Vertis Scores Big on Turn (Two) Times —Cagle

EVER SAT down to watch a NASCAR event? Many people can’t bear the thought of watching cars going around and around in a circle, as the criticism goes, and often the weekly race is about as exciting as watching freeway traffic. But for those who enjoy the pit strategy—such as the nuances of how to garner the slightest increase in horsepower—and feed off the melodrama that ensues when drivers invariably aggravate their fellow competitors by cutting them off, it’s a nice way to burn four hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Even if you don’t care to watch auto racing and scoff at the idea of drivers being called athletes, there’s still no denying NASCAR’s influence as a marketing channel. The fan base is fiercely loyal to brands associated with their drivers, particularly the primary sponsor (that big, cheesy decal on the car hood), and marketing gurus—along with those people leading the Obama and McCain campaigns—officially recognize a segment of consumers as “NASCAR fans.”

In terms of primary sponsorship, the graphic arts realm is amply represented: Denny Hamlin drives the No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, Jeff Gordon helms the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, and Kodak has a co-sponsorship pact with Ryan Newman’s No. 12 Dodge. Georgia-Pacific and NewPage—and before its rechristening, Mead Corp.—are among the many consumables providers that have sponsored cars to varying degrees.

But discounting FedEx Office—since FedEx serves different functions, the primary being parcel delivery—is there a true printer out there that sponsors a NASCAR performer?

The answer is yes. The logo of Vertis Communications, through its print program with Midwestern home improvement center Menard’s, can occasionally be seen on the No. 15 Chevy Impala of Paul Menard. The home improvement store is the primary sponsor of the car.

But during the July 4th weekend race at Daytona International Speedway, Menard did the Baltimore-based printer proud by capturing the pole position for the race, then led 19 laps before finishing a respectable 15th. During a sequence of pit stops, television cameras lingered on the hood of the car, its red Vertis lettering and logo beaming brightly against the yellow background.