CBS Sports Hits the Road With F&F for Superstar Racing Experience Production Short tracks are the focus of attention in the six-week series By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Friday, June 11, 2021 - 11:32 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The roots of auto racing invariably filter down from massive multimillion-dollar speedways to asphalt and dirt short tracks across America. For the next six weeks, some of those tracks will be front and center as the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) brings 12 racing legends to small-town USA, bringing world-class drivers to world-class short tracks.
CBS coverage of SRX races will bring dirt tracks to primetime network TV this summer.
Grassroots tracks on a Saturday night is something I think people will enjoy seeing because that is a really fun time, with tailgating and an electricity at the night races, says Pam Miller, SRX producer, CBS Sports. And each track has its little traditions. So having all of these guys who are icons and legends on the track with the families is pretty cool and a really great thing.
An interesting aspect of the production is that the entire production team (about 70) will be onsite because many of the tracks simply don't have the fiber and other connectivity required to transport signals to remote production teams, according to Jim Cornell, SRX director, CBS Sports. F&F Productions will provide production facilities, with GTX 20 A and B and GTX 12A onsite to provide ample space for the team. BSI will also be on hand with its truck for in-car-camera support.
For the two hours we're on the air, says Cornell, everything will be onsite. When people complain about not having internet service in certain places, it's a reality that needs to be addressed and something we've experienced first-hand.
SRX drivers include legends Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, Tony Kanaan, Paul Tracy, Bobby Labonte, and 2021 Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves. Seeing well-established superstars with well-established rivalries racing in identical cars is something both Miller and Cornell are looking forward to. Local stars on each track will also be in the race, giving it a dimension unique to the event.
The 12 guys are true characters, says Miller, and they will get into equal cars to try to see who's the better driver and who has the most courage on that night. They may come across as friends, but, once they put that helmet on, they want to beat each other.
F&F's FTX20 will be on site for all six SRX races.
Cornell is looking forward to the level of access to the drivers the production team will have. Not only are there only 12 of them, but they are not part of larger racing teams or league.
We're used having to deal with organizations that like to say no, he says, but everything so far has been yes, yes, yes. I think the guys at SRX realized that there's also an entertainment part. Access, he notes, ranges from being able to listen in to in-car communications live during the race to the different camera angles of the in-car cameras and the use of drones.
We're going to have access with the drones that is going to open up some eyes as to what other sports can do with them, he says. There's a heavy drone and a lighter, high-speed drone, which I believe can go 50-70 mph. We're not going to be able to keep up with the cars, but I don't think we're going to be blimp-distance away.
Beverly Hills Aerials will provide the drone coverage, and Cornell hopes to get some unique angles on the action given how small the tracks are. The drivers won't be afraid to bump each other well, and I'll be able to get a drone over the top and close enough to see the cars bumping each other, which will be interesting.
Along with the personalities of the drivers are the features and differences of the tracks, beginning with that some are dirt tracks. The opening race will be held at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT, and SRX co-founder Ray Evernham says the open-wheel-modified division there has been a breeding ground for racing families.
What we wanted to do was find historic tracks that have not just a difficulty factor but a great following, a great DNA in motorsports, he explains. [Stafford Motor Speedway] has sent many people up the ladder to stock-car racing, like the Bodines, the Bouchards, Richie Evans, and people like the Andrettis and Gordon Johncock, who have gone off to Indy.
Miller says dirt tracks will also give viewers something brand new, especially since the races are in primetime. All six Camping World SRX Series races will be broadcast live on CBS, with broadcast coverage streaming live on Paramount+ Premium.
There is a different feeling at a race on a dirt track, says Miller, and I don't recall every having seen a dirt track in primetime on a network. That is going to be unique for people. The way these guys race on dirt is fascinating because it's different. They have to go into the corners different, they have to have a cushion as they get closer to the wall, and they have to find grip and the places they can find an advantage.
Each race will begin with two 15-minute heats that set up the main event, which will be 100 laps (Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin, because it is so short, will have 150 laps).
You can't breathe on a lap at Slinger as it's a 10- to 12-second lap, notes Miller. Stafford is just really cool and feels like you're at the old Fenway Park as you walk to the track through a neighborhood. There's a great mix of heritage, and all the asphalt tracks even have different corners, different banking, and different challenges that I think will be just as exciting as the dirt tracks.
CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus is already looking forward to the SRX finale at th
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
27/01/2026
Click for Japanese version
Tokyo, Japan - January 27, 2026 - Akamai Technolo...
27/01/2026
L-R: Jonathan Cuchacovich, Sonia Kennebeck, Alan Fischer, Daeil Kim, Andrew Sta...
27/01/2026
Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading men...
27/01/2026
With nearly 29 million monthly listeners and clear momentum on Spotify, Net n Ve...
27/01/2026
January 14, 2026
We are proud to share that 25 Ontario, First Gulf's commercial project located just two minutes from our head office, has been recognized ...
27/01/2026
January 22, 2026
First Gulf is excited to share that a full-building lease has been secured at 625 Bronte Rd in Oakville, part of Bronte Station Business Park,...
27/01/2026
January 23, 2026
First Gulf continues to demonstrate its commitment to high-performance, sustainable real estate with 351 King Street East achieving BOMA BEST ...
27/01/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
27/01/2026
Nielsen will continue to drive growth and provide local audience measurement
in...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Amagi Media Labs Limited, the only cloud-native SaaS provider offering end-to-end solutions across live production, content preparation, distribution, and monet...
27/01/2026
Miri Technologies Inc. today unveiled its V410 live 4K video encoder/decoder for streaming, IP-based production workflows and AV-over-IP distribution. Designed ...
27/01/2026
The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts has chosen Ikegami cameras for incorporation into its broadcast-quality television production facili...
27/01/2026
SipRadius, specialists in secure, low latency media transport, will show the pro AV community its end-to-end solution for high quality content distribution and ...
27/01/2026
Hiltron will highlight the fruits of its 45-plus years of experience in satellite communications system integration and product development at the annual GovSat...
27/01/2026
Klvr will demonstrate how its Charger Pro solution is delivering cost reduction and performance benefits for live entertainment and pro AV markets at ISE 2026 (...
27/01/2026
Amino, a global media technology leader in enterprise video and digital signage, today announced that its Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 booth (4N700) wil...
27/01/2026
ANI, India's leading news agency and a major content provider across the Asia Pacific region, today announced a significant expansion of its long standing p...
27/01/2026
Independent analysis confirms faster encoding, lower CPU usage, and improved perceptual quality compared to CBR and CRF
VisualOn, a leader in multimedia playba...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041
Luxembourg, January 13, 2026 - Satel...
27/01/2026
Tuesday 27 January 2026
SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Ha...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
When It Feels Real, Is It Still a Lie? The Art of Sarah' ...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
That Night premiering on Netflix March 13
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
DOWNLOAD THE KEY ART
DOWNLO...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Revealed the Future of Mexican Stories Coming in 2026
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalMexico
Link copied to clipboard
Among t...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Four New Japan Titles Announced for 2026: Viral Hit', On...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
What's Next on Netflix from Japan: Expanding the Possibili...
27/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities...
27/01/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to support a dynamic programme of cultural events taking place across Ireland this February. From visual art, film, music, ...
26/01/2026
Music videos play a huge part in how fans connect with their favorite songs, but...
26/01/2026
NAIDOC launches 2026 theme 50 Years of Deadly , marks major milestone
25 January, 2026
Media releases
The National NAIDOC Committee has today unveiled its...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Advanced Systems Group (ASG) today announced an exclusive partnership with Nu Studio, the company behind the first modular, portable studio designed for immersi...
26/01/2026
OpenDrives, the leader in high-end video data management and workflow solutions, today announced an add-on investment to its previous funding rounds, led by IAG...
26/01/2026
SmallHD today announced a major update to its award-winning PageOS software, introducing Fleet Control, Portrait Mode, expanded Camera Control features, and Dow...
26/01/2026
Whether rigging a PTZ on a truss, sliding a Blackmagic camera across a mezzanine railing, or capturing the mayhem from inside a drum, Filipic delivers visuals t...
26/01/2026
Wuppertal January 26, 2026
Riedel and Media Tailor Deliver Unified Broadcast a...
CBS Sports Hits the Road With F&F for Superstar Racing Experience Production Short tracks are the focus of attention in the six-week series By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
