SMT’s Signature In-Stadium and Broadcast Technology Behind the Production Wheel for Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on NASCAR on Fox
Story Highlights
On Sunday, the Busch Clash at the Coliseum returns to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for its centennial, with SMT’s signature technology behind the production wheel for first event of NASCAR’s 75 th anniversary season. SMT will again provide real-time data and graphics support for both the Fox broadcast and the in-venue video boards, satisfying fans’ thirst for content-rich graphics, in-depth stats and a comprehensive virtual graphics presentation.
SMT broadcast technicians will work on-site from SMT’s customized production truck to provide RACEf/x tracking and telemetry information that combines GPS location, timing and scoring, and ECU (engine control unit) data. Used by NASCAR in each of its racing series, RACEf/x creates a real-time race record, providing broadcasters with 3D pointers and 2D graphics, including telemetry, pit and other live qualifying timing data graphics.
New for the 2023 season, SMT will debut its new optical tracking solution, ISOTrack2.0. This upgraded pointer system allows simultaneous tracking of up to four objects with real-time insertion of pointer graphics from in-car or aerial cameras, such as from helicopters, drones or blimps. Additionally, ISOTrack2.0 can supplement the tracking graphics with real-time data from SMT’s GEMStat, GEMLive and RACEf/x systems. Additional graphics will include the Choose Rule graphic, new for the Clash, that display live positioning as drivers pick their spots, and the Race Off Pit Road and Restart Zone graphics.
As in previous years, SMT will continue to provide Team Analytics for NASCAR teams. This application uses RACEf/x data to create a visualization tool that teams use to analyze and evaluate car behavior and driver inputs in a real-time as well as in replay. Through SMT’s Broadcast Analytics tool, Fox commentators can integrate data and telemetry to virtually highlight replays, allowing commentators to analyze drivers’ performances, giving fans a compelling and captivating look into what it takes to turn the fastest lap. The GhostCar feature provides producers with customized mixed-reality visualizations to overlay a virtual car on broadcast video to compare performances from vantage points not available through broadcast cameras, with options to:
- Compare driving lines between rivals;
- Compare live performances of “hot” lap vs. current pole sitter in qualifying;
- Show time gained or lost when cars take green flag pit stops;
- Freeze the field at the time of caution to show running position at last loop crossed;
- Compare drivers’ qualifying laps; and
- Compare a car’s performance on old tires vs. new tires.
In-venue, SMT has configured the video and ribbon boards to display live timing data, leaderboards, lap counts and flag announcements for practice, qualifying and races. Content will also include welcome messages, track announcements, sponsor rotations, and logo loops, with features synched in a choreographed production workflow.
