Hendrick Motorsports Staying Up to Speed with Panasonic
With a record eleven car owner championships in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports knows something about excelling in high-pressure environments. Being leaders on the racetrack requires a strong organization with dependable technology. Hendrick Motorsports wasn’t always getting the support they needed from their backend technology, said Chris Newsome, director of information technology. “Back in 2004 we had a lot of issues with the laptops we were using,” he said. “We started researching a rugged laptop and came across Panasonic Toughbook.”
The NASCAR environment is a very fast-paced and demanding place to work, and when prior devices weren’t able to keep up, Hendrick Motorsports looked for a product that could stand up to the elements that are to be expected when working on and off the track. They left their old laptops in the dust and opted for the Panasonic Toughbook 52. Featuring a generous 15.4″ widescreen display, a full magnesium alloy case and shock-mounted, removable hard drive, the semi-rugged Toughbook provides the Hendrick Motorsports team with the technology that they need and the comfort of knowing it will stand up to the dirt, varying temperatures and vibrations that are always present at the track.
The Panasonic Toughbook provides support for the Hendrick Motorsports team long before the green flag waves. During the research and development phase, engineers are able to collect data from the track and download it to the Toughbook, then bring the device back to the laboratory and seamlessly reproduce aerodynamic and inertial forces to provide accurate insights about how best to improve racing technology. In addition to the Panasonic Toughbook laptops used as their primary mobile computing solution, Hendrick Motorsports also utilizes Panasonic cameras, electronic displays, televisions, digital signage and professional video products.
“Panasonic has a combination of world-class people and products,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We use their technology across the organization, and it provides the best possible tools in every area, from competition to marketing to IT.”
After being a technology partner for years, Panasonic recently expanded its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports by becoming the primary sponsor of the No. 24 team with four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon. “To maximize the value of a NASCAR sponsorship, you need to partner with proven teams and drivers that exemplify your brand,” said Rance Poehler, president, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon have a record of excellence that is a perfect fit for Panasonic and its Toughbook brand.”
Hendrick Motorsports fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Sprint Cup circuit with drivers Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon.
