Ricky Carmichael – No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Race Recap
Venue: Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.5 Mile tri-oval)
Circuit: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
RACE: E-Z-GO 200 (Race 2 of 25)
Date: March 6, 2010 (130 Laps, 200 Miles)
Start: 12th – Finish: 6th
RACE RECAP:
Sunny skies and chilly temperatures blanketed Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) Saturday morning as Carmichael qualified the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet in the 12th position.
Just following the drop of the green flag Carmichael radioed into his crew, “the truck is awesome” as he made his way into the top-10.
Carmichael wasted no time making up for lost ground on pit road. By lap 40 he had worked his way into the 13th spot. “I need it to be freed up on the next stop” radioed in Carmichael to his crew on lap 47. The next pit stop would come sooner than expected when the second caution waved for debris on lap 54.
Carmichael made his way down pit road to the attention of the Monster Energy Racing Team. They changed all four tires, added fuel and made a wedge adjustment before sending the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevy on its way. He restarted in 15th position with 73 to go in the race.
Over the next 50 laps Carmichael used both the high line and low line to work his way up to eighth position. “It is a little free, but we nailed turns one and two,” he radioed into the crew.
As the race winded down Carmichael, running in the seventh position, was one lap from being forced to stop under green for fuel when the final caution waved for debris on lap 113. “That caution could not have come at a better time,” said Crew Chief Mike Fritts.
Carmichael drove the Monster Energy Chevrolet down pit road for the last time. The Monster Energy Racing Team jumped into action changed all four tires, added fuel and made an air pressure adjustment before sending him out in sixth place.
During the final 14 laps Carmichael proved he was here to race with the big boys and scored a sixth place finish. It was Carmichael’s career best finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Kevin Harvick won the E-Z-GO 200. Kyle Busch, Aric Almirola, Steve Wallace and Todd Bodine rounded out the top five finishers.
FAST FACTS:
Carmichael’s sixth place finish in the Truck Series race at AMS was his career best.
The caution flag flew six times for 27 laps during the 130 lap event.
Following the race at Atlanta Carmichael flew to Daytona to commentate the Supercross event that evening. Sunday he hosted the first ever Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross Championship at the famed track and on Monday he will preside over the inaugural Ricky Carmichael University riding school.
Next up for the No. 4 Monster Energy team is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway Saturday, March 27.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: “That finish was huge for this team. After Daytona I knew we needed to finish this race and not take home a wrecked truck. But we didn’t just want to finish we wanted to show them we are here to stay this season. I think we did a good job of doing that. All weekend this team worked hard in practice to make this truck better. We didn’t qualify as good as I hoped we would, but I knew it would be good in the race. To be able to overcome the adversity on pit road and finish as strong as we did makes for a good day. I hate we have two weeks off now, but we will be ready come Martinsville.” -TMS-
Media Contact:
Amanda Jones Ellis
Media Relations Account Manager
No. 4 Monster Energy /Ricky Carmichael
Cell: 731.697.0396 Amanda.ellis@turnermotorsportsllc.com
Ricky Carmichael – No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Race Recap
Venue: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Circuit: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race: Nextera Energy Resources 250 (Race 1 of 25)
Date: February 13, 2010 (100 laps, 250 miles)
Start: 4th – Finish: 29th
RACE RECAP:
The running of the Truck Series season opener in Daytona was delayed until Saturday evening after heavy rain showers plagued the speedway. All action scheduled for Friday was canceled due to the weather.
Thursday evening under unusually cold conditions in Florida, Carmichael cranked out the fourth fastest qualifying effort of the night. His lap of 176.343 earned him his fourth career top-five qualifying effort.
Just following the drop of the green flag a multi-truck wreck brought out the first caution before the field could complete one lap. “The truck feels good,” said Carmichael as he restarted in second spot on lap eight.
Carmichael wasted no time making a move to the front. By lap nine he was challenging for the lead before settling into fifth place by lap 12.
The No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet was working the highline running in eighth position when the second caution waved on lap for fluid on the track on lap 20. “The truck is just right,” said Carmichael as he made his way down pit road to the attention of his team. The Monster Energy Racing Team jumped into action changing all four tires and adding two cans of racing fuel. Carmichael restarted in fifth position after picking up two spots on pit road due to the fast work of his pit crew.
