For those of you who think it can't be done... I Just saw this show on cable about a guy who went from a toilet roll/paper towel salesman (I $hit you not) to a BTTC racer and team owner. He now supposedly makes about $500,000 a year in winnings from racing and sponsorship deals, after raising 12 million dollars to buy the race team.

If you get the "Fine Living" channel on cable, here's the show it was on...
http://www.fineliving.com/fine/radic..._13274,00.html

Here's his race team:
http://www.yorkcityracing.com/

Now get crackin on sponsorship for 2003!





[Modified by Brett@SoloRacer.com, 2:32 PM 12/23/2002]

 

guess what kind of car he races?

 

wow...
wonder if he will sponsor an up and comming young driver...

 

honduh?

 

Create a shortcut to this strand and come back and check it in 3 years...

I will stop short of saying that it isn't possible but I have seen enough of these deals first hand to be confident saying that there is more to the story than just sticking to it.

Kirk

 

Right on. But even in this actual story, a lot of it (if not all of it!) is explained already for us: "then started his own janitorial supplies company" I don't care to inquire how large his supplies company is/was, but that says a lot right there. The hardest part of turning "pro" is the beginning. You need some sort of financial wealth to start racing "pro". Once you start on your own and can prove to fare decently well, acquiring additional sponsors, etc.. is relatively much easier. It's coming up with the initial $$ capital on your own to start out that keeps most of us from becoming "pro" in the first place. And having a "supplies company" is a great help!

 

I was thinking the same thing while watching the show. But then they got into some of the things the guy had to do along the way... 2nd mortgage his home, max out credit cards, etc etc. Selling his company might have helped, but from what I gathered his "company" was pretty small. It sounds like the guy really had to risk a lot to get where he's at now. He even mentioned bankruptcy was looming for awhile before he picked up enough sponsor money.

Besides the obvious driving skills, I think pros get where they're at because either (a) they have tons of cash or (b) they'll do anything they need to do in order to "make it". I think this guy had a combination of both, but moreso the latter. His sales experience no doubt helped convince sponsors there money would be well spent.



[Modified by Brett@SoloRacer.com, 7:04 PM 12/23/2002]

 

M-m-m-m-ole! :Austin Powers voice off: