1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports where in the situation 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, pandemic here 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: has really accelerated the investments that you've been advocating for 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: for years. From a macro standpoint, I think our sport 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: industry is really forced to look at the business a 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: little bit differently. In depth conversations with the leaders in 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Who wants to be the sacrificial lambs 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: that shows up at the first big major sporting event 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: were part of something much bigger than the sports right now, 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: and the health and safety of our stakeholders and books 11 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: much important every moment. I think we're all from the 12 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: business respect of thinking about the impact that the virus 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: is having across the country. In Bloomberg Business of Sports 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio, Hi, I'm Michael barn and this is 15 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast where we explore the 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports, and today 17 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: we are joined by NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick. First of all, Kevin, 18 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us there. Well, thank you, 19 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: I appreciate you having me today. The last time I 20 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: talked with you from the New York Connection was two 21 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: thousand and seven, that's when you won your Daytona five race. 22 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: So maybe I shouldn't be rooting from the press box. 23 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: So maybe this is a good luck charm and hopefully, uh, 24 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: you'll be doing well Sunday for this Daytona five hundred here. 25 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,639 Speaker 1: Uh you guys really you know, working with Stewart Haas, Um, 26 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: you guys have been just on the money. Can you 27 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: talk about that? Yeah? Well, first, you know, it's it's 28 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: it's great to be you know a few days away 29 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: from from being back in the car. And obviously the 30 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: Daytona five d this weekend on on Sunday is something 31 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: that obviously we all forward to as as our our 32 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: sports biggest race. So um on on that note, you know, 33 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: it would be great to u celebrate like we did 34 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: in two thousand and seven with with this particular group 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: of guys and and everyone at Stewart Hoss Racing, you know, 36 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: and and hopefully win the Daytona That would be, you know, 37 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: something that we have not been fortunate enough to do 38 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: yet as as a team. Um, but knowing what it 39 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: feels like to have won that race before and and 40 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: be able to experience the things that come with winning 41 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: the Daytona five or like no other race. It's just um, 42 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: you know, you look at the names on that Harley J. 43 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: Ar Old Trophy and you realize the history of our 44 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: sport and how important that race is. So our guys 45 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: have done a great year after year. This is year 46 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: number eight for for myself and and most of the 47 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: guys on the number four teams to to be together 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: and racing at Stewart House Racing. So we've been through 49 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: We've been through a lot of change, um, you know, 50 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: whether it be with with the sport in general, um, 51 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: but really at our at our company in general, as 52 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: as we've gone through you know, different drivers and and 53 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: things a teammates and and we switched manufacturers at the 54 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: in the two thousand and sixteen to fourd um. So 55 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: it's you know, we we were well prepared to go 56 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: through COVID last year with with everything being you know, 57 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: so up in the air as to where you're going 58 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: to go, when you were going to go, how you're 59 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: going to do it. And I think that's one thing 60 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: that our team does very well. It's adapt to unique situations. 61 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: That's the thing about COVID and and going all the 62 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: sports have gone through it in a COVID world, but 63 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: in NASCAR, in racing in general, for the most part, 64 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: it's probably, for lack of better words, one of the 65 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: best for COVID because you're in a cocoon. Now you're 66 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: flying around a two hundred miles, but you're in this cocoon, 67 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: you're in the car and it's just you. And so 68 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: if there's any sport it seems like that would help 69 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: against COVID, it's racing. I would agree with that, and 70 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: I think, you know, that's that's one reason that you know, 71 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: everybody that NASCAR decided to, you know, to come back first. 72 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: And I think when when you look at the way 73 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: that it's our sport was laid out, you know, it 74 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: was really everything from the shops to the racetrack, you know, 75 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: as far as the protocols and the things that we 76 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: were able to do it, you know, splitting the workforce 77 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: at at the at the facilities. Um, you know, basically 78 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: they have separated us from not only our race teams, 79 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: but you know, the race fans and and interaction with 80 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: people in general. So for the most part, most of 81 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: us have a motor home at the racetrack, so you 82 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: you know, we traveled by ourselves or I traveled by 83 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: myself and and get to the racetrack, drive myself to 84 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: the racetrack, go through the screening, go to the go 85 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: to the motor home, go from the motor home to 86 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: the car, get in the car, get out of the car, 87 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: go back to the motor home, get in the renal car, 88 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: and fly home. So you know, we have we have, um, 89 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: you know, a lot less interaction and because of the 90 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: fact that it's you know, like you said, you are 91 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: so isolated, um because of the protocols, but just in general, 92 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: you know that that was the way it was before. 93 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: You weren't isolated, but you know, you are in that 94 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: car by yourself. So we just we have a much 95 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: more um unique opportunity to to get back earlier. And 96 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: I think everybody you know, did a great job last 97 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: year getting our sport back on the racetrack. It was 98 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: good for not only our sport but worts in general, 99 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: and really, um, you know, created an opportunity for us 100 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: to kind of put the spotlight on our sport and 101 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: show everybody what NASCAR was was all about today. And 102 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: I think as as you look back to Darlington in 103 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: that first race and you know, seeing the significance of 104 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: getting our sport back on the racetrack and in the 105 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: reaction of fans and people who had never watched NASCAR before. 106 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: So it was a very good year for our sport 107 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: in general. Um, you know, I think as as you 108 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: look at the way that everything was handled in a 109 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: way that we were able to maneuver and move move 110 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: things around and get all of our complete schedule in 111 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: and and crown champion at the end of the year. 112 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: Was was you know, a huge feather in the cap 113 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: to to have everybody in the sports before we get 114 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: into more racing. I have to bring up k h 115 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,679 Speaker 1: I Management and it's something I think it's pretty cool 116 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: what you guys are doing now. It's a full service 117 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: sports and celebrity marketing agency and you represent some very 118 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: successful and high profile fessionals. How did that start? Yeah, 119 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: really it started by accident. You know. We we had 120 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: sold our race teams um and and the race teams 121 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: shut down in two thousand and eleven. When when the 122 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: k h I, Um, you know, we had I think 123 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: five race teams total that we that we read a 124 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: NASCAR in the Truck Series and an Exfinity Series and 125 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: Delia and I decided to start a family and head 126 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,679 Speaker 1: in a different direction. Didn't really know what we wanted 127 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: to do. We knew we didn't want to overhead of 128 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: what we had before, of of you know, a hundred 129 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: forty people on a huge facility and race cars, and 130 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: you know, we couldn't have a seven job, you know, 131 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 1: and and have kids and give them the attention that 132 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,119 Speaker 1: they needed. So you know, really the management thing really 133 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: started purely by a conversation between Donald Seroni and myself 134 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: in the infield at Texas Motor Speedway in two thousand 135 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: and twelve. We became friends. Um you know obviously, um 136 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: Donald fights in the UFC, and and you know, I 137 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,119 Speaker 1: think as as you look back at the conversations and 138 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 1: and you know the fact that we started going to 139 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 1: a couple of fights just because we were interested in 140 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: something different and really had no intention of of starting 141 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: the company or doing anything that we wound up doing 142 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: with with Donald. And Donald called one day and he said, Hey, 143 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: I've been around you guys a lot. Why don't you 144 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: guys just represent me as as as as a fighter. 145 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: And we talked about it as a group and we 146 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: were like, heck, we don't have to add any people, 147 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: We don't have to do anything different. We'll just take 148 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: Donald and put him right into the same system that 149 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: I have with with the people that are around me, 150 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: and manage his schedule and helped him with his data 151 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: activities and and you know, we've developed a great relationship 152 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: with with the UFC through the years and in that 153 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: partnership and it's been something that that really that's really 154 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: what started HI Management into what it is today. So um, 155 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: you know, I think as as you look back at 156 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: that conversation that was purely an accident, you know, with 157 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: the tap out bus coming through the infield at at Tech, 158 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: this motor speedway and and it's it's like everything that 159 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: that leads to what seems like great decisions purely purely 160 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: a conversation that we chased down and um, you know 161 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: is what it is today. Now. You have several drivers 162 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: also that you represent through KHI. Can you talk about 163 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: some of those drivers? Yeah, yeah, you know, I think, uh, 164 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: I guess the most recent one that was probably in 165 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: the spotlight was probably yesterday. You know, I think you 166 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: know a lot of people watch golf and and you know, 167 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: James Han leading the golf tournament yesterday. Is that a 168 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: long time KHI management, UM part of our part of 169 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: our family. And that's really how we approach it is 170 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: is a family just because of you know, we look 171 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: at ourselves as a as a as a bootique agency. 