council. They invited 12,000 of their most passionate fans to offer input on the rules, the format, and the experience of NASCAR. That, in and of itself, is not extraordinary. No, the truly amazing thing about the Fan Council is that NASCAR actually listened to what the fans had to say.
So far, two significant changes have stemmed from Fan Council feedback. You may have noticed that the cars line up double file after a caution flag now. That is a direct result of the Fan Council’s input.
The other big change won’t kick in until next year, but according to NASCAR it will happen. Fans wanted races to start earlier, and at a consistent time. NFL fans know that a game will be on at 1pm on Sunday. NASCAR fans have no such assurance about a consistent race start time. That will change as of the 2010 season. Again, because of the feedback from the Fan Council.
This week, two different groups that you’ve never heard of handed out two awards you’ve never heard of to NASCAR for instituting the Fan Council and honestly using the feedback to improve the sport. In case you’re a stickler for the details, the awards are the Forrester Groundswell Award and the Vision Critical 2009 Panel of the Year Award. I told you that you’ve never heard of them. But I’m assured that they are very prestigious and that they are awarded only to companies that both utilize social media in a new or creative way and achieve significant, measurable results. Ok, I don’t know what that means, either, but I’m sure it’s good for NASCAR.