Just as the race was playing into the hands of the Monster Energy Racing Team disaster struck when the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet was being aero- pushed from behind by another competitor. Carmichael was unable to slow the truck down before barely touching the rear of the No. 33 truck. The tap caused Hornaday to get loose and turn into the outside wall collecting Carmichael and others in the process.
The No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet sustained heavy damage to the front and rear of the vehicle with smoke bellowing from the radiator. After taking a closer look at the carnage the team was unable to repair the Monster Energy Chevrolet and retired from the event on lap 32. Carmichael finished in the 29th position.
Timothy Peters won the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Todd Bodine, Dennis Setzer, Jason White and Matt Crafton rounded out the top five finishers.
FAST FACTS:
Carmichael’s fourth place starting position for the Truck Series race at Daytona was his fourth career top-five starting position.
The caution flag flew seven times for 33 laps during the 100 lap event.
Next up for the No. 4 Monster Energy team is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway Saturday, March 6.
Carmichael will be in the booth calling the action for the Indianapolis Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship event Saturday, February 20. Check out the action on SPEED starting at 8:00 PM EST.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: “Obviously, this is not how we wanted to start off the season. The No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet was a rocket ship. I was getting pushed from behind and we had an incredible run going in the outside lane. I had my foot on the brake trying to slow the truck down, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. The next thing I know I was tapping the back end of Hornaday’s truck and turning him into the wall. After that we had nowhere to go. It was an unfortunate night for all of us. I hate it for everyone involved and for my guys. The truck was fast and they knew we were here tonight.”
-TMS-
Media Contact:
Amanda Jones Ellis
Media Relations Account Manager
No. 4 Monster Energy /Ricky Carmichael
Cell: 731.697.0396 Amanda.ellis@turnermotorsportsllc.com
Ricky Carmichael – No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota Race Recap
Venue: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Circuit: ARCA Racing Series Presented By RE/MAX and Menards
Race: Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 (Race 1 of 20)
Date: February 6, 2010 (80 laps, 200 miles)
Start: 14th – Finish: 7th
RACE RECAP:
Saturday afternoon under windy conditions Turner Motorsports driver Ricky Carmichael started his fourth career ARCA Racing Series event. The No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota rolled off 14th and wasted no time making a charge toward the top-10.
The first of six cautions that waved during the afternoon came out on lap six for a multi-car wreck. While running in the 10th position Carmichael radioed into his crew. “It’s tight and then wants to snap loose,” he said. Veteran crew chief, Butch Hylton, agreed and assured his driver the problem would be fixed during the next pit stop. The field restarted on lap 16.
The caution flag flew three times during the next 25 laps for accidents on the track, resulting in red flag conditions on lap 26. Just before the red flag Carmichael radioed in the No. 4 Monster Energy Toyota was handling better. Following the red flag conditions he made his way down pit road to the attention of his Monster Energy Racing Team. They added two cans of fuel and added tape to the front grill to add down force. He restarted in the 7th position.
On lap 68 Carmichael showcased his driving ability when two vehicles in front of him tangled. The Tallahassee native made it through the incident with no damage in the 9th spot.
Over the final 12 laps Carmichael drove the green and black entry to the high line and back to the low line searching for the fastest moving lane advancing to the 7th position.
Coming to the checkered flag Carmichael raced door-to-door with IZOD INDY Car Series star, Danica Patrick, scoring the 7th spot as he crossed the finish line.
Bobby Gerhart won the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Mark Thompson, John Wes Townley, James Buescher and Patrick Sheltra rounded out the top five finishers.
FAST FACTS:
Carmichael scored his best ARCA Racing Series finish during the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Before Saturday afternoon’s event his best finish was 17th at Rockingham last season.
Despite starting in the 14th position Carmichael remained in the top-10 for more than 50 percent of the race.
The caution flag flew six times for 36 laps during the 80 lap event.
