Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs endorsement contract with Sony
by John Bardinelli 
{ Jun 23rd 2007 at 8:59AM }
Sony recently announced that one of NASCAR's most popular drivers, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., has signed a personal endorsement contract with the company. According to the vice president of marketing and brand development for Earnhardt's JR Motorsports, Sony was an easy choice, as the driver loves racing games, high-tech gadgets, and computers. "We're evolving with him ... as he matures, we have to grow his brand with companies that are authentic to who he is.".Earnhardt will focus on promoting high-def products such as TVs, cameras, and Blue-ray disc players, but Sony promises he'll be pushing games as well.
[Thanks, Chris]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian Von Porter @ Jun 23rd 2007 9:12AM
NASCAR is to racing in the same way that WWE is to wresting.
Atom Ant @ Jun 23rd 2007 9:13AM
PSN users can look forward to playing against rabbid, drunk NASCAR fans in the future.
I am so envious.
Kye @ Jun 23rd 2007 9:41AM
Not to sh*t on anyone's favorite `sport`. But I really can't see the big deal with NASCAR. You drive really fast in what is essentially a straight line.
F1 is oring to watch but at least the drivers have to deal with corners.
IMHO that type of racing is probably the easiest (dumbest) of all car racing. But like I said, it's just MHO.
You may flame now.
Jake @ Jun 23rd 2007 9:49AM
I wonder how many ignorant and arrogant comments we can get into this NASCAR related thread. I count two.
You can have your own opinion on NASCAR. I hate watching racing on TV. I love going to races. I've been to a ton of different types of races from tractor pulls to sprint cars to motocross to NASCAR. My visit to Talledega was without a doubt the funnest racing experience I have ever had, not to mention the best race to watch.
You didn't have to lock your camping stuff up or put it away when you went somewhere, because nobody would steal it. People were extremely friendly and cool. Our neighbors cooked us breakfast every day. You can bring your own beer to the race. And the race itself was very enjoyable. High speed crashes, lots of maneuvers and passing. The guy who finished 13th crossed the damn finish line upside down in mid air. The whole experience just rocked, now I try to go to one every year. I have found, though, that Talledega is one of the funner tracks to go to.
Basically, calling NASCAR the WWE of racing is singling yourself out as ignorant on the subject. Congrats. Now let's see how many other arrogant anti-NASCAR dorks we can get to comment here.
Jake @ Jun 23rd 2007 9:58AM
kye,
NASCAR has road races as well, but they are less popular. One nice thing about a speedway is that you can fit a ton of people in the stands and most of them can see the whole track. At Talladega, there are about 200,000 people watching the race in person, most able to see the whole track or 60% of it at the minimum. It is also cool to walk up to the fence and be 5 or 6 feet away from cars that are flying by at over 200 miles per hour. You can't even see a car go past you that fast. You see it coming, then you see it going.
The challenges of NASCAR, other than the whole pitting aspect, are in passing people, guarding against the pass, and general strategy as far as when to be content drafting and when to make a move, and not getting in a crash.
I will agree that pretty much all racing sucks to watch on TV. You just have to be there to enjoy it. F1 is actually one of the only types of races I've never been to. I'll have to get to one sometimes. But I'd recommend to anyone who likes drinking beer, camping, and watching things go past at 200 mph to get a group of 4-8 friends together and road trip to a NASCAR event. I promise it isn't popular just because people who vote Republican are stupid. It actually is quite the enjoyable event.
Sam @ Jun 23rd 2007 9:59AM
I'm not even a fan of NASCAR and I know where the skill in NASCAR lies.
You don't have any gauges on the car, so you have to know when to change your oil, get gas, get tire changes, and so on.
It's not the driving, it's everything else.
Jake @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:01AM
kye,
NASCAR has road races as well, but they are less popular. One nice thing about a speedway is that you can fit a ton of people in the stands and most of them can see the whole track. At Talladega, there are about 200,000 people watching the race in person, most able to see the whole track. It is also cool to walk up to the fence and be 5 or 6 feet away from cars that are flying by at over 200 miles per hour. You can't even see a car go past you that fast. You see it coming, then you see it going.
The challenges of NASCAR, other than the whole pitting aspect, are in passing people, guarding against the pass, and general strategy as far as when to be content drafting and when to make a move, and not getting in a crash.
