American motorsport fans will soon have a better experience with NASCAR having engaged sports technology company Catapult Group (ASX: CAT) for its RaceWatch ID, a video replay system popularised by the FIA in Formula 1. 

The multi-year agreement, which takes effect this season, will see Catapult’s RaceWatch ID, employed by Race Control and Competition officials across NASCAR’s top three racing series: NASCAR Cup Series, XFinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series. The technology promises to elevate the precision and efficiency of motorsport officiating. 

NASCAR, the largest motorsport vertical in North America, is embracing Catapult’s innovative technology to empower officials to make swift and informed decisions by integrating real-time multi-camera video, race radio communications, positioning data, and telemetry information. All of these critical data sources will be seamlessly synchronised and made available within a single, comprehensive solution. This enhancement is expected to revolutionise the way NASCAR reviews and responds to incidents on the track. 

Catapult’s proprietary software solutions enable both on-site and remote collaboration, facilitating rapid file transfers that enable NASCAR officials to review each incident with greater depth and accuracy than before. The partnership between Catapult and NASCAR marks a significant milestone for the sports technology industry, as it underscores the growing importance of data-driven decision-making in professional motor sports.

“We are honoured to add NASCAR to our customer base of elite teams and leagues around the globe,” said Catapult CEO, Will Lopes. 

“Our comprehensive software solutions and our dedicated employees continue to earn the trust of customers who rely on us for mission-critical decisions. NASCAR is one of the top motorsport organisations in the world. Collaborating with them strengthens our solutions and highlights the distinctiveness of the services we offer.”

NASCAR’s decision to implement RaceWatch ID aligns with its commitment to advancing the use of data and insights to drive more informed decision-making in race control. 

NASCAR now joins prestigious motorsport organisations such as the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which has been utilising Catapult’s RaceWatch technology to officiate and manage races in several high-profile competitions, including the FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA Formula E, FIA World Endurance Championship, and the FIA World Rally Championship. This expansion into NASCAR solidifies Catapult’s position as the go-to provider of sports technology solutions for elite motorsport series worldwide.

For the 12 months ended 31 March 2023, Catapult Group reported $125.7 million revenue which represented a 22.1% increase on the previous year. 

Catapult’s technology is deployed across 40 professional sports and utilised by more than 3,800 professional teams. 

No commercial terms of contract details were disclosed by Catapult.