National Guard To Sponsor Mears

[kat2220]

National Guard To Sponsor Mears
Beginning in 2007, the Army National Guard will join forces with longtime Hendrick Motorsports partner GMAC to sponsor the No. 25 Chevrolets driven by Casey Mears in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

"This is a fantastic day for our organization," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "We take an enormous amount of pride in welcoming the men and women of the National Guard and continuing our time-honored relationship with GMAC. These are two incredible groups that share our vision for the No. 25 team and its bright future."

Mears, 28, will drive the new-look No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the car's on-track debut this February at Daytona Beach, Fla. In 2006, Mears became the first full-time NASCAR driver to be part of a winning Grand American Rolex 24 team and was runner-up in the prestigious Daytona 500.

"The National Guard is looking forward to joining the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports team," said Col. Mike Jones, chief of the Army National Guard's Strength Maintenance Division. "NASCAR continues to be a vital component of our recruiting and retention programs, and we believe this new relationship will further enhance our involvement in the sport."

GMAC's association with Hendrick Motorsports is one of the longest and most successful sponsor-team relationships in NASCAR. Headquartered in Detroit, the company joined Hendrick in 1993 and has since been featured in some form on 10 championship-winning race cars, including two as a primary sponsor.

"GMAC remains committed to Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR racing as an important part of its overall marketing strategy," said Barbara Stokel, GMAC executive vice president for North American Operations. "Teaming with the National Guard, we expect to develop a branding partnership that will truly leverage the success of the No. 25 Chevy and its new driver Casey Mears."

The red, white and blue No. 25 Chevy design will make its first public appearances during activities surrounding the Jan. 7 GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. New enlistees of the Alabama National Guard will be sworn in on the field prior to the game featuring Ohio University and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

 

[Eagle1]

That's not real surprising to those of us that went to Turkey night at Irwindale, (sorry it's a bit blurry

) He had the uniform and everything.

 

[bumpzter]

IMO, National Guard, Army, Navy, Air force, etc, and everything else paid for with our tax dollars should not sponsor professional sports. Leave that to profit making companies. In fact many top companies cannot afford it these days. Yet it's OK if it's tax dollars? Are we not deep enough in the hole yet?

 

[Bucky Badger]

IMO, National Guard, Army, Navy, Air force, etc, and everything else paid for with our tax dollars should not sponsor professional sports. Leave that to profit making companies. In fact many top companies cannot afford it these days. Yet it's OK if it's tax dollars? Are we not deep enough in the hole yet?

I have to dissagree. They are going to spend it on advertising anyways, and this is advertising reaching a very large market.

 

[Whizzer]

Advertising for what ? To join the Army, etc.??

I resent my tax dollars being spent to advertise on a race car. This rates right up there with government spending on pork barrel politics and boondoggles.

 

[Betsy]

And me?

Of all the ways I can see to spend the advertising money, this is the best for me. At least more folks are sharing in the money than just the tv advertisements..
Not to mention the guys in the Guard have someone to call their own to root for. I'f far rather the money was wasted on racing than given to the UN! Sure we all know at least 1/2 of all tax money is gobbled up uselessly... So why not allow our sport to gobble up some of it?
Betsy

 

[MultiMatic]

So the military should not use print radio or TV ads ? Because thats all they are doing buying time on TV and all the spin off that comes from it . The only reason most people read the words National Guard was becuase it was on a sweet looking midget with a nice paint job .

I am not coming down on this one side or the other but if you want the best and the brightest defending this country as we now have , you are going to have to put your name out there like all the other people offering young people careers today.

 

[Guido]

If any of you have been to a race and visited the dispalys, the ones put on by the military are quite popular.

I remember seeing the Marines using a chin-up bar and having fans participate. The friendly banter that would go on between the Marines and the fans I am sure raised a lot of interest in what the Marines are all about and maybe have even resulted in some good recruits. Same thing with the other branches of the armed services that had displays at the track.

Don't know how much having their logos on a car will result in more enlistees. But I think the displays at the track are worth the money.

And it is always good to see ceremonies honoring our armed forces at the races along with giving some of our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen a chance to attend a race.

I can't say how much sucess the programs have in getting new recruits but seeing how our military has been banned from some college campuses and the slow dismantling of some ROTC programs on the high school level, I feel that the military needs ways to reach out to potential recruits and at the present time I don't see a problem with the race programs and sponsorships.

 

[Bucky Badger]

Advertising for what ? To join the Army, etc.??

I resent my tax dollars being spent to advertise on a race car. This rates right up there with government spending on pork barrel politics and boondoggles.

Well, thats ok, not everyone understands advertising

 

[Whizzer]

Well, thats ok, not everyone understands advertising

Bucky, you got that right !!!!! Advertising certainly is a tough business to understand.

I absolutely do not claim to know a whole lot about advertising but do have some personal experience.

Was selected as advertising and campaign manager in four political campaigns (one municipal, two county, one state), with each candidate represented being elected.

Did all promoting and advertising of five different businesses over a thirty year time period.
One advertising campaign I was solely responsible for from concept to completion, won two national awards and rapidly increased sales of a starting company making them profitable within the first six months.

As mentioned previously, I do not know a whole lot and realize there are many who do not understand advertising, but my efforts in the field have been successful. Maybe not Madison Avenue succcessful, but good enough to win two national awards and to provide retirement at age fifty.

After retiring in 1987, became "un-retired" and worked six years in advertising with an international pharmaceutical corporation, from 1988 'til '92, at which time I retired, again.


Oh, almost forgot. Despite my lack of advertising knowledge, still resent my tax dollar being used to advertise the armed forces on a race car.

 

[Bucky Badger]

Sorry you resent it Whizzer, But with all the success and and achievements you have accomplished in you life time of advertising, you can see how this would benifit getting recruits, instead of throwing on crappy commercial that are not interesting. At least this may grab attention for some younger kids. If it was not a success I don't think they would keep it going.

 

[kat2220]

Advertising IS what helps the GNP, NASCAR, Santa and TV! Do I like my tax pennies (to put a perspective on it from what the gvt showers me with ) going to our Armed Forces? HELL YES!
On the other hand, the homeless, children, abused pets, my kids and yours, and even ME need help that we're NOT getting.
Let's face it, our armed forces support US and OUR FREEDOM of speech, NOT the freekin DIXIE CHICKS!
GOD BLESS THEM ALL, EACH AND EVERY ONE, but get your butts home soon.
This is turning a bunch political, but I'm not one to pretend to be PC.

 

[bumpzter]

..........and the billionaire team owners and millionaire drivers thank you for your support and your tax dollars.


So our Armed Forces need our support. Of course. And so do our Police. Our Firefighters. Our schools.

Here’s an idea. Wouldn’t it be great to have a State Police race car battling a City Police car? Or a Public school car racing a High school car? They all need plenty of exposure and recruits.

What about Medicare? Social Security? Should they not sponsor professional sporting events? What about Welfare? How about Immigration departments? They could really have a cool paint job on a NASCAR car. Very colorful.

Commercial companies, if they can afford it, use their profits to be sponsors and make more money. That’s fine. But if it’s paid for with tax money, they have no business doing so.
Now if churches and religion want to do, and the supporters and donors go along with it, fine. Southern Baptist race car? Lutheran Team? Catholic pit crew? Those are voluntary funds. Taxes are not.

And that’s how I feel.
Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[barelypure]

Now if churches and religion want to do, and the supporters and donors go along with it, fine.

Morgan doesn't race so much any more.
As to the military advertising, they could be using that money to further the efforts in Iraq. Cause you know there are no rebates once the money is allocated to any government entity.