[Chris1529]

I think the comment Oclk Dlux wrote about his parents only recognizing John Force's name when they associated it with Castrol. If you look at the most recognizable names in Nascar, they have been associated with the same brand for longer periods of time. Look at the frenzy that was created with Dale Jr when it was announced he wasn't going to have Budweiser as a sponsor. It led to a live telecast to announce his new sponsors!

I think that Force is clearly the most recognizable name in drag racing. The show driving Force has probably alerted more folks from non-racing arenas to know his name as well just because of the "drama" show on TV. People that tune in to see someone "Flip that house" are now introduced to a family that drag races.

I truly believe the best way we as sportsman can promote our sport is to be as friendly as possible when fans come walking through the pits. They need to know that we are regular people that work regular jobs, work on our stuff over the winter and between races. They need something to associate us with.

I think if they know that Joe ABC is a union electrician, or that Sally ABC is CPA, etc. They need to know that we have been racing the same cars for 20 years, or that the motor has 400 runs on it, or that you used to drive it to high school, etc. Naming the cars like was done in previous years can help out as well.
Take a name like "Steel CIty Wedge". You can immediately associate that with someone from Pittsburgh if the car was racing at Bristol or other tracks a far distance from their home. I was at Hagerstown last weekend and it was the first time I have heard an annuncer call my car " The Mountain State Mustang". I only run there a couple times per year, but that could be the difference between someone in the stands saying "Hey, I remember that car from last year" and "I think I remember seeing that white Mustang here before"

It also helps if the announcer is more familiar with sportsman racing and can tell the crowds about the drivers as well as the cars. Whether we are running a crate motor car, comp eliminator, or a hot rod or super gas, the crowd needs to know more about the person sitting in the drivers seat. In certain markets, such as North Carolina area for IHRA and the Northeast Division for NHRA, the announcers and the fans get to see the competitors more frequently, and thus are more familiar with the drivers.

In other markets though, such as instances, maybe in the western region of the country, in which competitors travel 8-12 hours to get to a race, names and cars won't be as familiar. I think both sanctioning bodies should put more efforts in telling the fans about the drivers. NASCAR promotes the drivers and their sponsors. They don't promote the cars. Fans can assoicate with that. Gear-heads are more interested in the cars that race, but I think casual fans are generally more interested in the drivers and the story that goes with them.