Next up for Carmichael is next week’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener at Daytona Friday, February 12. He will pilot the No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: “Our main goal today was to log laps and gain seat time. We accomplished that. But I could never get the car to suck up to the car in front of me in the draft like I wanted. I am confident if I had been able to do that my Truck Series teammate (James Buescher) and I could have hooked up and went to the front.” -TMS-
Media Contact:
Amanda Jones Ellis
Media Relations Account Manager
No. 4 Monster Energy /Ricky Carmichael
Cell: 731.697.0396 Amanda.ellis@turnermotorsportsllc.com
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 27, 2010) – Continuing to show support to a remarkable athlete that over the years has done more to elevate the Monster Energy brand in the world of action and motorsports than any other, the Monster “M” claw will grace the green and black No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado of Ricky Carmichael in the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Joining forces with Turner Motorsports, LLC, Carmichael will compete in the entire 25 race NCWTS.
In the history of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), no other rider has won as many championships (15) and races (150) as Carmichael, earning him the nickname the Greatest of All-Time (the GOAT). He was also a record five-time AMA “Rider of the Year.”
The 30-year-old Clearwater, Florida native competed in 16 NCWTS races last season for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) scoring two top-10 finishes before moving over to Turner Motorsports for the final two Truck Series races of the year, where he drove the No. 31 Chevrolet. He also piloted a KHI entry in two ARCA Racing Series presented by REMAX and Menards races in 2009.
Carmichael will wheel the Monster Energy sponsored truck in all 25 NCWTS events. In addition he will steer a Monster Energy Chevrolet in nine ARCA races, beginning with the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. “Monster has been a sponsor of mine for five years,” said Carmichael. “So it’s really an honor for them to continue to expand their motorsports efforts with me. I learned so much as a driver working with Kevin (Harvick) last year. He encouraged me to make the jump to Turner Motorsports because of the number of races I was going to be able to compete in. I know seat time is the key for me becoming a successful driver. Last season was a great year for me, but I am really looking forward this season.”
“We’re quite pleased to be back in NASCAR and supporting Ricky in 2010,” said Nick Gagliardi, Monster Beverage COO. “Ricky has been instrumental in making Monster Energy the No. 1 energy drink in America, and as we help him to reach his goals in racing, he’s going to help us in the marketplace with an entirely new sales and marketing program we’ve structured around him.”
Mike Fritts, who served as Carmichael’s crew chief in his first stock car endeavor in 2007, will again assume the role as crew chief for the 2010 season. The No. 4 Monster Energy team is locked in for the first five races of the season based on last season’s championship points.
About Monster Energy:
Monster Energy supports the scene. Be it, MX, SX, surfing, BMX, go-karts, pit bikes, mountain bikes, PWC racing, off road, rally, insane distance jumping, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, FMX, skate, rock crawling, wake, surf, snow “name it” seems athletes and bands are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out the types – Original Monster Energy, Lo-Carb Monster, Monster Assault, Monster’s fruit juice hybrids dubbed Monster Khaos, Monster M-80 and Monster MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster and X-Presso Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with Monster Energy’s blend, 3 oz. Monster Hitman Energy Shooters, Monster Import, and the new nitrous oxide injected Nitrous Monster. Everybody running the Monster Energy Mammoth MX will be diggin’ ‘em – so will you. On the Net at MonsterArmy.com and MonstErenergy.com.
About Turner Motorsports:
Turner Motorsports, LLC, established in 1999, embarks on its inaugural full season in NASCAR competition. Co-owned by Texas natives Steve and Sandra Turner, the racing organization is operated out of a 30,000 square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C., which houses two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet entries piloted by James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael. In addition, Turner Motorsports fields part-time entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, with Carmichael behind the wheel and a full-time USARacing Pro Cup Series team with driver Logan Ruffin. For more information on Turner Motorsports, visit TeamTurnerMotorsports.com. -TMS-
MORGANTOWN, W. VA. – MX Sports, producer of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, is pleased to announce the formation of two new and exciting opportunities for amateur riders. The inaugural Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship will take place on Sunday, March 7 at Daytona International Speedway, and on Monday, March 8, Carmichael will then host Ricky Carmichael University, the first public riding school ever hosted by the 15-Time AMA National Champion.