I will agree that pretty much all racing sucks to watch on TV. You just have to be there to enjoy it. F1 is actually one of the only types of races I've never been to. I'll have to get to one sometimes. The drivers have to be more skilled in the technical aspects of making corners at a wider range of speeds. I think it could be appreciated in that regard.
But I'd recommend to anyone who likes drinking beer, camping, and watching things go really fast to get a group of 4-8 friends together and road trip to a NASCAR event. I promise it isn't popular just because people who vote Republican are stupid. It actually is quite the awesome event.
A24/48Fan @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:27AM
I agree with Jake's comment and would like to add and educate the few negative comments posted so far. NASCAR has came a long way since the 'good 'ol boy' days and maybe that's what the few here are referring to Jake. Way back when it may have appeared that NASCAR was totally reserved for the beer drinkin', backker chewing, god save the south type of individuals but times have changed and changed drastically too. Technology entered this sport and took it in a new direction. Case in point, Jeff Gordon. In 1995, this talented young man entered into NASCAR scene under the guidance of a Crew Chief that has three or four master degrees in mathmatics, and, he was winning a lot of races. The other teams were left scratching their heads trying to figure out why. Eventually things came to light that if you combine science, technology, and talent you win races. Obviously. 'them good 'ol boys' wanted no part of it at the time. Fast forward tweleve years and now all the other teams have accepted that fact and here we are today. I have been to many races in my lifetime and it's really nice to see whole families attend these events. Maybe a few of you non-belivers should go to a race and see it for yourselves. Times have changed and change is good for everyone. Thanks for your time.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:30AM
Well sony just sold about a million PS3s.
Kye @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:35AM
Jake
Thanx, I guess you have to be there to truely appreciate. I do enjoying watching british Touring Car racing. As well as rallies.
I remember watching motocross back in the nineties as well, that was really good. There was this guy called Mike Larocco, man he was awesome. Anyways, I digress.
Sam
NASCAR sounds alot like driving my own car. I can tell when it need new brakes, tyres, air in the tyres, petrol, oil, brake fluid, coolant or something fixed or replaced without looking at anything as well.
Kye @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:37AM
Need to rest more. Vocabulary, spelling and grammar have seemed to gone to hell.
Kye @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:38AM
D'OH!
Ian Von Porter @ Jun 23rd 2007 10:44AM
What i meant to say is that NASCAR is more about entertainment than actual racing. In the same way that WWE is only about entertainment rather than actual wrestling.
Real wrestling isnt for everyone and it wouldnt rake in enough ratings to justify carrying it. Now, throw in some T&A, flashy lights, convoluted story lines, more T&A, and now you've got yourself a ratings blockbuster.
NASCAR isnt about motorsports, its about entertainment and it succeeds at it very well. NASCAR would be nothing without the promotion, personalities, hype, etc. The other motorsport series have to sell on racing alone.
horngreen @ Jun 23rd 2007 11:21AM
This isn't about Nascar it is about hiring Dale jr to peddle Sonys goods. Unfortunately Dale jr has the personality of a stone and can't "act" or sell his way out of a paper bag, at least to me. But if he can get more of Americas great unwashed to go into debt for an HDTV they can ill afford more power to him.
rom @ Jun 23rd 2007 11:41AM
I hate watching any races on TV. So one of my friends tells me you have to be there to really enjoy it(much like you guys are saying). I found the experience to be even worse than on TV. Not only is the noise crazy, but your watching the same damn thing over and over again, FOR ENTIRE DAY. And most of the people there seem to get a kick out of the crashes. What kind of people are these that love watching a guy almost kill himself. GOD..I wish I could get back the time and money I spent on the whole damn trip. IMHO
Kris (or Chris to Joystiq lol) @ Jun 23rd 2007 11:49AM
As horngreen said, this isn't about NASCAR as much as it is about Dale Jr. Regardless of what your opinion is of NASCAR, those of us that watch the sport are very familiar with who Dale Jr is. He's won the most popular driver award 4 years in a row, he makes millions off of endorsement deals as well as the merchandise he sells. Watch for race fans only on QVC one day and you'll see that Jr can sell thousands of $60+ die cast cars in just minutes!
