Watching the Sugar Bowl & Can't Help But Notice...

As a fan of Ohio State Football, I'm sitting watching the Sugar Bowl on ESPN. Most off the BCS bowl game audience will have a hard time not noticing all of the Nissan advertising.  (Barclay field goal, no good - Damn) From the "Nissan Pre-Game Shift" to the presenting sponsor of the Heisman Trophy, the automaker is heavily invested in College Football. I will say as a car guy, dead set on a new Camaro, I find their commercials to be very well done.

Most car commercials can be very bland and look the same. I just wanted to share my thoughts on some commercials you might have watched during the BCS bowl games.

I could just see myself, years in the future, wanting to change my Camaro into something bigger. (Touchdown Posey!)

Pause the video at 11 seconds and tell me you didn't laugh?

Now as a kid, I was taught to play nice. I didn't scratch up my cars (too bad, at least) or break out a saw and chop them in half, but my favorite part is when the kid in the commercial drops the Altima down the toilet. the look on his face, through the water gets me EVERY time. As a NASCAR fan who watches races, the novelty of a new commercial wears off by the end of the Daytona 500. In other words quickly.

Thanks for reading. Halftime. Go Buckeyes.
Follow Me on Twitter @kyleedington

Happy Halloween!

The Iron Man Pumpkin.

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Reactions to the latest NASCAR news

First off, I'd like to point out that this post is also being used as a test for my new phone. It's a really cool toy to play with; one that I hope will encourage me to do more blogging.

I wanted to share a few thoughts on the latest developments in the NASCAR garage. With Monday's announcement of Australian driver, Marcos Ambrose's departure from JTG D. Racing, it seems to be upon a mutual agreement. Today, team officials announced that the seat of th #47 Toyota will be piloted by former champion, Bobby Labonte. I think among fans and the garage area alike will react positively. Labonte has for too long relegated to antiquated equipment and will nkow have a shot at competing for race wins. Fans have witnessed that the #47 entry can compete beyond the road course races where Ambrose is a favorite.

Speaking of where Tazmanian Devil will drive next year, the moment I heard Ambrose may leave, it seemed only natural he would land in a Ford. Ambrose bleeds for the blue oval, seeing as he was a factory driver down under. Ford also sponsored him to come drive in America, so it is fitting to see him return. The only question remaining is which seat under Richard Petty Motorsports he will take.
The signing of Ambrose may be the first of a domino effect in the garage to determine where a number of drivers may go next year. Drivers like Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, and Scott Speed. More importantly, it will lead to the announcement of major sponsor signing of Budweiser (Harvick's RCR #29, in my opinion) or Mobile 1.

Also, thoughts and prayers go out to the Cat In the Hat, JackRoush. After miraculously walking away from a plane crash, he is recovering in a nearby hospital in Wisconsin.

Thanks for reading, as always, feel free to comment, or find me on Twitter @kyleedington.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

There has been a great amount of 'stuff' going on for me personally the last month or two. It's all very exciting.

In that, I've been doing a lot of contemplating on what to blog. I'm reading/experience a lot of great things but have not made time to react. In order to do a better job, I'm working on revamping the look, the feel, ect. My goal is to create more content and and a better feel to my site.

Stay Tuned!

This NASCAR season feels good

Watching all the Speedweeks coverage this week, I just get the feeling that this season could be more exciting than those over the last few years. This opinion is coming from someone who has enjoyed the racing for the most part. Here are a few reasons why I think it should be better:

·         Drivers policing drivers on the track – which will go a long way to making restrictor plate racing the amazing spectacle it should be. Did you see the two photo finishes at the Gatorade Duals on Thursday? I did. That was great racing!

·         Danica – Regardless of personal opinion, yours or mine, she will be great for the sport. Did you know that her ARCA debut saw a ratings increase of over 80 percent?!? You think that wouldn’t benefit every car in the field looking for more butts in the seats and eyes on televisions.

·         Waving goodbye to the Wing – the most difficult part of the new Sprint Cup car to get used too, is going to become a thing of the past. Any room for a COT wing display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame? (just kidding)

·         The fight to knock off the Champ, Jimmie Johnson – Can it be done? Threat Denny Hamlin tore his ACL playing basketball, said it should not be a distraction. Can Mark Martin improve on a spectacular performance from 2009?

