Daytona Beach, U.S.A. – NASCAR have concluded a comprehensive agency review that spanned nearly four months, by selecting Ogilvy & Mather as Agency of Record (AOR) to service the sport’s evolving advertising and marketing needs. The agency will help NASCAR and the industry to execute a Five-Year Industry Action Plan to engage and excite existing fans, while creating new ones.

NASCAR embarked on a review to secure a class-leading, full-service advertising agency in early 2012 in order to expand the sport’s marketing efforts and provide an integrated solution to help NASCAR grow its audience in Youth, Gen Y and Hispanic. As AOR, Ogilvy & Mather’s responsibilities will also include target segmentation, brand vision/storytelling, media strategy, promotions and support for the growing NASCAR Digital team.

NASCAR received 110 inquiries and 75 sets of credentials from a host of agencies of all sizes and expertise. The list was carefully analyzed and narrowed to a field of fewer than 10 firms, each of which were visited by a cross-functional team of executives from key business areas across NASCAR. In June, a trio of finalists – Leo Burnett, Ogilvy & Mather and McCann Erickson North America – presented to a group of senior leaders, including NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

“Significant changes in our ecosystem impacted how we deliver our message and position our brand to existing fans while increasing the appeal of NASCAR to new audiences,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR managing director of brand, consumer and series marketing. “We were thoroughly impressed with the caliber of all three finalists; but Ogilvy’s consistency, creativity and dynamic leadership were the key differentiators. We’re delighted to join the agency’s roster of big consumer brands.”

“We view NASCAR as a lighthouse brand,” said John Seifert, chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather North America. “The sport blends marquee stars, jewel events, and some of the fiercest competition on the planet with an intricate ecosystem comprised of historic tracks and compelling personalities. From the beginning of the agency review process, it was clear to us that NASCAR was looking for a true business partner. We firmly believe that NASCAR is a valuable tool in the marketing mix and a place where big brands get high return on investment. We couldn’t be more proud to add the sport to our portfolio of global brands.”

Ogilvy & Mather will complete a comprehensive on-boarding process in 2012, as the agency prepares to help NASCAR launch a new brand platform at the 55th running of the Daytona 500 in February 2013.

Image Courtesy of   Photo Works / Shutterstock.com

The article NASCAR Names Ogilvy Agency of Record appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

NASHVILLE, U.S.A. – Casey Weston, country music recording artist and last season’s finalist from NBC’s “The Voice,” will have a big month.

She will perform the National Anthem for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 12, 2012. She also will do a special event for the VIPs in a private reception.

Weston also will join the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra during their Patriotic Pops program, a star-spangled celebration of America, at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 25-26.

“The 75,000 fans in attendance at Darlington and over 8 million television viewers will listen to one of country music’s rising stars,” stated Greg Terada, who has worked with the top music artists in the world.

“Performing the National Anthem for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will be another defining moment in my young career,” Weston said. “I’m excited to attend my first NASCAR race, and I can’t think of a better track than Darlington, one of the most historic racetracks in the sport. To have the opportunity to perform the anthem in front of tens of thousands of loyal and passionate NASCAR fans will mean a lot to me.”

Joining Weston in Darlington will be TV Producer and Music Manager Jacques Lambert and Event Producer, Music Manager and Consultant to “A List” Celebrities Greg Terada.

Weston, originally from Naples, Fla., began her performing career six years ago with both original songs and covers. Both originals and covers were well received and her audiences continue to grow. In 2009, Weston released her first album, 10 songs on the self-titled “Casey Weston.”

“I’m thrilled to return to my hometown to sing with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and see many of my friends and fans who helped me get started. I’ll never forget them. They mean so much to me,” she said.

Following the successful release of her first album, Weston auditioned on the popular show “The Voice” and was one of eight finalists in the inaugural season for the TV show sensation. Following her success on the “The Voice” Weston continues to stay in touch with her friend and coach Adam Levine, front man for Maroon 5.

The post-season “The Voice Finalists Tour” had Weston performing on stages across the nation. Weston has also performed at venues and festivals in Southwest Florida, the Old Rock House in St. Louis, Schuba’s in Chicago, NBC-Universal Studios in Los Angeles and the Women Today Expo in Ventura, California. She has also performed at the Commodore Lounge, Hard Rock Cafe, Rocketown and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. On the national concert circuit, Weston has opened for Top 40 and country acts such as James Otto, John Anderson, Craig Morgan and Justin Moore.

