Popular Indy Racing League driver Sarah Fisher is making plans to drive at least 10 races next year. Fisher is currently
in negotiations with Dollar General and other unnamed sponsors to get back on the track in time for off-season testing.
“The ultimate goal is to do the whole series,” said Klint Briney, Sarah Fisher Racing executive brand manager. “The logical next step is to do all the ovals.”
Briney described discussions with sponsors as ongoing and lively. Fisher, 27, said she is personally involved in all sponsor negotiations. “Sarah is very hands-on and gets the big picture,” Briney said. “No one can sell this team better than she can.”
This season, Fisher raced at Indianapolis—with very little sponsorship—and Kentucky and Chicagoland. Her best finish was 15th at Kentucky. Dollar General stepped in to sponsor Fisher for the last two races after her deal with ResQ Pure Power Energy Drink fell through prior to the Indianapolis 500. Dollar General officials said they are pleased with how things turned out, but have not committed to next season yet. The goal, Briney said, is to get sponsorship deals done by late November so the team can do some winter testing, something it was afforded little of last year.
Meanwhile, Fisher’s crew is working to repair the car she crashed Sept. 7 at Chicagoland and raise funds to buy a second car and transporter. “The car is not totaled,” Briney said. “It will take some time to fix, but it’s not make or break.”
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The biggest problem facing them will be the IRL's capitulation on their ABC TV deal. Moving the vast majority of their races to Vs. will offer very little ROI for sponsors. Dollar General customers - do they even subscribe to cable/dish premium rate packages that actually SHOW Vs. channel?
Their next problem is trying to compete with the big 4 - Penske, Ganassi, AGR and Newman Haas: All teams with top talent and big money. Sara doesn't stand a chance in CART II, and the only sponsor views she'll get are when her cars down on the apron, or on the back of a wrecker. Sorry, but this isn't IRL V.1 or 2 or 3, its CART II and she is NOT going to podium, ever.
Their third problem is a girl named Danica. But you knew that. ;)
More than half the drivers aren't on teams like Penske, Ganassi, AGR and NH. Not everyone expects to win. You can compete with the majority of the other drivers that also don't have the big money.
As for Danica, I shall just reiterate that she is so overrated it's just ridiculous. Put them both in equal cars and Sarah would probably kick DP's butt. It's hard to drive as aggressively as you should when you can't afford a backup car. DP has no excuses other than herself (despite her whining to the contrary) for not winning a competitive race (and don't bring up that sham at Motegi).
I wish her the best of luck. OK Pepsi and Coke.....how about stepping up to the plate?
The earl is worthless.
You are a funny man. Earl is to racing what Booger King is to fine dining.
:w00t!:
These women have added a lot of excitements to the Indy Car Series, as women everywhere are paying attention. They’re also turning the heads of a lot of male race fans.
Casey is confused about the Dollar General demographic which is a savvy, middle aged working woman who cares for the children and also oversees the household budget and has found money saving products at their local Dollar General store.
I believe that we’re going to hear a lot more from Sarah Fisher in the next few years.
Caz Loth
Marketing Director
Vapor Trail Racing
I plan on doing much more shopping at Dollar General if they sponsor her next year.
More Sarah, less Danica. In other words, more class, less a**
As a result...the IRL makes more sense in a tough economy where shareholders question the bottom line results.
HA HA HA HA!!!!!
That's an incredible leap of, well, you can't call it logic. It's a leap though. Off a cliff.
The return for the earl is incredibly minuscule, and it's going to plummet into complete obscurity in ReVersus. Good luck selling that piece of garbage. Someone would have to be as stupid as FTG to buy into that.
Burn earl, burn. :)
PS - $5 million in those stupid cabs still has a massive return, you are making up things and posting them as fact. Ridiculous.
What is the REAL cost to sponsor a race car? How much return do the sponsors get on the investment? Do fans really spend more more on the sponsor product of their favorite drivers and less on their not so favorite drivers' products.
After reading this I'm suprised to find out I'm a redneck hillbilly that subscribes to porn channels.
GO SARAH!!!!!!!
I have driven into turn 1 at a lot less than 200 mph and it can take your breath away...not to mention I didn't have 32 other cars trying to kick my a** to deal with. Bashing is easy...managing a racing series and racing in the series is harder. I takes no talent to write emails.
I hope DG comes through on this one! I'm tired of seeing posters of Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch in my store.. I'd rather be looking at a Sarah Fisher stand up with an IRL background, not Nascar! Go Sarah!!!