From the Track to the Cloud: How NASCAR Manages the Network at Darlington Raceway
Published: August 28, 2024
The Cook Out Southern 500 is a crown jewel of the NASCAR Cup Series, well known for its high-speed competition and historic significance. Held at the iconic Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, the 501-mile race spans 367 laps, pushing drivers to their limits on one of the sport's most demanding tracks.
During Labor Day weekend, Darlington Raceway comes alive, drawing thousands of fans eager to witness their favorite NASCAR drivers in action. Behind the scenes, managing the network at such a major event in a massive, densely populated venue demands cutting-edge solutions—a role that Extreme Networks fulfills with precision, helping IT ensure every moment of this historic event remains seamlessly connected.
As a NASCAR Technology Partner, Extreme Networks enhances fan experiences and boosts operational efficiency at racetracks nationwide, including Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Daytona International Speedway. At the heart of this partnership is Extreme Networks' cloud management platform, ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine, which provides IT teams with a centralized view of each racetracks’ network to ensure smooth operations. With high-speed Wi-Fi deployments and the power of ExtremeAnalytics, NASCAR not only maintains top-tier network performance but also gains actionable insights into fan behavior, enabling the creation of an elevated and unforgettable fan experience.
Turbocharging network efficiency
Extreme Networks delivers a real-time, centralized view of NASCAR's racetrack networks so IT teams can optimize performance and ensure smooth operations. This unified management approach seamlessly integrates cloud-native, legacy Extreme, and third-party devices, allowing NASCAR to elevate the fan experience.
“We are changing the way fans experience the race. Racetracks now have a network that can support adding more amenities for fans. Plus, our venue IT teams have confidence that they can easily monitor everything happening over the network so we can make real-time adjustments and ensure a seamless experience for everyone using a Wi-Fi device. Extreme was a key partner for our overall upgrade.”
Unifying management and automation
Extreme Networks' platform empowers NASCAR with advanced application telemetry and root cause analysis, ensuring any issues are quickly identified and resolved. Automation of recurring tasks and support for scripting languages streamline IT operations, making it easier to maintain a network that's always race-ready. This unified approach ensures that the network runs efficiently, easily supporting both fan needs and operational demands.
Revving up the fan experience
At Darlington Raceway, Extreme Networks plays a pivotal role in enhancing fan engagement through innovative solutions. With reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi, fans can enjoy mobile ticketing, follow live leaderboards, and even mobile sports betting, all from the comfort of their seats. This seamless connectivity ensures that every fan has an elevated race day experience, with more convenience and excitement at their fingertips.
Streamlining operations
Extreme Networks' advanced solutions allow Darlington Raceway to maintain operational efficiency with real-time network monitoring and optimization. This technology provides a deeper understanding of venue operations, enabling the IT team to make quick adjustments and ensure everything runs smoothly, both on and off the track. By optimizing the network, Darlington Raceway can focus on delivering an unforgettable race day experience to fans while ensuring seamless behind-the-scenes operations.
The IT pit crew
Much like a NASCAR pit crew, which plays a crucial role in a team's success by ensuring that the car is running at peak performance, the IT staff at the racetrack is the behind-the-scenes force that keeps everything on track. Just as a pit crew rapidly changes tires, refuels, and makes adjustments to ensure the car's optimal performance, the IT team monitors, manages, and optimizes the network in real time, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted operations during the race.
Both the pit crew and the IT staff work under immense pressure, knowing that any delay or error could have significant consequences. The pit crew's precision and speed are mirrored in the IT team's ability to quickly identify and resolve network issues, often before they impact the fan experience. With the support of Extreme Networks' advanced solutions, the IT staff can perform like a well-oiled machine, keeping the digital aspects of the race running as efficiently as the cars on the track.
Just as a race can't be won without a top-performing pit crew, the fan experience and overall event success depend on the IT team's ability to maintain a seamless, reliable network.
The road ahead
As NASCAR continues to evolve, their partnership with Extreme Networks is driving significant benefits across the board. Enhanced fan experiences and streamlined operational efficiencies are now the norm, thanks to advanced solutions, including ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine, which has revolutionized how NASCAR manages its networks. This unified approach to network management simplifies IT operations, allowing NASCAR to focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional race day experiences.
Looking to the future, the impact of Extreme's solutions on upcoming NASCAR events promises to be even more transformative. With a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, Extreme Networks is set to further elevate fan experiences and optimize venue operations. As technology advances, NASCAR and Extreme Networks will continue to lead the pack, ensuring that every race is a thrilling, seamless experience for fans and staff alike.
Learn more about Extreme Networks’ role as a NASCAR Technology Partner.