Gregg, My wife can go into more details, But i know we had commercials on TV in Northern Ky, and Indiana, also had radio ads all across the region. As far as the big 4 tv stations 5,9,12, and FOX there is no way to run ads there, it cost way to much. I was on the BIG One 700 WLW last sunday talking about the race also. We do alot of advertising and such, never as much as we would like but its what works for us and what we can afford. If the race does get rained out well then your just screwed!! I is'nt as easy as you all think it is. But hey i am not complaining, its fun risking everything you own each week.:2:
Thanks, Dave

Racephoto1, while I cann't speak about the promotion for the Terre Haute race, I can tell you I am in Oswego at this time and the fact that USAC is coming to race August 4th is the biggest kept secret out there. This past Saturday was The King of Wings race as well as the Old Timers Reunion at Oswego, huge crowd with fans there from all across the country as well as Canada and not one word said about the USAC race on August 4th.

Last year the Oswego USAC race started getting press over the winter on Speed Report and Wind Tunnel even though the contract wasn't signed until the end of June. This year not even the track announcers or local newspapers are giving the up coming race any press. That leaves me with just one thought, must be that contract still isn't signed. You cann't blame the local track for not advertising or promoting a race they don't have a signed contract for.

Oswego could have played up the fact that Paul White was a former Silver Crown Champion, he was at Oswego last Saturday running a supermodified and he impressed allot of people that have never had the chance to see him race before like I have in a Silver Crown car. You have a Silver Crown team based out of Oswego what better way to advertise the upcoming race than have them run a few demonstration laps in front of what normally is the largest crowd of the year at Oswego next to Classic Weekend.

Last years USAC race at Oswego drew a large crowd, this year they will be competing with WoO running on August 3rd at Fulton. I know allot of you will say non winged fans won't go to a WoO race and vice a versa. IMO both of these races should be being advertised to no end, of course only the WoO race is. This is a historic week for the Oswego - Fulton area, the best drivers from WoO at Fulton one night and the best drivers from USAC at Oswego the next night, I don't remember that ever happending before.

Racephoto1, I think allot local tracks have gotten away from giving out free press credentials to the local papers and tv stations. They need to reinstate that practice to get there tracks covered.

Patti

I totally understand what you are saying. But we need the sport to thrive, not just survive. I say if we want our sport to grow, we have to think big.

The ads and commercials in IN and KY and the WLW show are all good things, but I think you are pitching your product to people that have already bought into it - preaching to the choir. We need a way to pitch the product to potential new fans. You have the diehard fans already. You'll see the same fans in the stands each and every week. Buy we are slowly falling by the wayside. We need some new fans.

I brought two guys to the races this year that have never been to a race before. Will they ever come back? I don't know, but I'm trying to do my best to help the cause.

I love this sport and want to see it thrive.

Haubstadt typically runs commercials on network TV and several local radio stations promoting their shows. No surprise here.

So...I could go on for 100 pages but I won't......Research shows that it takes 10-12 times for someone to see or hear your ad before they ACTUALLY HEAR/SEE it for the first time. That being said, running 2 or 3 network T.V. ads or ads anywhere that you do not have the frequency is a waste of money. For example, I would be much better off running 100-Cable T.V. ads punching the same people over and over in a small market media that only reachs 5000-15000 people than I would running 20 ads in a media that reaches 100,000.
In today's market, there is so much clutter! On average an individual is exposed to over 900 advertisements a day!!! Think about it, logos and company names on shirts, signs outside of businesses, billboards, radio, t.v., internet, newspaper, etc. You have to do what you know stands out.

NO P/R or Advertising is FREE!!! You may have that perception, but it doesn't work that way. A T.V./Radio station is not going to air results or interviews unless that company is a paid advertiser. Here's what happens, the morning guy on a radio show is ranting and raving about a local guy who won a race at (fill in the blank). Then, you have the director of sales busting in the door going ***??? I asked them to advertise with us last week and they blew me off, now you are mentioning them for free??? (I used to be that director throwing a fit!!!) Happens at every media out there. That is why sales reps and on-air personalities never get along.

I've always compared advertising to a diet. It doesn't work if you only do it once a week or once a month.


The number one form of advertising is Word of Mouth. Research shows that if you refer someone, whether it be good or bad through word of mouth to just 10 people, that the trickle down effect exceeds 3000 impressions. Unfortuntley, people are more likely to spread word of mouth on a negative instead of a positive (like when you have a bad meal at a restaurant, you tell everyone!)

So, those of you who really want to help grow the sport, the best way is to bring new fans to the track, and to tell your friends what a great time you and your family are having. All the other advertising medias are just boosters, but to light a true fire under someone, all you have to do is tell them.

I won't give away all my secrets (I own my own advertising agency, so you have to pay for the good stuff...lol) but all I will say is that Lawrenceburg Speedway has seen a 43% increase in "First Time Visitors" this season, and I can personally say that all of our hard work through our corporate programs, school appearances, advertising, promotions, etc. are paying off!

Kim ...that's whay I have to say about that

P.S. Those of you who say that tracks are marketing in the wrong areas or the wrong demographics to a new fan b/c you don't hear or see any ads, well, think about it, if you are already a fan, why would you or how could you be exposed to an advertising campaign that is targeting a new race fan??????

Is there a such thing as the "wrong demographic or wrong area" Any advertising is good advertising

Amen to that Chris!!!

I was commenting on someone who said that we don't advertise in the right place for new race fans b/c they never see or hear it....well....I guess an example would be if you are a 50+ year old male race fan, you are probably not listing to KISS`FM(Hot AC) to even kwow that we are running a campaign to target someone who is not a race fan.

Kim, I almost resemble that remark. Only 47 But I will never be able to listen to that country crap on a full time basis, Hurts bad enough to hear it every so often. I do hear Limaland & Eldora ads on the radio from time to time, Lima ( WLIO CH 35 ) has been airing it regulary for the Doty which is tomorrow night.

if people are worried about how sprint car racing is promoted,well do something about.take someone who has never seen a sprint car race to track with you.if they don't want to go offer to buy there ticket,its only 10 to 20 dollars.believe me people are not gonna pass up free entertainment,and if you can take a youngster(they get in free or reduced rate).the tracks also should have the drivers stay after the races so the fans can meet them(a little self promotion goes a long way).so instead of telling people how to promote why don't we start in our own homes.

Gregg, We have had alot of new fans this year, more than ever!!
Just look in the stands in turns one and two, and in the first few rows of the main grandstands before hot laps start, its fun to watch them scatter.