About Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is a group of NASCAR racing teams owned and operated by Joe Gibbs. JGR first started racing on the NASCAR circuit in 1991. The teams race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Xfinity Series. Since 2000, they have amassed three Sprint Cup Championships.
Challenge
Joe Gibbs Racing does its own AV switching and control installations. They require quick turnarounds on a weekly basis because the haulers are often on the road. With four drivers on the NASCAR circuit, both the cars and haulers travel more than 30 weeks out of the year. And their extensive travel and bumby roads requires the mobile systems to maintain secured cable connections.
Solution
Kramer provided K-Touch, the company’s cloud-based control platform for designing advanced room-control systems. K-Touch was needed to help facilitate video switching in a system that already incorporated the Kramer VS-1616D matrix switcher. K-Touch offered a customized branded interface, easy-to-see keypad and preset names, making the system as user-friendly as possible.
Eight K-Touch systems were installed on hauling trucks and in pit boxes, allowing crews to keep track of races at every turn. In each hauler and pit box, six inputs and sixteen outputs provide high-quality video from any source at any time. Inputs include broadcast feeds from NASCAR and feeds from cameras around the track and inside the cars. There are also several computers displaying data on lap times, track position and weather radars.
Kramer locking HDMI cables were used to secure the connections in the trucks for grueling NASCAR travel requirements.
Results
“With K-Touch, the crews put in their desired sequence for the video and push a button for it to go right to the display they want. K-Touch eliminates the need for crews to call an AV engineer every time they need to switch inputs,” said Jim Foley, Chief Technology Officer at Joe Gibbs Racing.
“The more the pit crews use the system, the more they discover needs for additional presets. It’s always evolving and we’re adding as we go. The crews download from the Cloud and they’re all set. They’re very impressed by the system,” added Foley.
“The crews can pull up the weather radar or other information on the displays quickly if they need it. They don’t need to see the weather constantly, but they can access it as necessary.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