Both events will take place after the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Saturday, March 6, where those amateur families will have the opportunity to see the best stars in AMA Supercross, such as Chad Reed and James Stewart, battle in America’s toughest, most challenging Supercross event of the year.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity for amateur racers to ride at Daytona International Speedway,” said Tim Cotter, director of MX Sports. “Every horsepower buff knows what Daytona stands for. It is the heartbeat of the racing universe, and now amateur riders will have the opportunity to race on these storied grounds and learn from the Greatest of All-Time.”
“I’m super pumped to be involved with this,” said Carmichael, a five-time Daytona Supercross By Honda champion. “I feel like Daytona is one of my racing homes, and to be able to give back to the sport like this will be awesome. You never forget your roots. For the riders, this is an amazing opportunity to race on the Daytona track. I’m really looking forward to sharing my knowledge with them.”
MX Sports will organize the event by utilizing their nearly 30 years of experience operating the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch. The class structure will include 25 classes for youth riders on 50cc bikes all the way up to vet and senior classes. The race will follow a supercross format, using heat races and last-chance qualifiers to seed the field of riders into a main event in each class. Unlike the Loretta Lynn Ranch format, riders do not need to qualify at other races in advance in order to participate in the Daytona event. Full online signup information is posted on MXSports.com.
While amateur riders have competed at Daytona before, the Ricky Carmichael University event on Monday, March 8, is an unprecedented opportunity. The Ricky Carmichael University will feature the legendary Supercross champion and his team sharing exclusive riding secrets during a one-day-only Supercross camp on the Daytona track. It marks the first time amateur racers have had the opportunity to tap into the techniques and skills of the Greatest of All-Time.
The amateur track will run a basic layout similar to the Daytona Supercross By Honda with changes made to accommodate amateur and youth riders. Amateur riders and their families are encouraged to come down early and camp on the Daytona infield, where hookups are available.
“Both of these two events are great additions to our busy motorcycle schedule,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. “Our Supercross course is legendary around the country and it’s a special opportunity for these amateur riders to test their skills on it, as well as learn from a legend such as Ricky Carmichael.”
Full information on the race and riding school is available at MXSports.com.
About MX Sports
MX Sports, Inc. is a Morgantown, West Virginia-based motocross production company. The group coordinates the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, which includes a national qualifying program consisting of 52 Area Qualifying races held annually from February through May and 12 Regional Championship races conducted in June at select motocross facilities across the country. The national championship event is held during the first week of August at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. For more information, please visit MXSports.com.
DC is proud to announce that it has partnered with the Pala Raceway to create the DC Moto TF, the official training facility for DC’s Motocross Team. Located in San Diego County the Pala Raceway is Southern California’s premier raceway and the ideal place for the DC Motocross team to train together and for DC to host its motocross programs.
The choice of Pala Raceway was a simple one, said Brian Cassaro, Director of Action Sports Marketing at DC. It is Southern California’s hottest MX track, has excellent facilities, and it’s close to DC and many of our athletes.
The Pala partnership allows DC to develop a place for its team to train, design and test products, and help with the progression of the team and their sport. The Pala facility will be DC’s third training facility. In 1998, Rob Dyrdek created the first DC training facility for exclusive use by the DC skate team, and in 2002 the DC snow team got a private park to train at when DC-Co Founder and Chief Brand Officer Ken Block, built the DC MTN.LAB in Park City, Utah.
In addition to using the facility as a training center for the motocross team, DC will host exclusive retailer and media events throughout the year. The motocross industry and fans alike will be able to catch the DC motocross team in action like never before.
When we met with DC we knew immediately that the vision DC was laying out would be a perfect fit at Pala Raceway. The relationship between DC and Pala Raceway will have lasting benefits for the members of Pala Raceway and DC’s professional athletes, said Ryan Ouellette, President Pala Raceway. We are excited for our members to see the progression of the facility thanks to the new alliance between our two companies.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Ricky Carmichael attracted a huge fan base while winning motocross race after motocross race, motocross title after motocross title.
That fan base apparently followed him to NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, where Carmichael, who drove an 18-race schedule this season for Kevin Harvick Inc., won the fan voting for the Most Popular Driver award.
I’m among a great amount of talent out here, Carmichael said in accepting the award. I can’t say enough obviously about my fans who voted for me. Everybody in NASCAR, I just want to thank you for all the respect, especially the drivers and everybody that gave me the respect this year.
