Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
Perhaps this is old news and I missed it.
But, I heard at Volusia tonight that Oakley will now be the title sponsor of the USAC National Sprint Tour. All of the USAC trailers are being re-skinned and 2008 merchandise is being produced.
Wonder where this leaves Lucas?
Personally, if it brings the money and pays the bills, okay. IMO though, I equate Oakley with glitz and Hollywood style BS. I think of Monster Trucks, funny cars, etc. However, with Lucas, I think of serious racing.
Even though all the information in this post is incorrect in one manner or another, I find it interesting that someone would actually have a bias against one potential "series sponsor" over another. What I find infinitely ironic is that if indeed Oakley had actually come aboard, I am sure it would be in a capacity that the Lucas deal from '07 could only aspire to, and therefore, it would automatically be a more viable advertising partner for USAC in '08. This is a case once again of someone speaking of something they know nothing about on this message board (while presuming incorrectly to know it all), which seems to happen more often than not in this forum.
Also, that this "good ole' boys club" mentality still exists in this sport is disturbing beyond all comprehension. The very idea that a "very hip, very now" product such as Oakley would be a question for some people is EXACTLY what is creating, and perpetuating the dwindling fan base of short track America. Oakley's target audience is the exact target demographic that USAC needs to tap; The youth of America. Because if USAC does not begin to sell itself as an "extreme sport" to the younger generation, as time goes on, there will be nobody left in the stands. It is widely regarded that every year, short track racing's fan base (and USAC's in particular) gets one year older, as we are not repleneshing our sport with younger rabid fans because of a negligence in marketing and appeal to this target demographic. I would vigorously applaud the move if Oakley were to actually become a title sponsor of USAC, because the audience they appeal to love monster trucks, funny cars, flying motorcycles, and hopefully one day, sprint cars and midgets as well. Then maybe the future of the sport would actually begin to look brighter. Because if you look around, the only young people going to the track these days en masse are the youngsters in the race cars, and those born into it. We need to start reaching young people, and we need to do it posthaste, people.
There is no time to waste here. We must turn the tide immediately if we are to survive, my friends. It's as simple as that.
Dean Mills - "We want the world and we want it now!" - James Douglas Morrison, The Doors