Help a poor student out

[Kristen]

Hello everyone. I am new to NASCAR and am actually enjoying it a lot. My ex-boyfriend is a Tony Stewart fan; I haven't found a team to cheer for yet. I started watching because I was assigned to analyze how fans are responding to sponsors of the cars, primarily Schwans and Ken Schrader #49 for my MBA marketing class. I am finding very little online about it and was wondering if anybody could give me some direction or even just personal experiences with fans being loyal to their team's sponsor. Any help would be very much appreciated!!!!

[karl]

The marketing nature of NASCAR is very viral in nature. You will find that most drivers are approachable and very appreciative of the fans. This is changing as NASCAR grows but is what attracted me to the sport. I met Kenny the very first race I attended and was hooked after that race. Being there makes all the difference.
NASCAR fans are very loyal to the sponsors and much more so than many other top sports.

Kenny and Me: (I still drink Bud)
http://www.istockcar.com/about-istockcar.html

karl

[cat-sass]

To this day I will not buy gas from a CITGO station because Jeff Burton used to drive for them! ;)

[CougarJeff]

While I may not get a more positive image of a given sponsor because of their driver, I may patronize that sponsor more. For example, yesterday I went to buy a locking gas cap for my truck (you know why) and specifically sought out an AutoZone because they were on Kenny Wallace's car the night before. I don't think AutoZone is any better than other stores, but I will reward them for sponsoring a driver I find likeable.

Same with Schwans, although I really can't give them my business at this time. Hope this helps.

[2.3 c3po]

You guys are the best. you are the reason that sponsorship really works. And you now are my proof. I have been putting a sponsor sales kit together for our race team and your discussion may be in it if you dont mind. Absolutely positively you have just completed the chain of many events that make a good advertising campain work. These product ideas and logos have reached the most passionate fans in a way that football and baseball doesnt compare. Trust me if dupont could put there logo on Manny Ramerez dont you think they would? As for the advice on finding your first preffered driver, I'd say go with the one who is the fastest the most and have a ball with it because everyone hates the fast guy. You will have controversy flying at you constantly. I am a gordon fan and you know what? Its fun as heck because when you mention that youre a gordon fan everyone gets fired up at you. Then it turns into an all out pissing mach. Gordon this and Gordon that. Trust me! In the right company it can be very amusing waching blood pressure rise.

[Tomokun]

:D This is funny! I'm also an MBA student doing a project. Being in Florida, I thought it might be an awesome idea to do a promotion involving racing. I even have a chance to pitch my idea to marketing company, so long as I have my ducks in a row...

My idea is to do a "Pepsi-points" type offer on the web, but using the type of products that you would typically use at the races. I'm having a hard time with the wish lists though, I'm more of a computer jock than a sports fanatic, though my dad and I followed Rusty. I know that scanners, tail-gating equiptment, and the like would be nice, but as true racing fans, do you guys have any insights you would be able to share? Any help would really be appreciated.

[karl]

I would have it based on the number of the winning car and how many laps they lead. That would produce fewer winners.

karl

[fusion97]

I am very loyal to my favorite driver's sponsors, I use scott's for my gardens because of Carl Edwards, and I use Rubbermaid products because of Kurt Busch.