Comments on: The Hard Card Mystique

By: John

John — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:10:02 +0000

The cost of the annual credential varies widely depending on what your role at the track is.

Crew Members are the most reasonable. I believe mine (with my license included) was a little over $2300 for 2010. If you work for a marketing agency, it is several thousand more.

By: Jim2

Jim2 — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:17:57 +0000

Great insight. As a former media member, it was usually a rough go just to get ‘credentialled’ for specific events, games, etc…at a professional or large-scale level, which is only one step up (with free food and drinks) from the paying fan (which I now am). The NASCAR hard card is a whole nuther ball game, and is well and truly earned. Given that access, it obviously is very punitive to get it lifted, and should garner respect and the expectation — for the holder — to be of good behaviour while it is in their possession. I see nothing wrong with that!

By: abovetheshop

abovetheshop — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:01:07 +0000

Should point out some of the steps to get the card – like the drug test before the year starts for each hard card holder and therefore the random testing.

Personally, I think they should limit those PR people..most of them are just water holders anyway…it’s about 50/50 to those who actually do real PR.

By: T.C.

T.C. — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:56:19 +0000

steve: Each card has in ID number, and all the team has to do is return the card to NASCAR with the transfer request, and NASCAR will make a new card. It saves the teams money from having to purchase an entirely new card.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:37:28 +0000

How are they transferable, given that your name and picture are on it?

By: RaceDriven

RaceDriven — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:07:13 +0000

You have to love it, one little plastic hard card that says your in or your out from doing your job in NASCAR. Now personally I have never had a hard card, nor would I ever have the need for one.

But the access is unbelieveable, however I have had the paper media credentials, I’ve had to wait in line in New Hampshire twice for that little piece of paper so I could go in and cover the race. That is not easy to get if you want to be on pit road during the race.

I got mine twice thanks to a well place team and corporate sponsor, namely I was a guest of a sponsor to be up at the track to watch a Cup Series race. Its amazing, you have access to the media center, pit road before, during and after the race (by the way, I felt like a giant around Jeff Gordon) and of course the garage area.

If you get the opportunity to be in the garage area on raceday, take it, there’s nothing like it for a NASCAR fan, trust me, there’s nothing like it.

However, for anybody who wants to be in the garage area and on pit road before the race, but must leave one-hour before the race starts, there is access available. Some racetracks have what is called a Pre-Race Pass or another words “cold pass”, I know New Hampshire does. You can tour the garage area and pit road on raceday morning.

But a NASCAR hard card, good luck, I agree thats a career goal for sure to get one and if you work in NASCAR, its almost a must. I know that several media members have one and its gold.

By: Garry

Garry — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:52:49 +0000

DDDaaaaaaaaaannngggg.
It does not get any more insider than that.
Wow, I had nnever heard of, let alone know how much I want a hard card before reading this …… but now …… I really need one, guess that dang ole mystique gotsaholdo’me.

Thanks for another great article, you guys have really been posting some good ones lately.