Follow Casey’s upcoming performances on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caseywestonmusic

Weston is being consulted by Greg Terada, former Executive Producer of Celebrity Fight Night withMuhammad Ali. Terada is known for creating and producing Red Carpet buzz with events such as Charity Jam with Alicia Keys and Kid Rock, the NBA All Star Game Main Event with Run DMC and Ashanti,Manny Pacquiao’s Ring “Walkouts” with “Eye of the Tiger” and Jimi Jamison, the Obakki Foundation Launch with Nickelback’s Ryan Peake and many more.

Image Courtesy of    Casey Weston

The article “The Voice” Finalist Casey Weston to Perform at NASCAR Sprint Cup appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Over 30 hours later than scheduled, Matt Kenseth took the chequered flag at Daytona for the second time, holding off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle after a last-lap dash to the finish.

The race was filled with incident, but it was Kenseth at the front when it mattered as he added to his Daytona 500 win back in 2009. Earnhardt Jr. had expected Biffle to make a last minute move for the lead which never came, allowing Kenseth to hold off the pair to the finish line.

In a typically drama filled 500, it didn’t take long for the cars to start spinning when Elliott Sadler gave Jimmie Johnson a push coming in to turn 1 on the second lap. Kurt Busch, David Ragan and Danica Patrick were all involved, Busch slamming in to the side of Johnson, whilst 2011 winner Trevor Bayne was also involved in the incident. Bayne re-joined not long after, and Patrick resumed over 60 laps down to get some more experience of her new surroundings.

Biffle and Kenseth found themselves at the start for the green flag, but the caution was out again soon after when Ryan Newman appeared to spin off on his own coming out of turn 2, his left tyre deflating badly coming around the banking. Newman caused more problems as the majority of the field hit pit-road, without his rear left he struggled towards his box, allowing AJ Allmendinger to slam in to the back of his car.

A period of green flag racing would follow, the lead swapping between Paul Menard, Biffle, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton and finally Jeff Gordon before caution No.3 was called on lap 64 for debris down at turn 2. Marcos Ambrose joined the leading gang as the much anticipated pack took shape while approaching its halfway mark.

But Jeff Gordon failed to make it when his engine deflated, bringing out the fourth caution of the evening. Terry Labonte took the green flag, but only for two laps as he got turned by Ambrose coming out of turn 4, bringing out the caution yet again.

There was $200,000 in price for the driver in the lead at the halfway point, and after a huge push from Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. led at the 100 lap mark for the second year in succession. More pit stops followed, but Clint Bowyer stopped down at turn 2 after running out of gas, and Carl Edwards was having his own problems, the pole sitter experiencing fuel pressure problems as he ran back in the midfield.

After more green flag racing, David Stremme brought out the caution when his engine blew, but more drama was to follow when Juan Pablo Montoya slammed in to the jet dryer, engulfing it in flames, and Montoya’s car left burning and wrecked on the infield.

The red flag was called with Dave Blayney in the lead, and over two hours later the cars were back on track, Earnhardt Jr. complaining that the scene of the incident wasn’t ready for racing. The green flag dropped anyway with Kenseth leading the pack. A collision between Ambrose and Kasey Kahne brought out the eighth caution before a multi-car crash with just over ten laps to go brought out the ninth.

Jamie McMurray, Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Regan Smith and Aric Almirola were involved but as the remaining cars fired up for a five-lap dart to the finish, the caution was out for a tenth time when an accident occurred in the same spot, this time wiping out 2011 champion Tony Stewart, along with Blaney, Stenhouse Jr., Landon Cassill, Kyle Busch and the unfortunate Ryan Newman.

Two laps were added to race distance, as Kenseth led Biffle and Earnhardt Jr around the final four miles. Biffle never made a move coming out of turn four, allowing Kenseth to win his second Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr did manage to just beat Biffle in to second place as a caranged filled race came to its conclusion.

Image Courtesy of   Walter G Arce / Shutterstock.com

The article Kenseth Holds Off Earnhardt Jr. to Take His Second Daytona 500 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.