I know it’s pretty tough for another person to come into the sport who has never really done it to give them the respect. You guys were awesome to me on the track and away from the track. This is a dream come true for me. I’ve always been a competitor, just in a different form.”
The 29-year-old Carmichael seemed a little surprised by the award.
I’m nervous – I feel like a clown up here; I can’t even talk, Carmichael said on stage. It’s definitely special. I’m against some guys that have been doing this [for a long time] and have way more credentials.
“I try to be the best person I can in front of the TV and on the race track and whatever happens at the end of the day is what happens.”
Carmichael will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway this season-finale weekend. The rookie will see the 1.5-mile oval for the first time on Thursday evening as the trucks roll out for their first practice session in preparation for Friday night’s race. Despite his lack of experience at Homestead, Carmichael has competed at seven 1.5-mile ovals this season, with his best finish of seventh coming at Kentucky. In addition, Carmichael has started in the top-15 for each of those seven 1.5-mile oval starts.
REARVIEW MIRROR: During the 2009 season, Carmichael has competed on a part-time basis with Kevin Harvick, Inc., before joining Turner Motorsports for the first time last weekend at Phoenix. In a total of 17 races, the 29-year-old Florida resident has claimed two top-10 finishes, while completing 92.6% of the laps competed (2485 of 2685). Carmichael also has an average starting position of 13.1. Carmichael currently sits fourth in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year point standings, but the first of part-time competitors.
DID YOU KNOW: Carmichael’s best finish of 2009 came at Kentucky Speedway in July, where he claimed a seventh-place effort. Also, Carmichael has qualified third three times this season (California, Kansas, Kentucky).
LOOKING AHEAD: As the 2009 season comes to a close in Miami this weekend, Carmichael will begin looking ahead to his 2010 racing schedule. Previously announced last week, Carmichael has signed a multi-year deal and will pilot a full-time entry in the Truck Series for Turner Motorsports. In addition to gain as much seat time as possible, the GOAT will also compete in 10 ARCA RE/MAX Series races and possibly a few NASCAR Nationwide Series events for the team.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Last week, Carmichael headed to Phoenix International Raceway for the second-to-last race of the year with a new organization, Turner Motorsports. Carmichael and the No. 31 Monster Energy Chevrolet team worked together for the first time at the one-mile oval, as the pair prepares for their full-time Truck Series schedule next season. After qualifying in the 13th position, the Clearwater, Florida native raced inside the top-20 for the majority of the 150-lap race, as the Silverado faced a lack of grip. Even though the team made adjustments, Carmichael fell one lap down to the leaders on lap 79 and finished with a respectable 18th-place finish.
STAY UP TO SPEED: The Ford 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will take the green flag Friday, November 20th at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Race coverage will be televised live on SPEED, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern, and heard live on select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern. In addition, NCWTS Practice can be seen on SPEED, Thursday evening at 6:30 P.M. Eastern, as well as qualifying, Friday at 5:00 P.M. Eastern.
IT’S OFFICIAL: Tuesday night on SPEED’s The Race Hub, Turner Motorsports and Carmichael announced the former professional motocross and supercross racer has joined the organization to pilot the No. 31 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado in the final two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) events of the 2009 season. In addition, Carmichael has signed a multi-year contract and will compete full-time in the 2010 Truck Series season for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team. In an effort to gain maximum seat time, Carmichael will also participate in 10 ARCA RE/MAX Series races throughout the 2010 season.
CARMICHAEL AT PHOENIX: Friday night’s race at Phoenix International Raceway will Carmichael’s first start at the Arizona track. The Raybestos Rookie will see the one-mile tri-oval for the first time on Thursday afternoon as the NCWTS embarks on the track for their first practice session.
TOP OF THE BOX: For the final two races of the 2009 NCWTS season, Carmichael will have a familiar face on top of the pit box – crew chief John Monsam. Monsam will be calling the shots for the Clearwater, Florida native and the No. 31 Monster Energy team.
SEASON IN REVIEW: Carmichael has competed on a part-time basis with Kevin Harvick, Inc. during the 2009 season, running a total of 16 races. In these races, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate has claimed two top-10 finishes, while completing 92.1% of the laps competed (2335 of 2534). Carmichael also has an average starting position of 13.1.
DID YOU KNOW: In his most recent outing at Texas Motor Speedway, Carmichael started from the ninth position and finished in 12th-place, his fourth highest finish of the season.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: For their NASCAR debut, Turner Motorsports returned to the state where it all began 10 years ago. In 1999, owners Steve and Sandra Turner started the newly formed NCWTS team in a shop located in Hallettsville, Texas. Veteran driver Scott Wimmer was behind the wheel of the No. 31 Wolfpack Rentals Chevrolet Silverado, which qualified in the 20th position. After making adjustments throughout the 147-lap race, Wimmer raced his way up to 13th-place as the checkered flag waved on Turner Motorsports’ NASCAR debut.
STAY UP TO SPEED: The Lucas Oil 150 from Phoenix International Raceway will take the green flag this Friday, November 13th at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. Race coverage will be televised live on SPEED, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern, and heard live on select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio Channel 128, beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern. In addition, NCWTS Qualifying can be seen on SPEED, Friday afternoon at 4:30 P.M. Eastern.
X Games 3D: The Movie is a full-length feature film comprised of more than 90% native 3D content that vividly captures the drama and spectacle that play out every year at the X Games. Featuring Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way, Ricky Carmichael, Bob Burnquist and Kyle Loza, the film tells the behind-the-scenes stories of the athletes and the sacrifices they make as they pursue glory and progression on the industry’s biggest stage.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Steve Lawrence (Down the Barrel) and narrated by Emile Hirsch, the film uses groundbreaking digital 3D techniques to immerse sports fans into the world of action sports. Whether racing downhill on Shaun White’s snowboard, flying through the air in Travis Pastrana’s Rally car, or preparing to launch down the big air ramp with Danny Way fans will be at the center of the action and get unprecedented access to the X Games and the iconic action sports personalities chronicled in the film.
“ESPN is extremely proud to join Disney in bringing the 3D experience to action sports fans,” said Ron Semiao, senior vice president, ESPN Films. “The proximity of the cameras to the action combined with the amazing performances by the athletes provides a jaw-dropping, storytelling encounter for fans of all ages.”
The Production
With an eye towards creating the first ever 3D sports feature film the filmmakers set out to shoot the 2008 Summer X Games events in stereoscopic 3D. In order to do justice to an event that is in itself larger than life, the production team had to deploy the most sophisticated and extensive stereoscopic coverage ever seen. 10 simultaneous camera rigs were used, covering 2 to 4 events each day, using a wide array of camera support: From fixed position to shoulder-mounted rigs, stabilized harnesses and multi-axis remote controlled heads, camera coverage was specifically engineered to provide unrestricted access and was customized for each event. The 3D cameras went where no fan could go. Utilizing a miniature hand held, a Polecam and a Steadicam, our 3D cameras followed the athletes behind the scenes and recorded “in the moment” interviews that captured their raw emotion during the heat of the action. The result was roughly 50 hours of native 3D content documenting all the drama that unfolded at the 2008 X Games.
Following the 2008 X Games, led by Director Steve Lawrence and Producer Phil Orlins, the filmmakers created a plan to develop this content into a full length 3D sports documentary by telling the story of the X Games through the eyes of our 6 featured athletes. Between January and April 2009 the filmmakers shot an additional 50 hours of native 3D content with Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Ricky Carmichael, Bob Burnquist, Danny Way and Kyle Loza.
Kyle Loza
Courtesy X Games 3D: The MovieKyle Loza prepares for his close-up.
“I’m excited to be involved with ESPN and Disney on this project,” said Shaun White, X Games and Olympic gold medalist. “I think the style of filming will bring something new to viewers.”
Thanks to remarkable technological advances, Pete Routhier, the production’s Director of Stereoscopy, was able to design innovative stereoscopic solutions that will give the audience a unique opportunity to appreciate the X Games from the athletes’ perspective. People who watch X Games 3D: The Movie will have unprecedented access to the X Games from the Athlete’s viewpoint, in stereoscopic 3D. You will fly with Shaun White, co-drive with Travis Pastrana, stand with Danny Way on top of the Skateboard Megaramp, and much more.
