IRL: Mall.Com Logs on As Sponsor for Fall IRL Race
30 September 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
FORT WORTH-DALLAS -- Austin-based Mall.com, the premier internet mall developer, has signed a multi-year deal with Texas Motor Speedway to sponsor the fall Pep Boys Indy Racing League event. The sponsorship begins with the Oct. 17 race, formerly known as the Lone Star 500.
"You can find anything on-line these days " even a race sponsor," said speedway general manager Eddie Gossage. "We are really impressed with Mall.com. Theyre a great, cutting-edge company and were glad to have them on board as a new sponsor."
Mall.com -- whose slogan is "Simply Amazing Internet Shopping" -- provides shoppers a convenient and time-saving way to find nationally recognized brand name retailers all within the click of a button.
"Sponsorship of the Mall.com 500 is a good way for us to get in front of a national audience and reinforce the Mall.com message," said Mall.com president and CEO Lawrence Latham. "The race will help us reach an audience that would typically rather shop from home via the internet than spend time going to a brick and mortar mall."
In addition to announcing the sponsorship Tuesday, Latham and Mall.com vice president Tim Smith, were ironically already scheduled to be at the speedway as participants in the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
"We love to be involved with racing any way we can," said Latham. "Weve been planning this school for months now " its sort of amazing that the school and our sponsorship timed out so well," he laughed.
Also announced at Tuesdays press conference:
18-YEAR-OLD PLANS TO MAKE TEXAS IRL DEBUT " Sarah Fisher, an 18-year-old Sprint car and midget driver who passed her Indy Racing League rookie test earlier this year, plans to make her debut behind the wheel of the # 48 Mead Carbonless Paper Dallara at the Mall.com 500. Fisher and teammate Robby Unser are scheduled for testing this evening at the speedway. Fisher, who has been racing since age five, plans to begin pursing an engineering degree at Ohio State University in January.
Mall.com presented Sarah with a $250 gift certificate for a little online shopping. "I figure she spends enough time behind the wheel of a car -- she can do her shopping on-line," said Latham.
TECHNOLOGY ON THE HIGH BANKS " The speedway also announced plans for a rather unique event during the upcoming Mall.com 500 race weekend. "Technology on the High Banks" will host representatives from more than 100 high tech businesses at the speedway, with the goal of demonstrating how technology and motorsports work hand-in-hand.
Computer Associates, one of the worlds largest software companies, will be the primary sponsor. Sprint PCS and Barnhart Motorsports Marketing will also sponsor the two-day event.
"This is a great way for businesses to see how they can play a part in auto racing," said speedway vice president of sales Mike Carrancejie. "Were very excited to be hosting these companies at this one-of-a-kind event during our upcoming race weekend."
Company reps will have the chance to interact with the IRL teams and one another to discuss current and potential roles of technology in racing.
WORLD OF OUTLAWS RACE GETS SPONSOR " Southern Bleacher Company, based in Graham, Texas, will sponsor the inaugural Pennzoil World of Outlaws race at the new Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. The Southern Bleacher Classic will be held Thursday night March 30 and Friday night, March 31, 2000.
"Weve worked with Southern Bleacher since this speedway began," said speedway general manager Eddie Gossage. "All of the grandstands around the 1.5-mile speedway came from Southern Bleacher as will the new grandstands for the dirt track. Its only fitting that the company is taking a more visible role with the fans.
"We sent out a mailer last Friday to our PSL and season ticket holders. By Monday afternoon, we had already sold 400 dirt track season tickets. Also, eight of the 14 suites have already been spoken for. We couldnt be happier with the way things are going."
Individual tickets for the March Southern Bleacher Classic and the October Texas World Finals Pennzoil World of Outlaws events go on sale to the public Oct. 11.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.