[IndyBound]

Seadog, you will have to add Fry's to your list of places not to shop at on your next trip west, Fry's grocery is also owned by Kroger.

Of course with Manzy gone, talk of the USAC pavement sprints gone maybe SC running at PIR will also go away, I don't know what grocery stores are in Cali.

As far as paint scheme's go, I don't think the Hoffman's will be the only one chnaging before next year. I see more and more sponsors pulling out of all forms of auto racing.

Patti

[FishBurger]

Originally Posted by Seadog I guess I won't have to go shop at Kroger and buy P & G products anymore...for real. I support sponsors that are IN racing.

I'm wondering where, in the Cincinnati area, you're going to get your groceries Gregg. I haven't seen Wal-Mart, Biggs, Meier, IGA, Aldi's or any others than I know of on any of the sprint cars I've been watching. I guess the Pay Less stores up in Anderson, Lafayette, etc. are out as well since they merged with Krogers some time ago. Better get that garden spot tilled up my friend.

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by FishBurger I'm wondering where, in the Cincinnati area, you're going to get your groceries Gregg. I haven't seen Wal-Mart, Biggs, Meier, IGA, Aldi's or any others than I know of on any of the sprint cars I've been watching. I guess the Pay Less stores up in Anderson, Lafayette, etc. are out as well since they merged with Krogers some time ago. Better get that garden spot tilled up my friend.

Valid point, but...There are two Bigg's within a mile of Kroger in my 'hood. I'll go there instead just to spite Kroger for dumping the Hoffmans. And a new Super Walmart is being built. We have two of those fancy-shmancy natural food stores in the area. And a Meijer. Well, maybe I'll do the Meijer thing. I was in there last week and they had a big Marco banner hanging up.

---------- Post added at 04:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 PM ----------

Originally Posted by IndyBound Seadog, you will have to add Fry's to your list of places not to shop at on your next trip west, Fry's grocery is also owned by Kroger. Of course with Manzy gone, talk of the USAC pavement sprints gone maybe SC running at PIR will also go away, I don't know what grocery stores are in Cali. As far as paint scheme's go, I don't think the Hoffman's will be the only one chnaging before next year. I see more and more sponsors pulling out of all forms of auto racing. Patti

Yeah Patti, Fry's was one I saw on their website when I got on there and e-mailed them. Maybe we should all do that.

From the Kroger website - Fry's: http://www.frysfood.com/Pages/default.aspx

The bad part is Kroger throws considerable money at Nascar. Why can't they take a bit of that and give it to the Hoffmans?

[Racerrob]

Thanks for all the kind words of support from everyone! I would just like to say that we had a good run with Kroger and the various Procter & Gamble (P&G) brands (Tide, Bounty, Pringles, Folgers and Sunny Delight) and I thank them for all the support they have given us over the past 10 years. Like many companies in this economy, P&G has cut expenses to position themselves better to survive this downturn. Unfortunately we made the cut list.

Greg, don't feel that you have to stop shopping at Kroger's. There were people inside the Kroger Company actively looking for other partners (brands) to continue the co-sponsoring our team but as of now none have been signed. The decals will still be on the pavement car this weekend but we will debut the new paint schemes at Lawrenceburg for the start of Indiana Sprintweek.

We are actively and aggressively seeking sponsorship for the rest of the season and the following years. We can tailor a program to fit just about any sponsorship level. We are proud to have delivered tangible value for the monies received over the past 10 years and hope we can again enjoy a long term successful partnership with another great company like a Kroger or P&G.

If anyone has any suggestions or leads that they believe may be helpful feel free to email us at team@hoffmanracing.com. In the meantime, with the support of our many volunteers, our team will continue with the family tradition and work toward a 10th USAC National Sprint Car Championship.

Rob Hoffman

RIP "The Tide Ride" and "The World's Fastest Grocery Cart"
:69:

[sprntr]

In the immortal words of Red Foreman:

"AH, CRAP!"

[Redwood17257]

Kind of ironic considering this just came across the Associated Press wire earlier this evening. Nothing against women's professional basketball, but I'll see a hundred dirt shows with the Hoffman car before I'll end up seeing an Indiana Fever game in person. Just sayin'

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Kroger Co. grocery giant has announced a five-year deal to be an official sponsor for the financially struggling Indiana Fever of the WNBA.
Kroger and Pacers Sports and Entertainment made a joint announcement on Wednesday. The deal includes advertising on television, radio, print, billboards and the Internet. Kroger also has a deal with the Indiana Pacers.
Fever co-owner Herb Simon told the Indianapolis Star in March that he is committed to the Fever for just one more year. He has refused to comment since.
Pacers Sports and Entertainment president Jim Morris has said the Fever have not turned a profit the past nine years. He called the Kroger sponsorship a good step.
Kroger is based in Cincinnati.