The Music
X Games 3D: The Movie features original music composition from Tobias Enhus. Enhus has provided compositions and sonic landscapes for films such as Traffic, Black Hawk Down, The Mothman Prophecies, Rendition and the TV series The Dead Zone. His most recent projects include creating the score for the critically-acclaimed Spiderman 3 videogame and remix for the blockbuster sensation Twilight as well as composing all music for back-to-back Russian blockbusters, Paragraph 78, parts I and II.
The opening titles of X Games 3D: The Movie feature Peter Gabriel and Lord Jamar performing X Games Without Frontiers, a unique X Games focused revision of Gabriel’s 1980 classic Games Without Frontiers. X Games Without Frontiers features new vocals from Gabriel mixed with a rap about the movie’s six featured athletes written and performed by Lord Jamar. Among his endless accomplishments, Gabriel won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Down to Earth, performed in the movie Wall-E in 2008. Lord Jamar is a member of the hip hop group Brand Nubian and was featured as an actor as Supreme Allah on the TV series Oz.
GOAT
Courtesy X Games 3D: The MovieYou don’t need 3D glasses to see that Ricky Carmichael is the G.O.A.T.
The movie also features an extensive song set from the Grammy nominated Electronica duo The Crystal Method including their 2009 single, “Drown in the Now,” featuring vocals by the popular Jewish reggae rapper Matisyahu. With their platinum-status album Vegas, The Crystal Method has become one of the best selling electronica bands in the United States. Their songs have been featured in numerous films and television shows and they provided the soundtrack for the movie London in 2006. Over the last few years, Tobias Enhus and The Crystal Method have enjoyed many successful collaborations, the first one being the Matrix “Path of Neo” where TCM was one of several artists contributing to Enhus massive scoring tour de force.
Green Day is also featured prominently in the film with a pair of songs, Restless Heart Syndrome and See the Light, from their newest album, 21st Century Breakdown. Additional music from The Cult and Eagles of Death Metal round out the soundtrack.
The Athletes
Shaun White – Defending X Games Skateboard Vert gold medalist; seven-time Winter X Games Snowboard gold medalist; 2006 Winter Olympic gold medalist
Travis Pastrana – Fourteen-time X Games medalist, nine of which are gold, for Moto X and Rally Car Racing; X Games 14 Rally Car Racing gold medalist
Danny Way – Four-time X Games Skateboard Big Air gold medalist and pioneer of the Big Air ramp
Ricky Carmichael – X Games 13 Moto X Racing gold medalist; 10-time AMA Motocross Champion; five-time AMA Supercross Champion; 102 AMA Motocross/Lites Wins
Bob Burnquist – Four-time X Games Skateboard Vert gold medalist; X Games 13 Big Air gold medalist
Shaun White
Courtesy X Games 3D: The MovieShaun White, cross-training for the cameras, with Canada on his mind.
ESPN Films
Launched in March 2008, ESPN Films presents quality scripted and documentary film projects for television and theatrical release. Documentaries include the critically acclaimed and Peabody Award-winning Black Magic (March 2008), The Streak (April 2008), the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival selection The Zen of Bobby V (May 2008), the Sundance and Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival selection Kicking It (September 2008), The Greatest Game Ever Played (December 2008), A Woman Among Boys (December 2008) and the upcoming 2009 Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival selection Kobe Doin’ Work. Motion picture projects already in development include the untitled Jackie Robinson/Branch Rickey story in collaboration with Wildwood Enterprises and Baldwin/Cohen Productions in which Robert Redford will portray Rickey, and the two recently announced films about the life, struggles and triumphs of Jim Jones Jr., and the Louis Mulkey story, about a fallen firefighter and high school basketball coach whose team accomplishes extraordinary things in his memory. In October 2009, ESPN Films will launch a major initiative with “30 for 30,” a celebration of the last three decades of sports timed with ESPN’s 30th anniversary.
About Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (“WDSMP”) is the domestic marketing and distribution arm of The Walt Disney Studios responsible for all aspects of marketing, publicity, advertising, promotion, and distribution for motion pictures released under the Walt Disney Pictures, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures banners. WDSMP also leads the industry in digital 3D releases, having released to-date six digital 3D films, and now plans, with X Games 3D the Movie, eighteen upcoming Disney Digital 3D” films, more than all other Studios combined.
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