Those are just a few comments I wanted to share as I watch the Daytona 500 pre-race coverage. Enjoy the racing season!

Motorsports – Word of the year: Value

While enjoying my holiday away from school, I’ve had some precious time to reflect on my experience in Orlando at the Motor Sport Business Forum. Among almost every session, I found the distinguished panels to keep repeating one word: VALUE.

I want to a share a few memorable anecdotes.

Eddie Gossage, President of Texas Motor Speedway, was asked a question about what his track has done to ease the burden on fans at the track. According to focus groups conducted in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the ability to bring a cooler into the racetrack and free parking are two amenities that set TMS apart from any other sporting option in the region. Contrast that to the new Texas Stadium, home of Jerry Jones’s Dallas Cowboys where it costs $75 just to park a single vehicle!

While some perceive the series to be struggling, IRL President, Terry Angstadt was able to shed a lot of light on American open-wheel racing, which I know far less about. Clothing company IZOD originally began a relationship with IndyCar as an Official Apparel sponsor in 2009. It has since embraced the diversity that IndyCar represents (having a driver lineup far more diverse, with many competitive foreign and female drivers), and wanted to increase involvement. Starting in 2010, the IRL has changed its name to the IZOD IndyCar Series. It will kick off 2010 with a third race outside of the US, on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in addition to races held in Toronto and Japan.

NHRA President, Tom Compton, spoke about the objective of delivering value to four main constituents. First, the fan – through delivering high quality entertainment. Second, the sponsors – using the sport as a vehicle to sell products, services, or promote awareness. Third, the tracks – holding their events provides income, and long-term stability for the series. Last, the competitors – by maintaining the prestige of the series to provide satisfaction and an income.

Susan Lute, from Canadian Tire, title sponsor of NASCAR Canada, laid out four strong points for when a company searches to activate their sponsorship. First, objectives for your plan must be defined. Deviating from those objectives can cause you to lose sight and miss your point. Second, move from “I think,” to “I know.” Third, a company’s goal should invest in a marketing message that reaches 100% of your intended target. Last, this would apply for any working relationship, being excited about working together helps both parties succeed.

To conclude, Eddie Gossage and TMS have worked to increase the value for fans by keeping a little bit of cash in fans wallets. The IZOD IndyCar Series has a more diverse culture, which has attracted new partners. NHRA has outlined who they serve, and strive to meet their goal. Canadian Tire, has outlined their strategy which not only increases value (sales) for the company, but experiences a mutually beneficial relationship working with NASCAR Canada.

These just a few pieces of information I was able to pick up while attending the Motor Sport Business Forum. I hope you find it interesting. Please, feel free to ask questions or leave comments. I look forward to responding to your thoughts and writing more over the next few weeks.

As always, follow me on Twitter, connect via LinkedIn, or email kylecedington@gmail.com.

History-Making at the Motor Sport Business Forum

Having just got back from the Motor Sport Business Forum in Orlando, Florida, I am still decompressing and comprehending all that went on in the 48 hours I was there. One of the very first announcements made at the opening session, promised guests a special announcement at the Tuesday evening cocktail reception, sponsored by The Walt-Disney Company.

As a participant in the MSBF, I was one of a select few who witnessed and awarding of the inaugural Paul Newman Winning Through Giving Award. This new annual award will be given to an individual who shares the late acting star's passion for motorsports and the unwavering devotion to philanthropic work.

The award was presented to Jim France, NASCAR Executive Vice President and ISC Chairman. Presenters included Zak Brown, CEO of Just Marketing International, Simon Berger, CEO of IM2 Events (individuals who developed and created the MSBF event); selection committee chairs Sarah Gurtis, Camp Boggy Creek Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development (a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp in Eustis, Florida) and Michael Brockman, Newman's former racing teammate and actor.

The award was preceded by a video sharing the impact motorsports had on Newman's life and how his philanthropic efforts have changed lives and inspired others to make a difference.

In the years to come, as the awareness of this award grows, the Paul Newman Winning Through Giving award will be one that will be highly regarded and respected beyond the motorsports community.

In my next few posts, I will discuss the impact of the MSBF, and touch on some topics/points made speakers, and other thoughts I on the great event.
Please feel free to leave comments, as I would love to discuss your opinions and hear more from readers.