This is a big snag for Sony because it's quite true that NASCAR fans are very loyal to their favorite driver's sponsors. So, Jr's going to be advertising for Blu Ray players, HDTV's, and most likely the PS3. If anyone person can sell products for people it's Dale Jr, just because he's got millions of fans crazy enough to buy Sony products. And if Sony was smart they would make Dale Jr. exclusive to the PS3 for all NASCAR games even though that probably won't happen.
Regardless, Sony just hired the most popular driver in NASCAR and I can guarentee you people will buy Sony stuff just because of this. If there was a Dale Jr edition PS3 I'd spend another $600 to have one!
dalejrfanfreak @ Jun 23rd 2007 11:54AM
Oh, and I forgot to mention that yes, if you go to a race it is WAY better in person than what it is on tv. The sound of 200,000 people cheering their head off will send chills down your spine, 200 mph is very fast in person, it's incredibly easy to make friends at a race and talk to people as if you've known them for years, for $100 you can spend the entire weekend at the track and see tons of racing and have a great camping experience, but best of all is the racing! 2-4 wide at Talladega, cars bouncing off each other, cars flying through the air and shredding apart at crazy speed!!
Anyone that's never been to a race needs to go to Bristol or Talladega and I can almost guarantee you you'll be hooked.
TK00 @ Jun 23rd 2007 1:09PM
Who?
Grey Acumen @ Jun 23rd 2007 4:07PM
Aw... come on, no one has brought up what a good match this is? Since all PS3 HAS is racing games? :P
I kid, I'm not really trying to bash on Sony.
ferrarimanf355 @ Jun 23rd 2007 4:25PM
I prefer Xbox 360, yet my favorite NASCAR driver is Dale Jr. I'm conflicted...
Oh, and to all the NASCAR haters out there...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-hJFTZe08&mode=related&search=
Let's see an F1 race end like THAT.
Spitkicker @ Jun 23rd 2007 7:52PM
@horngreen
LOL. I agree.
Look I know it is popular (so is American Idol so what does that say?) but I find it boring as hell! I would much rather drive my own car (granted I'm not doing 200mph) then watch people drive in a circle all day. While it does take skill to drive well I can't help but stereotype it as a redneck thing. Sorry, I know it sounds ignorant but fuck it.
Well SONY needs all the help they can get. But all they do is give us 'fanboys' more ammo to throw at their Piece Of Shit 3. by the way I'm wearing flame retardent clothing.
Cuja @ Jun 24th 2007 12:52AM
If you own a PS3, then you might be a redneck.
Burnt Meatloaf @ Jun 24th 2007 2:23AM
It's worth noting that Dale Jr. is an avid gamer, and endorses a number of gaming products. At least that makes him relevant, unlike some sport celebrities. I really don't know why celebrity endorsements work.
That said, NASCAR is all about ads. Formula 1 is far, far more expensive, but the cars still seem to have fewer stickers on them.
Spartan 1308 @ Jun 24th 2007 5:53AM
to Kye:
I don't care about any auto racing, but I would say drag racing would be the simplest as you drive in a straight line for a fairly short distance.
spitkickerluvsmanmeat @ Jun 24th 2007 9:14AM
21 I know it sounds ignorant
At least you admit what a ignorant piece of shit you are...Congrats asshole.
Jamesology @ Jun 24th 2007 10:15PM
@ 22
If you own a PS3 you may be a redneck but by the looks of it Caucasian Wii owners are desperate to be us Japanese ppl. Why are you ppl still looking at what we buy with sales figures. So what if we love our Nintendo STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM US YOU OBSESSED FREAKS!
la li lu le lo @ Jun 24th 2007 11:28PM
So its just about confirmed that Sony is dangling from
the ropes with regards to the PS3 sales and their ravishing earnings report. I guess it couldn't hurt to desperately try to advertise in anything they may have missed before. But how many millions of Sony products do they estimate will fly off the shelves by advertising in NASCAR? I mean, just because rednecks looove watching the NASCAR racing wrecks and drinking American mistery liquid, I mean, beer, while they're at it, does not mean that maybe most of them don't know that the extra expensive Sony product's quality has been residing down the latrine for over 8 years now. I guess Sony's marketing in NASCAR couldn't hurt more than what they're hurting right now. But what's next? advertising the Sony brand in Cricket games!? or Sunday barrio Dominos showdowns at the corner spot where old Cuban expatriates
throw down at in little Havana, Miami?
Confused @ Jun 25th 2007 4:41PM
I thought he died in a crash...?