Race car drivers looking to advance their careers but need backing in order to do so will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of professional motorsports from industry leaders at the inaugural “Driver Advancement Marketing Summit” on January 26 - 27, 2008, at Victory Lane Karting Center in Charlotte.
Performance PR Plus, the motorsports marketing and public relations agency best known for representing DuPont Motorsports and four-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon over the last 15 years, is hosting the event in an effort to educate aspiring drivers on what it takes and what it means to be a professional race car driver in a sponsor-driven environment.
Topics include the importance of the media and public relations; web site and proposal content; sponsor marketing and promotions, and what sponsors look to gain from their motorsports investment; driver development programs; and the importance of networking.
NASCAR Busch Series driver Shane Huffman, whose former shyness and inability to effectively communicate with the media and on behalf of sponsors, will describe how public speaking classes changed his personal and professional life.
NASCAR Busch Series driver Randy LaJoie will talk about the personal sacrifices that drivers endure at the top levels of motorsports and why he chose not to advance full-time to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, although given several offers with competitive teams. He will also talk about having something to fall back on in a highly unpredictable industry.
Andy Papathanassiou from Hendrick Motorsports, and Peter Visconte with Roush/Fenway Racing will be speaking about their respective teams’ driver development programs and provide advice for drivers, and information on what teams at that level look for in a driver both on and off the track.
FOX SPORTS, TNT, SPEED TV, Sirius satellite radio broadcaster Matt Yocum will speak about the importance of the media and the dynamics of an interview. He will demonstrate how drivers can put themselves in a bad position very quickly when caught off guard during an interview.
Judy Koubo Dominick served as Tony Stewart’s publicist, then business manager as they moved up together into the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series from the Busch Series. Now a manufacturer’s public relations representative for GM where she interviews drivers from all three of NASCAR’s top series on a weekly basis, Judy will talk about public relations, interviewing and how the spotlight can significantly change and affect everyday life of race drivers.
Lowe’s sports marketing manager, Gray Abercrombie, will give a sponsor’s perspective about what it was that solidified the decision of this Fortune 500 company to become a sponsor at the highest levels of motorsports, the comprehensive nature of motorports sponsorship programs today and the importance of positive exposure and return on investment.
No stranger to the motorsports industry, Dennis Huth’s background includes 17 years with NASCAR where he founded and managed the Craftsman Truck Series, was director of the NASCAR Winston Weekly Racing & Touring Series, and had formation oversight on the former NASCAR Southwest, RE/MAX Midwest Tour and Northwest Tour. In addition, he was president of IMSA and the Trans-Am Series, as well as many years spent as owner and promoter of several racetracks in Oregon and Northern California. Huth recently purchased ASA, and will be talking about racing at all levels, provide advice and information about what it takes to move from local to regional and national touring series and how to leverage the time in each series in order to receive recognition to advance into the professional ranks. “We get calls and email all the time from drivers all over who are looking to advance their careers but really don’t know where to even begin, ” said Kymberly Brantigan, president of Performance PR Plus. “Ethically, we won’t take their money with the hopes of finding them sponsorship as there are very few success stories out there stemming from cold-calling and obtaining sponsorships for a multitude of drivers.
“But it becomes evident very quickly when speaking to these drivers, that most really need to start with an understanding of the basics of marketing, sponsorships, web sites, image and networking.
“Having grown up the daughter of a short-track promoter, I have always been very passionate about the health and growth of the sport. That’s what led us to invite some of the most credible and well-respected leaders in the industry—who also care deeply about the sport—to give real life accounts, examples and advice about what it takes to advance in motorsports off the track.
“Although we cannot promise that every driver who attends the summit will end up with a professional racing career or a sponsor, what we are promising to deliver is a tool box of useful information from knowledgeable and experienced leaders in the industry that will give these drivers a leg up on getting started as they look to move up the ladder. ”
At the end up the summit, drivers will move from the conference to the track to compete in a “friendly” open karting session.
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