Originally Posted by throb the reason that the woo guys get big money sponsors is because there is WAY more exposure for their product............sad but true.....

It's 'cuz them boys have them big 'ol billboards on top, makes it easy to see the sponsors and numbers so ya can tell who's who... :rolling:

[STP]

Originally Posted by D.O. A few years ago Brad Sweet made national TV, how did that happen??? A local TV station happen to catch the crash and put it on the uplink and the nation went WOW! Then GMA put Sweet on National TV. Al of this only because a local TV shooter catch it and thought it was big, and it was. How many crashes like that does Dean, Jeffk, and myselk have? Lots of them but no network station to uplink it. News stations don't care who wins the race just a crash. I use to take video from 3 nights of racing to the local Indy stations personally for them to use. Once and a while a crash would get played if it was a big named driver, other than that nothing. Racing needs to be media friendly. By this I mean their results need to be sent to the newpapers, TV stations and put up on their websites asap for fans and media. How quick does your favorite tracks update their websites after a race? Another point is what if a potential sponsor would read the message boards???? It would make threm wonder why they would want to spend their money in a sport that a lot of people rip on a lot. :dologob:

You have some very good points, D.O. It's sad that our media think it's more important to show an abandoned puppy named after a quarterback or high school football games than a sport that has its roots here. So much for being the racing capital of the world. I'll bet California stations report more USAC events than Indianapolis. Does anyone know about this?

I had a client that paid $1 million every year to have a tiny logo placed on the side panel of a middle standing Winston cup driver. They did this because they also got a deal on tv time. If someone would start a television station that offered package deals like that, we may get somewhere.

Another factor in getting sponsorship is the cost of racing. It costs so much to run each week that it makes it a strain to find enough $$$ to compete that drivers expect or want $5000 for something that is only worth $500 or even $50. I can't wait to find out what the court rules on the tire lawsuit. I'm sure it will some how get settled out of court.

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by D.O. Cart & IRL have to buy their time on TV for the most part.

CART does not exist.

ChampCar does buy TV time.

IndyCar does not buy TV time. They are paid.

[smbpreformance]

Dirt track does not have major sponcers because short track racers are not profesional enough

[Joe@ScaleSprints]

Originally Posted by smbpreformance Dirt track does not have major sponcers because short track racers are not profesional enough

This oughta get good...

[Kim Rudisell]

Here are just a few tips I use in my line of work every single day....

1. Qualified Prospects: Make sure the corporation you are calling on is a proper fit for you and or your racing team.

2. Don't just show up at the local Ford Dealership and ask if they'd like to be a sponsor. Get a set in stone appointment with the proper person. Usually big corporations you will need to find out the contact information for the district or regional manager, the local managers usually don't have the authority to do anything, and if they say they'll pass it along....they usually don't.

3. Research your prospect. Knowing their business is a huge compliment and can only help you in the long run.

4. Don't take in a "canned" sports marketing campaign. Meet with your prosepct and find out their needs, opinions, concerns, and qualifications of becoming part of your racing team. Then, set up another appointment to present a CUSTOMIZED sports marketing campaign.

Remember, you are selling a business a product, not asking for a donation. Put yourself in their place....after all, when was the last time you purchased a product that you did not understand, need, or want?

Most big corporations operate on a fiscal year. This is very important because most fiscal budgets are set in stone by end of August. If you get in about July, you can get lucky and get "left over" money that they have to spend before the end of the year, or their budget gets cut for the following year.

When presenting your racing team as a marketing opprotunity, it helps to present with Benefits, Not Features: For example:

Feature: I've been the local track champion for the past 5 years....

Benefit: Your business will be participating in an exceptional community maintaince program, as I have been the local track champion for the past five years and are a key feature at local charity events, grand openings, etc....etc....

Which brings me to my next point: Media coverage and press releases are just the icing on the cake. Big corporations want to see PROMOTION! Participate in local grand openings, drive your car in parades and hand out information about that business, offer to unload the car whenever and wherever you can.....there is much more brand exposure and a higher percentage of loyalty and recognition than just a glimpse on T.V. or in a magazine.

For example, I had a friend car dealer in town who was having a race themed sale, he asked if I knew any local drivers who might want to bring their car just for show....well....I put flyers at the payout window and asked every driver there, who had no interest at all....better things to do....how much does it pay to unload the car......I even presented it as an opprotunity for your sponsors....anyway, I have to say Go BECKS! They were the only team who took advantage of the opprotunty, and from what I understand, they might have even got a new sponsor!

Most importantly, don't write off the No's: keep trying. If you have a corporation who said No for whatever reason, keep in touch. Send them a Christmas card, or a picture of your racing team with a note saying "Hope we can work something out next year...."

Didn't mean to write a book....but if anyone ever has any questions PM me, I'd love to help!

[illinisprintfan]

Originally Posted by illiNOISE Sitting in the stands, it's hard to read all the small sponsors on most cars. This is especially true at fairgrounds tracks where the grandstand and racetrack are separated by an old half-mile horsetrack. You're simply too far away to see what's written on the hood or rear quarter pannel of the cars. Sponsors obviously are not going to get much of a return on their investment in that scenario.

You are exactly right about not being able to read alot of the writing on the cars. The only place you can read them is when you are in the pits after the race. Unfortunately, a large amount of the cars are packed up and on the way out when the pit gates are opened. :thumbsdown:

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by illinisprintfan You are exactly right about not being able to read alot of the writing on the cars. The only place you can read them is when you are in the pits after the race. Unfortunately, a large amount of the cars are packed up and on the way out when the pit gates are opened. :thumbsdown:

There are other ways. The company logo on the hood, Bowtie, Big M. I think Hoffman does a real good job for non wing. Also whats wrong with putting a skirt on the side nerf bars (No Ground effects please) You could even mount them inside the bar, thus reducing sheet metal risk.

A sticker? They don't even show up on wings when the stands are 50ft from the track but are visible looking at it.

Gas City lets you go to the sprint pit imediately after the sprints park, The Mod Pit after they are done and the stock pit when they are finished. NOT AFTER THE WHOLE SHOW. Of course they have the areas separated for the most part.

Why don't more tracks do this and get the kids into the pits to meet the drivers, Sit in the car ect.

Chuck, who remembers Lauren's story of her kid having to drive the MOPAR car.

[Gasman fan 50]

The best sprint car years on TV was winter heat years and Thursday Night Thunder. Look what it did. Racing Champions came out with the sprint car die-cast from 1/64 to 1/24 size. Though it mostly was the outlaw cars that got the exposure. Most fast food companies were on the race cars that raced. Car polish companies, oil companies, and for Fishburger Hooters! :applaud:

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by Gasman fan 50 The best sprint car years on TV was winter heat years and Thursday Night Thunder. Look what it did. Racing Champions came out with the sprint car die-cast from 1/64 to 1/24 size. Though it mostly was the outlaw cars that got the exposure. Most fast food companies were on the race cars that raced. Car polish companies, oil companies, and for Fishburger Hooters! :applaud:

I agree, What goes on, on thursday nights? I know it was kinda rough for the teams but them were some damn good shows, People watched and all the teams went to get on TV!

Also the winter Manzanita series held some years back was a whooper IMHO as far as short track racing is concerned! Racing in Jan-Feb, Just what the dr. ordered

Chuck