ROCKSTAR at this weekends Full-Throttle Race? (2 Viewers)

[Rat]

Holy crap...why isn't this a huge deal, you'll see on tv tomorrow night (if it's not fixed) right behind the tree I see in photos on the lower bottom of the walls are ROCKSTAR banners? How can this be happening? I like ROCKSTAR better and wish they be allowed back in the sport. Let's see if the Grandfather Clause on Energy Drinks get's enacted before tomorrow

 

[Just Paul]

I saw that too..

Although, I seem to recall the Joliet track itself having a deal with Pepsi and having that signage around the track.

 

[Rat]

I saw that too.. Very interesting.

Although, I seem to recall the Joliet track itself having a deal with Pepsi and having that signage around the track.

Last I heard and been told, Pepsi is allowed to be in the sport they just don't want in, because I can't imagine them not receiving any sponsorship proposals.

 

[none]

They are a sponsor of this track. They have signage at this track. Everything is NOT a conspiracy. If Super Chevy had an event here they wouldn't cover up the Ford signs. The TRACK sold the signs. Not NHRA, and NHRA can't tell the track who to sell to and who not.

What will you whine about next?

Alan

 

[scooter]

They are a sponsor of this track. They have signage at this track. Everything is NOT a conspiracy. If Super Chevy had an event here they wouldn't cover up the Ford signs. The TRACK sold the signs. Not NHRA, and NHRA can't tell the track who to sell to and who not.

What will you whine about next?

Alan

Alan,This Is The mater,people whine about the wind blowing the wrong way!

 

[Buns]

I wish it was Red Bull!! I want to see a Red Bull team in the NHRA. Best energy drink going, huge worldwide company, and I can think of some pretty cool designs using their logo and colors.

Somebody do this!

 

[Toby]

I really don't think the 500 people in the stands noticed. What else is going on in PHX? What a joke, there are more people probably in the stands at a chess match of left handed red headed players.

 

[Ma Green]

...and just what's wrong with left-handed, red headed people?????

 

[Ted]

I wish it was Red Bull!! I want to see a Red Bull team in the NHRA. Best energy drink going, huge worldwide company, and I can think of some pretty cool designs using their logo and colors.

Somebody do this!

Red Bull has great marketing people, they all kinds of crazy things.

 

[Toby]

Nothing wrong with them at all. Its just that there are probably not many people interested in watching that but probably more than the PHX race.

...and just what's wrong with left-handed, red headed people?????

 

[Rat]

They are a sponsor of this track. They have signage at this track. Everything is NOT a conspiracy. If Super Chevy had an event here they wouldn't cover up the Ford signs. The TRACK sold the signs. Not NHRA, and NHRA can't tell the track who to sell to and who not.

What will you whine about next?

Alan

Excuse me, you dont gotta be rude to me over it, because it's a very valid question and goes against the rulebook. Many fans are not as smart as you knowing the answer. To an outside fan it violates the rule, but your answer cleared it all up. Chill.

Either way you know Full Throttle has to be pissed about the fact that they can't fix the now competitive advertising that everyone sees this weekend. ROCKSTAR is a genius company to find this loophole, any competing energy drink company who wants in the NHRA just sponsor a track. Alan, if I have no point let's see if the rulebook does not get modified by coke on this issue.

 

[Rat]

I wish it was Red Bull!! I want to see a Red Bull team in the NHRA. Best energy drink going, huge worldwide company, and I can think of some pretty cool designs using their logo and colors.

Somebody do this!

Get the NHRA/coke to lift the energy drink rule. It's really absurd that they would not welcome competition. Then again, they must not believe in it's brand enough that it could beat Red Bull/Rockstar as it would fall right on it's face. That's why they are protected. Red Bull is leaving Nascar, shame they can't come into the right sport.

 

[d'kid]

I really don't think the 500 people in the stands noticed. What else is going on in PHX? What a joke, there are more people probably in the stands at a chess match of left handed red headed players.

Toby... Funny, I married a Left handed Red Head.... and you misspelled Chest

 

[Rat]

I really don't think the 500 people in the stands noticed. What else is going on in PHX? What a joke, there are more people probably in the stands at a chess match of left handed red headed players.