172 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: But um, you know, I think on the on the 173 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: driver's side, you know, for for us, that's that's really 174 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: the thing that's kind of our our bread and butter 175 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: because that's what we've done the longest and and you 176 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: know with myself and and the relationships that we've created 177 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: through the industry through sponsorship, um, you know, having Ricky 178 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: Stinhouse and and Ryan Priests and myself, you know, on 179 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: on the on the cup side, is is something that 180 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: we've wanted to do for a while and over the 181 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: past couple of a couple of years we've been fortunate 182 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: to to develop those relationships and and you know, those 183 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: guys have been a part of the family now. So 184 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: you know, as as you look at the cup side 185 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: of things that you know, it stems out into so 186 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: many other things as well, right you know, you look 187 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: at Stenhouse with his sprint card team and his relationship 188 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: with NAS and all the things that that come with um, 189 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: you know what I do, but there's so much different 190 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: when when you look at everybody else's situation. Because that's 191 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 1: really one way that we try to approach things, that is, 192 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: how do we how do we have how do we 193 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: have a relationship with our drivers or athletes in general 194 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 1: that is different than other management companies and agencies. And 195 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: that's really by trying to keep it small, keep everybody 196 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: uh in the mix as far as you know, sharing 197 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: the sponsorships of you know, between the athletes, and trying 198 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: to give the sponsors, you know, a little bit um 199 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 1: more versatile um package that that you can put out there. 200 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: Because not everybody likes NASCAR, not everybody likes the UFC, 201 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: not everybody likes c J Golf. So having those those 202 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: capabilities of reaching different audiences and different areas of the 203 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: country is important because it just allows you to throw 204 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: different packages sponsorship packages out there and presentations and and 205 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: stuff just looks different than than your normal NASCAR sponsorship 206 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: package because we can do so many things differently. Oh 207 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: somebody not like a NASCAR Shame on them. Sorry, The 208 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: quiet part came out. What this is an evolving business 209 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: and that's something that's that's really cool about it also 210 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: you're the k HI management because the difference between this 211 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: and when you used to own the truck team, it's 212 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: two different things. I mean, obviously, with the truck team 213 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: there's so much in research and development equipment. With this, 214 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: it's it's a totally different ball game. How how is 215 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: it evolved for you? Yeah, you know, I think that 216 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: it's drastically different. I think that one of the things 217 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: that we do very well are maintain our relationships with 218 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: with the sponsors that we have. We don't we don't 219 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,199 Speaker 1: you know, get a sponsor and then move on to 220 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: the next one. It's it's how do we maintain those 221 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: relationships and maintain those sponsorships through the years and do 222 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 1: that well so that we can resign those people year 223 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: after year. We've got several sponsors that are that are 224 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: you know, have been around with myself or in the company, 225 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: you know, for a decade now, some of them over 226 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 1: a decade, and that that purely comes off of offer 227 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,079 Speaker 1: relationships because in corporate America, you know, nine times out 228 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: of ten, you have so much turnover, people moving around, 229 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: you have you know, the economy up and down, and 230 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: and so those relationships in the in the good times 231 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,199 Speaker 1: are and bad times are important to get through both. 232 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: So you know, I think that the biggest friends you know, 233 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: having the agency is that you know, you just you're 234 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: so much more nimble than than what you were, you 235 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: know when when you had all the race teams, because 236 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 1: it just requires so many people to to put those 237 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: race cars on the race track. And in the end, 238 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: when you have the you know, the gaps of trying 239 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 1: to develop something and and um you know, the race 240 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: cars aren't running good enough, you have to spend money 241 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: on them in order to get the cars running better 242 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: so that you perform like you need to on the racetrack. 243 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: And and it's much more manageable from the management side 244 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: of things with um, you know, the things that we 245 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: do now because of the fact you don't have those 246 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: huge gaps that you have to feel from a from 247 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: an income standpoint in between sponsorship payments and trying to 248 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: manage all that. So it's a it's a much different 249 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: atmosphere as far as the amount of people we have. 250 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: Let's see, we have one to three five people that 251 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: that basically um you know, manage everything that that I 252 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: have and and all of our athletes under under our umbrella. 253 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: So you know, five people compared to a hundred forty 254 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: is a much different payroll when it comes around every 255 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: two weeks compared to um, you know what we had 256 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: when we had the race team on top of all 257 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: the R and D and all the race cars and 258 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: parts and pieces, and there's just a it's a big 259 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: money game. And so for for us, it's it's um 260 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: it's something that's that's much more manageable from a financial 261 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: side of things. I would be remiss, and I'm sorry 262 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: I always have to bring this up, but this is 263 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,959 Speaker 1: the twentieth anniversary of we lost Dale Earnhardt in the 264 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: two thousand one days on a fire. That next week 265 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: you were able to get behind the wheel, uh in 266 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: Earnhardt's ride with Richard Shoulder's racing, and three races later 267 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: you won your first Cup race and on the route 268 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: to Rookie of the Year. Can you take us back 269 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: to that time and what was going through your mind? Then? Yeah, well, 270 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's obviously it's crazy that it's been 271 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: been that long, you know, And I think obviously, you know, 272 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: for for a lot of