Martinsville Bullletin • martinsvillebulletin.com Friday, October 25, 2019 • B5 RACE WEEKEND Items/activities banned at • Fireworks; firearms;items restricted by federal, stateand local laws;noisemakers; weap- ons; glasscupsand bottles; selfiesticks. projectiles, tripods andmonopods; umbrellas; bi- cycles; wagons; laserpointers; hoverboards; scooters; drones; flagpoles; skateboards; roller- skates;stickslargerthanpencil diameter.Coolerswith tele- scopinghandlesand wheels. Itemstobesold or traded may not be brought onto speed- wayproperty,includingthe campground and parking lots, without awrittenagreement with thespeedway.Unauthor- ized resale of tickets in,onor aroundspeedwaypropertyis notallowed.Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) maynot be operated on track propertyor withinthe campground without prior writtenpermission. Items thatare allowed • Onesoft-sidedcooler or bag no larger than 14 by 14 inches. Onelightweightbackpack, 19 inchesinlength. Fans can bringinone backpack andone cooler.Cameras, headsets, scannersand binoculars, not in abag,but worn separately

Y overthe neckoronthe belt.

WA Seatcushionscarried

SPEED separately,insulated cups, earplugsand icepacks. VILLE

TINS Code of conduct AR

FM • Avoid unruly,disruptive, YO

ES illegalorthreatening behavior; RT

OU intoxication or impairment re-

Traffic flow at Martinsville Speedway Parking at Martinsville Speedway SC sulting in irresponsible or risky

MAP behavior; throwing objects; fightingthreatening,harassing or taunting other guests;foul, MARTINSVILLE RACE WEEKENDSCHEDULE obscene or abusivelanguage, ToTodadayy SaSaturturdadayy •Se1 p.riem.s2: 5Dr0ivers introductions for ••32pp.m..m.:: naSTSCP5aR00Monster Energy Cup acts,gestures,clothing or •5:10p.m.: Virginia Lottery signs. ••99aa.m..m.:: FanFagangtesatesopopeen n ••99aa.m..m.:: FanFanggatatesesopopeen n truck series race Series First Data 200 race • 1:05 p.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck • 9:35 a.m.: CupSeries firstpractice •Po1:le30Awp.arm.:dQgualianderfyinOugftordoorthsetruck Ticket information • 12:05 p.m.: gander Outdoors truck • 9:05 a.m.: Cup series first practice STP500 Ticket information PLEASENOTE: Allitems that seSerieries prsparactcticeice ••1010:05:40aa.m.m.:.: QuQualifyalifinyingg forfotrruck Series Hall of Fame 200 race Various packages available. Various packages avaiable arebrought through thegrand- ••2:305:05pp.m..m.: tr: uckTrucsekSrieeries finsalfinapralpctraicectice seGanriesderraceOutdoorsTruckSeries 250 • Phone: 877-RACE-TIX SundaSundayy • Ph(8one77-7:2287-37-849).RaCE-tIX (877-722-3849) stand gate willbeinspected.All ••44p.:3m.:0ptr.muck.: TrseucrieskSauertoiegsaraphutogserassphion ••No12on:30.: Fip.nalm.:CupCupSserieriesespraficnalticepractice • 9 a.m.: Fan gates open ••EmEmaiail:l: tictikecktets@ms@martiartinsvnsivillesllepeedway. people entering thespeedway •ses8 p.sim.:on naSCaR Monster Energy Cup ••4:1:4530p.p.m.m.:: QuDralivifyeringIntrfoodur Cupctionsfor • 9a.m.: Fangates open ••2:21:200 p.p.m.:m.:DrDriviverers intInrotroducductiotionnssfor cospemedway.com aresubject to reasonable Se•rie7ps.mha.:uerNAs SCentARer CUPSeries setheriesGanracederOutdoors Truck Series250 haulersenter • 2p.m.: Gander OutdoorsTruck Cufortp seheriSTes P5race00 ••ViVisit:sit:wwwwww..mmaartrtiinsvnsivillleslepeedwspeedaway.coy.comm search.

