Two brothers think they have a solution to teams looking for a sponsor: Let fans be the sponsor. With the help of a good friend they have built a web site: www.thefancar.com to hopefully give a percentage of the 75 million NASCAR fans a chance of a lifetime -- becoming a Sponsor for NASCAR's 2009 Daytona 500 and the 2009 Sprint Cup Series.
"Its simple. Teams need sponsors and we believe at least 1% of fans would love to be a sponsor." says co-founder Bill Lyons. " We realized awhile ago if we could get only 1% of NASCAR fans to sign up to become TheFanCar sponsors, come race day there could be car with TheFanCar.com logo and the names of thousands of fans on it. Our first goal is to get 1,000 fans to pledge to be a sponsor for the 2009 Daytona 500. Once we get enough fan sponsors, we will go to the teams looking for sponsors. Our goal is to have TheFanCar in the 2009 Daytona 500 and then after that the Auto Club 500 and the rest of the 2009 Sprint Cup season. "
"NASCAR fans are among the most dedicated fans in sports. Some fans travel hundreds even thousands of miles to go to a race, some year after year. With the economy in the shape it is, we have decided to offer 3 different levels of sponsorship from $50 to $500. We are all tightening our belts. Some fans will not be going to races they have been going to for years but maybe instead, they will become a sponsor of TheFanCar and maybe even win a ticket to a race," says co-founder Peter Lyons. "We think this will be great for both fans and for this great sport we all love."
The three (3) levels of sponsorship being offered are:
- TheFanCar 500 Sponsor for $500. This is for NASCAR fans who want to be part of the inaugural 2009 Daytona 500 FanCar. In addition to the benefits listed below, "FanCar 500 Sponsor" will have their name on The FanCar Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 car! They will also have a chance to win tickets to the 2009 Daytona 500 as well as receive an authentic "TheFanCar 500 Sponsor" certificate.
- TheFanCar Drivers Sponsor for $250. This is for those fans wanting to be a sponsor, with their name on the car for one of the other 35 races in the NASCAR 2009 Sprint Cup Series. They will also have a chance to win tickets to the race the car is qualifying for as well as receive an authentic "TheFanCar Drivers Sponsor" certificate.
- The FanCar.com Sponsor for $50, you will get to be one of our "Sponsors" for the entire 2009 season as well as receive an authentic "TheFanCar.com Sponsor" certificate.
In addition, TheFanCar.com will strive to provide:
- Invitations to "Sponsor Only" events all season long
- Chances to win free tickets and possibly pit passes all season long
- Access to TheFanCar.com Sponsor Only Site
- Discounts on merchandise
The FanCar also plans on harnessing the power of our organization to give our sponsors discounts and special privileges at hotels, airlines, restaurants, etc.
Co-founder, Peter Lyons, can recall watching the Daytona 500 with his father and grandfather as a kid. "My father was an amateur race car driver who used to go down to Daytona with his family when he was young. He used to tell me about how people used to race on the beach. One of my favorite recollections of my father was when my brother and I brought him back to Daytona in 2002 after he hadn't been there for over 25 years. The whole day he had a big grin on his face. He said, right before the roar of the cars in turn three came our way: "Thank you sons. It's good to be back."
TheFanCar is currently receiving proposals from companies looking to become a TheFanCar Corporate Participating Partner (CPP's) by offering discounts and other rewards to participating sponsors. Companies interested in contacting TheFanCar should send e-mail to partners@thefancar.com.
Press can contact The FanCar at press@thefancar.com.