people, for most everybody in 273 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: our sport, it was just you know, it was a. 274 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: It was a moment that that changed the sport forever, 275 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: and you know, for me personally changed the direction of 276 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: my career forever. Um. You know, there were so many 277 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: things that were already in place, and and I was 278 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: going to run seven Cup races that year with America 279 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: Online is my as as the sponsor of of our car. 280 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: My first race was going to be at Atlanta. That 281 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: was going to be where I ran my very first 282 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: race of my Cup career. So there are there are 283 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: a lot of things that that changed obviously on that day, Um, 284 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: you know when when Dale had his accidents. So you know, 285 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: for for me, Wednesday night after the day ton of 286 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: is really when the path changed when Richard called me 287 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: to his office and asked if I'd be willing to 288 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: drive the car Rockingham the next week. And obviously at 289 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: that particular point, it was really doing whatever it took 290 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: for the for the company to survive and put the 291 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: car on the racetrack. At that stick of the time, 292 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: I think they had a little over three hundred people 293 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: that that worked at our cr and families, and so 294 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: there was a huge responsibility to try to keep the 295 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: car on the racetracks so that everybody could keep their jobs, 296 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: and so we went to the racetrack and ran Rockingham 297 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: and got on got on a plane directly after that 298 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: and got married the next week and got my first 299 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: top ten at Las Vegas, and then the third week 300 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: we we want to race at Atlanta. So the one 301 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: thing I can tell you is it for for me personally, 302 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: it was it was a really confusing time because I 303 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: was racing with a group of a group of people 304 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: that um, you know, I wasn't supposed to be racing with. 305 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: I was still running my my Bush Series car full time. 306 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: We had a number of tests and and different things 307 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: going on. Decided to run both schedules, so that that 308 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: bubble that I had around me was was was pretty 309 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: pretty deep, just because of the fact that I was 310 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: able to race so much that year and not get 311 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: swallowed up and everything that was really actually going on 312 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: and going to have to handle at the end of 313 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: the year and starting the next year, and you really 314 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: saw those the repercussions of of you know, the accident 315 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: and the way that everything was going to go when 316 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: two thousand and two was just you know, didn't go 317 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: very good. But we had so much going on in 318 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: two thousand and one we kind of almost hid from 319 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: the reality of the situation because we because we raced 320 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: so much, had early success and and um, you know, 321 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: was one of those years that you that you didn't 322 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: expect and obviously we all battled through it and made 323 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: a made a pretty good first season out of it. 324 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: So definitely, um, you know, a trying time for you know, 325 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: our sport. And you know, I think looking back at 326 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: that that that went in Atlanta and you just you 327 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: hear the emotion of the crowd and you know, the 328 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: the people crawling all over the fence, and you see 329 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: the tears of joy and happiness and sadness of the 330 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: crew guys, and you know, you get out of that 331 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: car and you're like, you don't you don't really know 332 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: what to say, just because you don't know if you 333 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: should be happy, you should be sad, just because of 334 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: the moment that you were in. So it's definitely definitely, uh, 335 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,199 Speaker 1: you know, when you look back at it now, you 336 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 1: realize the magnitude of the situation and you know, I 337 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: think at that particular time, you just didn't understand everything 338 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: that was going on. Obviously, I want to talk about 339 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 1: this year's race, but if anything, positive came out of 340 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: what happened to Dale Earnhardt. The drivers then realized where 341 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: the hans device, because this can save your life. Well, 342 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 1: you know, I think, I think as you as you 343 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: look back at two thousand and one, and I told 344 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: people this all week and obviously this is this is 345 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: obviously a topic of conversation in my in my shoes, 346 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: um because we were in it. But the biggest thing 347 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: that that changed in our sport forever was the fact 348 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: that you know, the safety become the number became the 349 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: number one priority. And NASCAR has has pushed that from 350 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: that particular day all the way until we sit here 351 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: right now, um to make sure that we evolved as 352 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: a sport and do the things that that they have 353 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: done with the soft walls and the driver's compartments and 354 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: the chassisas and it's an endless amount of list um 355 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: that you could put on it of the things that 356 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: that change from from that particular day, you know, from 357 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: a safety standpoint. So it was an unfortunate history situation 358 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: that that has led into where we are today with 359 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: the massive changes in our support from a safety side, 360 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: all started on that day. This year's Daytona five hundred 361 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: and I know this is always a question you get 362 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: and it's always like, okay, thanks, but where do you 363 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: see yourself this year in the five? Well, it could 364 