sored drivers. This also able sources of that cash. six top-five finishes this Role helps showcase their own “If an owner likes you, Sponsors year, and he’s currently in brands and keep the sport sometimes ... they’re fine the final six spots of the From Page B4 relevant with a younger with pitching in a little From Page B4 GOTS playoffs. audience. bit,” said Hill, the Gander “The sponsorship fell in little backhoe service or Although social me- Outdoors Truck Series and his sponsors prioritize line perfectly for us this small company of some dia could be blamed for driver, “but they’re also fan engagement, so Shelly year,” Hill said. “Moving type, he’s got to feel good putting a dent in racing’s not going to go broke do- strives to ensure her over to HRE, I’ve done about it,” said Peyton Sell- attendance, those same ing it.” brother has a strong social nothing different as a driv- ers, a Danville-based late digital channels can also media presence. er. I’m just in that much model racer. “He’s got to be used as a means to Words to live by “I don’t think anybody better of equipment, and understand it may not be secure sponsorship. At the crux of motors- ever doesn’t need (the I’m able to go show what a direct return on it, but Paris said it’s not uncom- ports sponsorship is the help), to be honest, espe- I can do with this good of you’re helping somebody mon for racers to tag premise of brand loyalty cially in today’s world,” equipment.” that needs some help, and brands and businesses HRE / DaYlOn BaRR PHOtOgRaPHY on the part of the fans. Shelly said of her role in Raw talent won’t lead Hill you enjoy going to watch they do business with in during the Buckle Racing fans are histori- her brother’s racing career. to where he really wants these cars go around in social content in hopes of Up In Your Truck 225 at Ken- cally fiercely loyal to their “You have all these series, to be, though. He would circles.” catching their eye. tucky Motor Speedway on favorite drivers and the and right now everybody is love to be in the NASCAR “It is a great and inex- July 11 in Sparta, Kentucky. brands they represent, fighting for sponsorships Cup Series or Xfinity level. Getting social pensive way to be noticed which has spawned a say- because at the end of the But he may never move up The rise of social media by some of these larger to equipment that can im- ing in the racing commu- day, that sponsorship is without proper financial has allowed racing fans to companies and start a prove performance—like nity: “Win on Sunday, buy what continues the sport. backing. keep up with a driver’s life, conversation,” Paris said. a pull-down rig, chassis on Monday.” Everybody could take all “Some people are just travels, family and races “Probably better than a dyno or wind tunnel. The saying suggests that the help they could get.” stuck where they’re at,” he without having to leave cold call.” “The more sponsor- if a driver performs well Austin Hill, who will said. their homes. ship you have, the more on race day, his fans will be in Saturday’s Gander A common thread among NASCAR, as one exam- ‘Start with a attention to detail you can support the brands that Outdoors Truck Series all racers, regardless of ple, has seen attendance large fortune’ have—whether it’s an- support him the next day. NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 sponsorship status, is that and television ratings dip The joke runs through all other person on the crew “That’s why Ford, Chevy at Martinsville Speedway, they all approach the pro- over the past decade, but levels of racing, but there or another part,” Seuss and have invested knows better than most cess of searching the same social media impressions is a painful twinge of truth said. “It exponentially gets millions and millions of how crucial sponsorships way. One must be able to have soared, according to it. you better as you have a dollars into our sport,” can be to advancing a rac- create personal relation- to Forbes. The way fans “How do you make a little bit more money to try Fegley said. ing career. ships with those from enjoy racing now is vastly small fortune in racing?” to focus on that weekend.” All other sorts of busi- Bryan Hill helped his son whom they ask for money. different from just a few Paris asks. “Start with a Added Sellers: “With nesses have benefited secure a sponsorship with And a driver must have years ago. large fortune.” more sponsorship, with from the same mantra. If United Rentals because he realistic expectations when In addition to showing Racing has never been more dollars, your cars go they can see the return on worked with the company pursuing new backers. his vehicle at dealerships mistaken as a get-rich- faster. You can get better their investment, they are so often with his welding Some sponsors could be and signing autographs, quick sport. In fact, it motors, you can get better more likely to continue and steel construction good for a few thousand ARCA racer helps if you’re already rich. chassis, you can get better sponsoring drivers. businesses. dollars a race or only a few said he now finds himself These partnerships are people.” Ultimately, sponsors Early in his career, Austin hundred. hosting Facebook Live more vital at the lower lev- Sponsorship money also keep drivers on the track, used that money to run “You’ve got to do research events to interact with fans els of racing, where a lack goes toward paying for fans become loyal to driv- about 10 races a year. He going into it and know and show off his sponsors. of sponsorship can mean the logistics of operating a ers and sponsors find new usually placed in the mid- what the limits are,” Sell- “Growing up, if you the difference between racing team. customers in fans. teens—a result of equip- ers said. “In (some cases), wanted a T-shirt of your winning and not racing “Tires are number one, If one segment falls out ment he couldn’t really you’re a lot better off get- favorite driver, you had at all. engines are number two, of line, the whole industry afford to improve. ting 10 $200 sponsors than to go to the track. You “The local guy is travel is number three, will suffer in one way or In 2018 with Young’s Mo- you are (with) one $2,000 couldn’t just go to Walmart the most thankful (for probably,” said Sellers, another. torsports, Hill had a little sponsor because that way or order it online,” Seuss sponsors) because that listing his team’s biggest “It’s twofold: Without more sponsorship money you’re more diverse. It’s a said. “If you wanted to $2,000 somebody gave expenses. “We don’t think sponsors, you wouldn’t be and saw his performance little bit more of a head- talk racing, you went to him would have been about it, but you pay able to race, and without improve slightly with mar- ache to make sure the car the track. I don’t know straight out of his pocket insurance and tags, truck the fans we wouldn’t be ginally better equipment. looks good and prepared that popularity is down as or he doesn’t race,” said and trailer wear and tear, able to get the sponsors,” This year, Hill has signed and having to answer to much as the way we used David Jessey, former vice hotel rooms. Our travel Fegley said. “Without on to drive the No. 16 different sponsors, but by to view it is down. You president of sales and is a very big part of the them, we literally would Toyota Tundra for Hattori the same token, if you lose don’t have to go to the race marketing for Evernham budget.” not exist as a sport.” Racing Enterprises. With one, it’s not as detrimental.” track (anymore).” Motorsports. The funds earned from an upgraded sponsorship To that end, Fegley said The money earned sponsorship is not fun Parker Cotton is a sports reporter at situation, he has enjoyed Parker Cotton is a sports reporter the Martinsville Bulletin and Danville at the Martinsville Bulletin and companies prioritize from sponsorship helps money. Almost every Register & Bee. You can reach him the best season of his Danville Register & Bee. You can a strong social media ensure that drivers have dollar has a purpose, and at (276) 638-8801 ext. 215. Follow @ career. reach him at (276) 638-8801 ext. 215. presence for their spon- top-notch cars and access there are only so many vi- ByParkerCotton. He’s had three wins and Follow @ByParkerCotton.