I’m happy to point out that his primary sponsor this season is AAA. Sponsoring a popular NASCAR driver can be an uplifting experience for either company, leading to stronger sales and bigger profits. Some sponsorships just lead to embarrassing commentary. The late Alan Kulwicki is the only driver I ever knew; at one time his sponsor was Hooters.
Martin consistantly finishes in the top 5 in NASCAR Cup races, he has won 35 of them since the late 1980s and has finished second in the Nextel Cup Series (formerly known as the Winston Cup Series) point standings four times. Today, however, he came in 11th. Jimmie Johnson, the driver I usually cheer for, crashed midway through the race and finished near the end. Thirty-year-old Kevin Harvick won today.
There are at least five other noteworthy boomer drivers in NASCAR. Ken Shrader is 51, Rusty Wallace just turned 50, Dale Jarrett will turn 50 in November, Joe Nemechek has a 43rd birthday this month and Bobby Labonte is 42.
Going into today’s race, Mark Martin was the only boomer in the chase for the cup (the top ten drivers in the points standings are racing for the championship in the season’s remaining races). He’s still in it.
Dale Earnhardt was just short of his 50th birthday and seconds from a 3rd place finish at the 2001 Daytona 500 when he was killed as he slammed into the wall in the last lap. He finished 2nd in points the year before and I bet he’d still be racing now (he’d be 55).
NASCAR is big business these days, and sponsors spend big money for the visibility and association with winning drivers. Fans can identify with the sponsors and feel an additional connection to the drivers. Part of why I like Jimmie Johnson is that Lowe’s is his sponsor. I pay attention to Tony Stewart too; his # 20 car boasts a big Home Depot logo. And Matt Kenseth drives the Dewalt #17. Those are all good drivers and I like their sponsors.
I’m an AAA member and that may be why I feel some connection with boomer Mark Martin. But don’t make any assumptions about his previous sponsor and my interesting in his career.
2 comments:
Heh. I spent yesterday night at Colorado National Speedway, braving wind chill temperatures down into the 30s and watching several races before the weather drove me to seek warmer climes. I happened to see the Sportsmen and was pleased to see a '71 Chevelle amid all the late model Camaros.
It was sponsored by a bail bonds business.
It ran third from last for awhile, then had a problem and went to the pits, then came back, completed almost one full lap before blowing an engine and dropping roughly 27 quarts of oil onto the track and causing a 35 minute stoppage.
Ian
I used to like Gordon when he was about the driving. I don't know what he's about now. The more I learn about Mark Martins the more I like him.
I'm a NASCAR fan but still haven't been to a race. I'm 3 hours from Dover and 3 from Richmond, so I hope to go to one or both next year. I used to go to races in Wisconsin when Kulwicki was starting out. My radio station sponsored his #97 car in the late 70s.
Who do you think will com out on top this season?
Thanks for dropping by.
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