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: be anywhere, you know. I think as you look at 365 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: this particular race, you know, everybody's had, this is the 366 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: race that everybody has the most time to prepare for. 367 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: Our sport is very unique in the fact that our 368 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 1: our biggest races our first race. So you've got a 369 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: lot of hype. Um, We've got a lot of change 370 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 1: in our sport, you know. I think with a lot 371 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: of new teams last year of this car um, you know, 372 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: but in the end, you still have an opportunity to 373 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: to win the biggest race of the year. So you know, 374 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: I think as as you look at we finished top 375 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: five last year, had ourselves in a position at the 376 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: end of the race to you know, to have a chance, 377 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 1: and that's really all you ask for. You gotta keep 378 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 1: the car rolling, uh, you know, until until the end 379 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 1: of the race. So you know, I think our our 380 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: Bush Lights Ford must things will will probably be um, 381 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: you know good enough to to have a chance. You 382 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: just got to have all the circumstances and everything and 383 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: make good decisions and try to keep ourselves rolling around 384 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: and until the end of the race to have a chance, 385 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: and that that's really what it's all about, because really 386 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: this one anybody can win. Um, you know, if you 387 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: just keep yourself a part of the race all day. 388 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: I know we're starting to run out of time. But 389 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: sponsorship is always critical in NASCAR, and you're seeing the 390 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: changes now in other sports. In hockey, you're seeing sponsorships 391 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: on the helmet and I'm thinking, well, heck, I'm ANNASCAR fan. 392 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: We see sponsorships all the time. So sponsorship in nask 393 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: are what part of it do you see today and 394 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: where do you see it going in the future. Well, 395 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: that evolution has has changed drastically as well. You know, 396 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: I think it used to be, you know, for the 397 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 1: most part, it was one sponsor on the car, and 398 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: as as we went through two thousand and eight, two 399 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: thousand nine, obviously the world changed, you know, from from 400 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: that side of things, and now it's you know, it's 401 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: there multiple sponsors on pretty much every car. And you know, 402 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:27,640 Speaker 1: I think when when you look at our car, we're 403 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: very fortunate to have some great companies and involved with 404 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 1: our particular race team. Obviously with you know, the Bush 405 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: light brand and the Bush brand and everybody from Anheuser 406 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: Bush who's who's been a part of our program for 407 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: um you know, a decade now. And you know, I 408 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: think as as you look at the things that that 409 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,879 Speaker 1: Bush does with with what they do with the car, 410 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: in the in the program, off the racetrack is second 411 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: to nine Mobile one is is the same way and 412 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: Hunt Brothers Pizza. You know, we just we we have 413 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: a great group that that just act evates racing and 414 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: and loves to be a part of the sport. And 415 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: you know they see the results that come with that. 416 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: So it's been a lot of fun to be represented 417 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: and part of some great companies. Well, you gotta wrap 418 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: this up, but you know what just one quick question. 419 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: NASCAR and now betting online. People are getting into that 420 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: big time. What do you see with that and what 421 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,439 Speaker 1: do you see the future with that? Well, look, I'm 422 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: like everybody else, you know, I I love that I 423 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: can when I any anything that gives me an opportunity 424 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: to have fun with with friends and family. And when 425 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: you look at you know the length of our races 426 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: and adding a different element like betting into that, you know, 427 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: it obviously gives the fans and people uh something something 428 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: to uh to cheer for during the race. I mean 429 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: for me, it's it's no different than than having a 430 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: fantasy football team. You look at that fantasy football team 431 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: and I watched my players and where they are and 432 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: what they do and try to figure out how many 433 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: points they score. And the betting goes hand in hand 434 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,479 Speaker 1: with that as as as uh you know, you're watching 435 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: the events and seeing where you're, where your guy is 436 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: and how how how you're going to fare and what 437 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: you thought was going to happen, So you know, just 438 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: adds another good elements everything we have going on. I'm 439 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: not gonna tell you where my fantasy football season ended, anyway, 440 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: Kevin Vick probably about like mine. Kevin Arvick, thank you 441 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: so much, and I'm so glad you took the time 442 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: out to join us because it's a lot of fun. 443 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: We could have gone on another hour and a half, 444 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: but but thank you so much. All right, thank you 445 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: for having me. This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. 446 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: I'm Michael bar. You can follow me on Twitter at 447 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: Big Bar Sports. My partners Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch. 448 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: Get well soon, Sir Mike Lynch having some surgery. He'll 449 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: he'll be back here soon. Uh. We're here each and 450 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, exploding the world of money 451 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: and sports. Join us again. At the end of the 452 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 1: weekends we speak with NASCAR President Steve Helps. You're listening 453 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around the 454 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: world and online wherever you get your podcasts, M