Week 2 thoughts

So I sit here writing this during the rain delay for the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen and realized that even with a delay the sponsors are still getting their brands out to the public (both in person and on Television). At the time that I tuned in a driver was being interviewed in the pits near his car. He was, of course, wearing his fireproof suit, but also a cap with his main sponsor on it. And ESPN referenced him by name, and by who sponsors his car (which I don't remember as it was about 15 minutes ago). I can just imagine that drivers are instructed to do rain-delay interview's in front of their car when possible, which I see tying back to the advertising part of the IMC plan to give screen time to the sponsor to build their brand awareness.

In keeping with the NASCAR theme, there are also promotions that tie in with this sport. At the track the various merchandise vendors hold promotions where the grand prize could be anything from meeting the driver, going out to dinner with the driver and the crew, to winning a year supply of product fom the sponsor, or free tickets to a future event. Away from the track the sponsors may hold different promotions in conjunction with the sale of their product, or a raffle/sweepstakes that consumers can enter into.

The sport has also utilized the subject of our third chapter, New Media, as a way to better connect fans with their favorite driver. Through Nascar.com fans can subscribe to Trackpass Scanner, Trackpass Pit Command, or Trackpass Race View, as ways they can feel closer to the action.

It sounds like they are planning on getting the race in as soon as the track dries off. Hope it's a good race for those in our cloass who follow the sport