I just logged in to check my personal email and found the following from our team CEO Kevin Buckler’s email to read.
“Hi Team,
TRG Motorsports CEO Kevin Buckler
As you know Bobby will be with us again this week but we are saddled with the unpleasant task of Starting & Parking him. Torrey, Sean & an entire contingent from Boston, headed by our very own Bruce L. have been on the case trying to drum up sponsor dollars.
As we about were ready to call the deal dead, RJ came up with a $25,000 sponsor that could also be a BIG deal for next year. I am sniffing with TaxSlayer on a really skinny deal for them to take the hood but I am not sure yet, There are a few 10K guys out there that we are talking to & Pete said to tell him if we get close as he will put something on the car & cover the final part
If you guys know of anyone at all, that we could involve, this will generate HUGE press as we already delivered a great result with Bobby in the car at Atlanta & made his last team look bad. (Torrey & I are meeting with that sponsor on Monday–fyi)
It needs to be the consortium that jumped in & saved Bobby Labonte from the Start & Park hell!! We need to raise 100K & I think we less than $75k away….Let me know if I can call anyone of put a quicky proposal together!!! We can sell this hood cheap.
Thx guys - Kevin”
Then I paged down to Chief Marketing Officer at TRG Motorsports, Torrey Galida’s note which said,
TaxSlayer.Com #71 Sprint Cup Car
“Hi Bruce,
Good news, bad news. UPDATE: We are about three quarters of the way to raising enough money to race Bobby Labonte this weekend, but we are still $25,000 short.
As we were about ready to call the deal dead, we came up with an associate sponsor that could also be a BIG deal for next year. We have a few irons in the fire for the last $25K, but nothing concrete yet.
If you know of anyone at all, that we could involve, this will generate HUGE press as we already delivered a great result with Bobby in the car at Atlanta. The story will be that 3 heroic companies stepped in to save the day and allow Bobby to keep his streak of 571 consecutive starts alive. It is going to be a great story. We will plug it in every interview and on our site, Bobby’s site, and his facebook page.
Kevin Buckler & Bobby Labonte - TRG Motorsports
Let me know if we need to contact anyone. Graphics & tickets & hospitality for this race or for others will be available to help close it!!!”
It’s so fascinating to me that we can have all of the components, all of the people, all of the skill to field a top 20 car in Sprint Cup but can’t find a sponsor. Just 3 years ago there were 3 Fortune 100 companies that couldn’t find a team…now there are 10 teams that can’t find a company. What’s more - the major teams are merging left, right and center under the guise of pooling information, however, it’s obvious to see that the real issue is a struggle to stay alive, consolidate, look for efficiencies and cut the fat.
I guess that’s why we are theorizing that there is a paradigm shift underway. Here’s my take on it, I’d love your feedback…..and as a team owner, an introduction to anyone you think that might find leverage in this massive opportunity.
Until then - it’s up to the track today to see the qualifying.
Loose Bruce
TRG Motorsports Limited Partner
Thank you so much for getting behind a champion driver like Bobby Labonte. As a longtime fan(since 1996), I love that you cared enough to keep his streak alive and worked tirelessly to avoid the dreaded “Start and Park”. The fans appreciate it!!!! To see him happy and smiling, well, it makes us feel good too!!!!
WTG!!!!
As a Bobby Labonte fan, I feel so honored that you cared enough to come to the rescue of someone WE care so much about; to keep him on the track & keep his streak alive. We DO truly appreciate what you are doing for a true Champion like Bobby. You may also have no idea how much you are doing for US, his FANS, as well! We cannot thank you enough!!!
All the best!
you just got yourself a place in my bookmarks