Lebron James Does NASCAR (NRR)
drewnice
5,465 Posts
Updated: Aug. 16, 2005, 11:02 PM ET
James' likeness to appear on Bobby Labonte's car[/b]
By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com
Coca-Cola will test LeBron James' crossover appeal when the company puts the Cleveland Cavaliers guard on Bobby Labonte's hood next Saturday night.
A comic book character resembling the 20-year-old NBA marketing icon will be plastered on the hood of the No. 18 car for the Sharpie 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway to promote POWERade's new James-inspired flavor, SourMelon.
Coca-Cola officials say that recent data shows that 74 percent of all NBA fans are also NASCAR watchers.
"We're about doing things differently and changing the way sports and entertainment are combined to better connect with our consumers," said Michael La Kier, Coca-Cola's senior brand manager of sports drinks.
Coca-Cola will be flying in James to see his first live NASCAR race.
"I really like the look of the race car," James said in a statement. "But I'm thinking we need to add some new rims."
Coca-Cola will hand out commemorative comic books, with James and Labonte as characters, to fans at the track.
The flavor, which is scheduled to hit shelves in 32-ounce bottles on Oct. 1, is the second in the line called FLAVA23. Sourberry, which matched the colors of his Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, hit supermarket and convenience store shelves last September. James helped chose the flavor, which is colored an emerald green, the color of his jersey at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Coca-Cola signed James two years ago to a six-year deal worth $2 million annually. Per the contract, James endorses both the POWERade and Sprite brands. Sources with knowledge of the contract told ESPN.com that James receives a bonus if POWERade's market share grows. La Kier would not confirm details of the contract.
For every four Gatorade bottles sold in the United States, one POWERade bottle is sold, but the Coca-Cola sports drink brand is doing extremely well. La Kier said that total volume sold has increased 23 percent year-to-date.
POWERade is an official sponsor of NASCAR, but in recent years has battled for placement with Gatorade, which owns victory lane at some tracks and has individual deals with drivers.
"We enjoy the competition," La Kier said.
James isn't the first person to appear on a race car. Arnold Palmer, James Dean, Muhammad Ali, the Harlem Globetrotters, Carrot Top and the Allman Brothers have all appeared on cars. In 2001, Bobby Labonte's car featured the image of Cal Ripken Jr.
Labonte is currently in 24th place in the point standings. The last time he won a race was Nov. 16, 2003. A sellout crowd of more than 160,000 people is expected to see the race in person on Aug. 27.
Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at [email]darren.rovell@espn3.com.[/email]
James' likeness to appear on Bobby Labonte's car[/b]
By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com
Coca-Cola will test LeBron James' crossover appeal when the company puts the Cleveland Cavaliers guard on Bobby Labonte's hood next Saturday night.
A comic book character resembling the 20-year-old NBA marketing icon will be plastered on the hood of the No. 18 car for the Sharpie 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway to promote POWERade's new James-inspired flavor, SourMelon.
Coca-Cola officials say that recent data shows that 74 percent of all NBA fans are also NASCAR watchers.
"We're about doing things differently and changing the way sports and entertainment are combined to better connect with our consumers," said Michael La Kier, Coca-Cola's senior brand manager of sports drinks.
Coca-Cola will be flying in James to see his first live NASCAR race.
"I really like the look of the race car," James said in a statement. "But I'm thinking we need to add some new rims."
Coca-Cola will hand out commemorative comic books, with James and Labonte as characters, to fans at the track.
The flavor, which is scheduled to hit shelves in 32-ounce bottles on Oct. 1, is the second in the line called FLAVA23. Sourberry, which matched the colors of his Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, hit supermarket and convenience store shelves last September. James helped chose the flavor, which is colored an emerald green, the color of his jersey at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Coca-Cola signed James two years ago to a six-year deal worth $2 million annually. Per the contract, James endorses both the POWERade and Sprite brands. Sources with knowledge of the contract told ESPN.com that James receives a bonus if POWERade's market share grows. La Kier would not confirm details of the contract.
For every four Gatorade bottles sold in the United States, one POWERade bottle is sold, but the Coca-Cola sports drink brand is doing extremely well. La Kier said that total volume sold has increased 23 percent year-to-date.
POWERade is an official sponsor of NASCAR, but in recent years has battled for placement with Gatorade, which owns victory lane at some tracks and has individual deals with drivers.
"We enjoy the competition," La Kier said.
James isn't the first person to appear on a race car. Arnold Palmer, James Dean, Muhammad Ali, the Harlem Globetrotters, Carrot Top and the Allman Brothers have all appeared on cars. In 2001, Bobby Labonte's car featured the image of Cal Ripken Jr.
Labonte is currently in 24th place in the point standings. The last time he won a race was Nov. 16, 2003. A sellout crowd of more than 160,000 people is expected to see the race in person on Aug. 27.
Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at [email]darren.rovell@espn3.com.[/email]
Comments
Anybody have a ballpark figure?
I haven't the slightest clue since I don't pay much attention to the sport.
Get The Fuck Outta Here with that bullshit![/b]
PS I support banning NASCAR to conserve gasoline.
where did they collect this data?!
That's fucking hilarious.
I'd love to know what the criteria was for "NASCAR watcher"...
except Willie T. Ribbs... tho, i think he only races trucks now... (willie diesel?)
dude used to drive indycars, and I think there might have been another brother in the Indy 500 recently - George Mack.
it's so great how these guys have the dopest names ever...
For those nascar fans out there.
Drewn don't quote me on this, but I think the last survey of all nascar drivers revealed the number of black nascar drivers to be:
1
And that one was stolen!!!
YES PLAESE