Sunday, February 7, 2010

Love your favorite driver? Let their sponsor know!

Since this is pretty much a racing fan site, and is not intended to be a journalistic news source (see my disclaimer), I have no problem discussing racing as a fan, impartiality be damned.  One of the reasons there are lots of good IndyCar blogs with real followings is that they let their passion for the sport shine through.  I would never say there's no place for "real" journalism, but at the same time, I'd rather read somebody's passionate opinion than an article written by a guy who doesn't care, and is just covering motor sports until they get moved up to cover football.

So speaking of IndyCar blogs with a real following, Pressdog had a great idea he posted here, which boils down to a simple idea: If you have a favorite driver, support their sponsor(s).  In his case, that means getting his household goods from Dollar General, who sponsor Sarah Fisher.  That seems simple and obvious enough, but he takes it a step further.  When you support a sponsor, mail them the receipt, with a note explaining that you support them because they support your driver!  You may think it won't matter, but with so much communication being electronic, receiving a few notes letting them know that their sponsorship dollars have yielded actual sales can't hurt.  Sure, your purchase and note won't offset the money it takes to sponsor a race team, but it's a sign that someone is paying attention, and sometimes, that will resonate with the right person at the right time.

So ... do you like Vision Racing?  Have you written them a letter of recommendation (see prior posts)?  Do you shop at Menard's because they sponsor your guy?  Let them know (politely).

If you've shopped at Menard's recently, make a copy of your receipt and send it, along with a polite note letting them know that you support the folks who help support racing, and that you appreciate what they've done to do that.  Be polite, be respectful, and be appreciative.  Sometimes, silly things get noticed and can make a difference.

ATTN: Marketing Dept
Menards Guest Services
5101 Menard Drive
Eau Claire, WI 54703

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