Hasn't PHX always been a poorly attented race.

 

[Toejam]

Hasn't PHX always been a poorly attented race.

No it hasn't been I've been to Firebird many times! Problem is they don't have that Big of Grandstands, 20,000 maybe! But just 2-3 years ago you would see the Pitside pretty full!

 

[jackass]

Red Bull has great marketing people, they all kinds of crazy things.

They do for the markets they care about... the 20 somethings and younger...

F1 is there because they can buy the wins by out spending everyone else... case in point they tried it in Cup and are leaving because they could not buy the championships there....

Cheerwine is working with several sportsman racers and some Pro Mods teams... Pro ranks are out of their budgets.. sent in a few proposals to them for Jack Wyatt.....lol

 

[mltdwn12]

I was at the track all day Saturday and when the TF guys were running the stands seemed packed on both sides.

 

[Silly Savage]

ROCKSTAR is a genius company to find this loophole, any competing energy drink company who wants in the NHRA just sponsor a track. Alan, if I have no point let's see if the rulebook does not get modified by coke on this issue.

A small banner on the wall is not a real threat...I'm pretty sure their name was not on any car in the event and they didn't have a booth in the vendor idway.

I will be working at the finals in the vendor midway, representing a company that is in direct competition with the a company who sponsors the track....

 

[Lori]

Excuse me, you dont gotta be rude to me over it, because it's a very valid question and goes against the rulebook. Many fans are not as smart as you knowing the answer. To an outside fan it violates the rule, but your answer cleared it all up. Chill.

Either way you know Full Throttle has to be pissed about the fact that they can't fix the now competitive advertising that everyone sees this weekend. ROCKSTAR is a genius company to find this loophole, any competing energy drink company who wants in the NHRA just sponsor a track. Alan, if I have no point let's see if the rulebook does not get modified by coke on this issue.

Why would an 'outside fan' know the rules? Heck, most inside fans are confused. I was at the race. Saw the sign. Didn't make any difference to me one way or the other. Honestly didn't even give it a second thought.

 

[vegasnitro]

Get the NHRA/coke to lift the energy drink rule. It's really absurd that they would not welcome competition. Then again, they must not believe in it's brand enough that it could beat Red Bull/Rockstar as it would fall right on it's face. That's why they are protected. Red Bull is leaving Nascar, shame they can't come into the right sport.

Protecting the title sponsor is good for the whole series. It adds value to the company who is spending big bucks to promote your sport. In return, they should be allowed maximum opportunity to promote their interests. It is not unique to NHRA, AT+T was not allowed to renew their title sponsorship with Jeff Burton/RCR because it directly conflicted with NASCAR's Nextel/Sprint deal. Opening up the sponsorships might be good for a few teams who MIGHT pick up energy drink sponsorships (Monster certainly wasn't impressed with NHRA) but you risk upsetting the whole applecart. Much easier to get a few teams to shake other trees for sponsor dollars than it is to get a partner to foot the bill for the whole series. I am all for the teams getting their hands on as much sponsor dough as they can, just not at the potential risk of long-term financial health of the series. Coke/Full Throttle know there are other energy drinks out there, but for 23 events a year they have a captive audience and TV to add/convert customers. That is the real reason they are here. The message definitely gets muddled if there are 3 or 4 energy drinks on the grounds trying to accomplish the same thing.

And like everything else, NHRA will be in the wrong no matter what. If there was no sponsor protection, and a title sponsor left because they felt they had diminished value because of all their competitors in the same venue, people would be on here complaining about why NHRA would let that happen.

Lastly, Jim Jannard had a good post here on the Mater a couple of years ago about this very issue when Spy sunglasses tried to setup a trailer on NHRA's midway and Oakley called foul. He has spent and forgotten more about these topics than any of us ever will know.

EDIT: Red Bull is leaving NASCAR for the same reason Monster left NHRA, they aren't reaching their target demographic and/or expanding their customer base. It makes it easier for Red Bull to leave because the NASCAR program has not been succesful at all compared to ther endeavors (F1, action sports).