Once again the creative minds at NASCAR have proven they are far ahead of the rest of professional sports in the United States when it comes to marketing and promotion. They proved their chops by getting millions of people to care passionately about men driving fast and turning left, and now seem poised to take it to the next level.
I'm referring, of course, to the confrontation between Greg Biffle's girlfriend Nicole Lunders and Kurt Busch's squeeze Eva Bryan at Texas Motor Speedway Sunday after Busch bumped Biffle during the race there. The incident, which all involved claim is less than it appears, raises some intriguing possibilities.
You say you're not interested in watching guys drive around in circles at a high rate of speed, especially after experiencing the thrills of racing firsthand while trying to get back and forth to work all week? How about if the spectacle includes the possibility of the young, beautiful and glamorous wives and girlfriends of the drivers bumping and grinding in the pits after their men bump and grind on the track?
Lowe's Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler (can anyone dispute that NASCAR has the best names?), showing the savvy shrewdness that has characterized NASCAR promotional ability, addressed the issue, saying, "That kind of stuff was common back in the old days, everybody was fighting back then, especially the women....it wasn't that big of a deal."
Foxsports.com's own Steve Byrnes raised the "c-word," saying, "The incident has been unfairly characterized by some as 'catfighting'." Perfect! Now every guy who has never cared a lick for auto racing will tune in to see the prospect of these young women or others like them going toe to toe in the pits. Throw in some skimpy clothing and maybe a mud pit or two and the scene is complete.
There's even something for women previously immune to the lure of racing. If you watch Oprah or the daily soaps all week to see the twists and turns of relationships, what better way to spend your weekend than watching racing friends interact in a similar manner. NASCAR vice-president of competition Robin Pemberton, playing up this angle, said, "....most everybody in the garage area is friends, and those two girls in particular have a close relationship." There's that word, "relationship." Brilliant!
Yes, if you look closely it's clear that what initially appears to be an isolated incident is really much more than that, it's an entry into a whole new world of promotional possibilities. Eva vs. Nicole t-shirts, boxing gloves, fan clubs for the girlfriends, who knows where this stroke of genius will lead?
If it works out for NASCAR, it seems only a matter of time before all sports take a page out of their book and explore similar possibilites. Obviously the New York Mets are now kicking themselves for getting rid of Kris Benson. Even if he never pans out as a pitcher, he is still married to Anna, at least for the time being.
Hey everyone, I know it must seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, but it's nothing like that.
I've been busy writing - two full-length novels so far, plus over a dozen short stories - and working hard to try to get an agent. If you are curious and have a few minutes, check out my website, www.allanleve rone.com.
If you're a literary agent or if you know one, by all means contact me! In the meantime, I'll be here when I can - love this forum - and as always, thank you for checking out my blog, especially considering how many great ones you could be reading instead....
