ASA Partners With IMS Productions For 2004 National Tour Telecasts

by Mike Miller

PENDLETON, IN. -- The American Speed Association and IMS Productions, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation's broadcast and video production company, have come to an agreement making IMS Productions the primary production entity responsible for the 2004 ASA National Tour events to be televised on SPEED Channel.

"To be a partner with IMS Productions brings the ASA National Tour to the level of the finest television motorsports purveyors in the business today," said John Macik, ASA senior vice president/business development. "They will be working with us on a number of promotional projects that will enhance the short and long term profile of the ASA National Tour and hopefully, to some degree, all of our properties."

IMS Productions, at present, handles a wide variety of video and multimedia production duties on behalf of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy Racing League, Menards Infiniti Pro Series, as well as numerous corporate clients.

"We will attempt to further refine the already established ASA telecasts with an eye to show the great racing and induce fans to be even more interested," said Brian Gordon, Sr. director of programming and edit for IMS Productions. "Our mission is to figure out the kind of racing a specific track will produce and how might we best cover it. Short tracks are often a lot more about dealing with traffic, while big tracks can become pack racing ."

Gordon has recently joined IMS Productions after 13 years with ABC. Among other duties, he served as an assistant producer with Monday Night Football. "I've always enjoyed racing and this opportunity to come to IMS Productions very much interested me," said Gordon, a Texas native. He will be acting as a liaison between IMS Productions and their primary network partners, ABC/ESPN and SPEED Channel.

ASA Officials have previously announced the broadcast talent lineup for the 2004 telecasts will remain constant from 2003. Veteran SPEED Channel announcer Greg Creamer will again serve as the anchor, with Milwaukee radio host Jim Tretow occupying the role of color analyst. Rob Albright and Ken Stout will be the respective pit road reporters.

The 2004 ASA National Tour season will consist of 16 events at 15 different tracks in 13 states. The season is slated to begin on Saturday, March 27 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla., with the SK Hand Tool 200. It will conclude on October 29 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in conjunction with NASCAR Cup qualifying.




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