[cmakin]

Originally Posted by Redwood17257 Kind of ironic considering this just came across the Associated Press wire earlier this evening. Nothing against women's professional basketball, but I'll see a hundred dirt shows with the Hoffman car before I'll end up seeing an Indiana Fever game in person. Just sayin' INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Kroger Co. grocery giant has announced a five-year deal to be an official sponsor for the financially struggling Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Kroger and Pacers Sports and Entertainment made a joint announcement on Wednesday. The deal includes advertising on television, radio, print, billboards and the Internet. Kroger also has a deal with the Indiana Pacers. Fever co-owner Herb Simon told the Indianapolis Star in March that he is committed to the Fever for just one more year. He has refused to comment since. Pacers Sports and Entertainment president Jim Morris has said the Fever have not turned a profit the past nine years. He called the Kroger sponsorship a good step. Kroger is based in Cincinnati.

WNBA. Talk about throwing money down a hole. Some sports marketers need to be strictly disciplined.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by Racerrob Thanks for all the kind words of support from everyone! I would just like to say that we had a good run with Kroger and the various Procter & Gamble (P&G) brands (Tide, Bounty, Pringles, Folgers and Sunny Delight) and I thank them for all the support they have given us over the past 10 years. Like many companies in this economy, P&G has cut expenses to position themselves better to survive this downturn. Unfortunately we made the cut list. Greg, don't feel that you have to stop shopping at Kroger's. There were people inside the Kroger Company actively looking for other partners (brands) to continue the co-sponsoring our team but as of now none have been signed. The decals will still be on the pavement car this weekend but we will debut the new paint schemes at Lawrenceburg for the start of Indiana Sprintweek. We are actively and aggressively seeking sponsorship for the rest of the season and the following years. We can tailor a program to fit just about any sponsorship level. We are proud to have delivered tangible value for the monies received over the past 10 years and hope we can again enjoy a long term successful partnership with another great company like a Kroger or P&G. If anyone has any suggestions or leads that they believe may be helpful feel free to email us at team@hoffmanracing.com. In the meantime, with the support of our many volunteers, our team will continue with the family tradition and work toward a 10th USAC National Sprint Car Championship. Rob Hoffman RIP "The Tide Ride" and "The World's Fastest Grocery Cart" :69:

I can only think of one word to describe this post - CLASS

Thanks, Hoffman Team, for giving us a prime example of how to treat sponsors, even when they're forced into moving a different direction.

Tim Simmons

Damn...And we don't even get to hear Rob Klepper fire off these words one final time:

"...driver of the Hoffman Auto Racing, Kroger, Bounty, Tide, Pringles #69, from Tuscon, Arizona, Jerry Coooooooooons, Jr...."

Since Rob won't be around this weekend, this small, but enjoyable part of USAC history is now gone, sad to say. I just always got a small kick out of the way he says that.

Best of luck to the Hoffman's in finding new marketing partners.

DM

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by Racerrob Thanks for all the kind words of support from everyone! I would just like to say that we had a good run with Kroger and the various Procter & Gamble (P&G) brands (Tide, Bounty, Pringles, Folgers and Sunny Delight) and I thank them for all the support they have given us over the past 10 years. Like many companies in this economy, P&G has cut expenses to position themselves better to survive this downturn. Unfortunately we made the cut list. Greg, don't feel that you have to stop shopping at Kroger's. There were people inside the Kroger Company actively looking for other partners (brands) to continue the co-sponsoring our team but as of now none have been signed. The decals will still be on the pavement car this weekend but we will debut the new paint schemes at Lawrenceburg for the start of Indiana Sprintweek. We are actively and aggressively seeking sponsorship for the rest of the season and the following years. We can tailor a program to fit just about any sponsorship level. We are proud to have delivered tangible value for the monies received over the past 10 years and hope we can again enjoy a long term successful partnership with another great company like a Kroger or P&G. If anyone has any suggestions or leads that they believe may be helpful feel free to email us at team@hoffmanracing.com. In the meantime, with the support of our many volunteers, our team will continue with the family tradition and work toward a 10th USAC National Sprint Car Championship. Rob Hoffman RIP "The Tide Ride" and "The World's Fastest Grocery Cart" :69:

Rob, as always, thanks for the classy comments.

It's just that over these 55 years as a HAR fan, you guys almost seem like family to me. And when somebody leaves my "family" in the lurch, it hurts all of us in that family. I've always heard that when business times are tough, you should market more aggresively, not less. But what do I know, I'm not a marketing guy.

Good luck in the sponsor search and in all the racing endeavors!