PROGRAM NEWSLETTER. The Launch of Our Show Car Program Written by Lindsey Troutman, Senior. Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2011

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1 PROGRAM NEWSLETTER Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2011 The Winston-Salem State University show car has created quite an exciting semester for students. Since the show car became part of our program, it has made three appearances including Martinsville Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Kinetics team s viewing party at Bowman Gray Stadium in October. I must say the new addition has created quite a stir. Being a part of the show car team has definitely been a learning experience. What may seem like a simple task is not always as easy as it appears. The show car team, led by MSM senior, Marcia Tealer, spent the semester learning all the ins and outs of unloading, loading, and placement of the car. The car has been a great asset because it draws interest to the program and serves as a learning tool for individuals at the track, around the university and in the community. In addition, it is a great tool for the MSM students to learn the critical business of utilizing a show car within the industry. The first appearance that the car made was at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. After that experience at a major NASCAR venue, we moved on to the NASCAR Kinetics viewing party at Bowman Gray Stadium. The Kinetics team was comprised of students in the motorsports management program and the sports management program. As a part of their preparation, students are given the task of planning, organizing, and implementing a NASCAR viewing party geared towards students at The Launch of Our Show Car Program Written by Lindsey Troutman, Senior the university and surrounding community. The show car was a central element of this semester s Kinetics team s viewing party. For many of the students at the university, this event provided them their first chance to see a show car. This appearance generated interest, conversations and questions from other students about the program. The car s final appearance this semester was at Martinsville Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend. The team worked at the speedway Friday through Sunday enlightening the public regarding our program and collecting interest cards from those who wished to receive more information. Each day, we set up the display, collected interest cards about the program and provided additional information to those who wanted to know more about the university or the program. It was very interesting to talk to people who said that they never knew a program of this kind existed. As we explained what the program offers, we often heard people saying that they wished a program of this sort had existed when they were in college. Next semester, we will be back on the road with the show car. We are still working on next semester s show car schedule, which will be released as soon the semester begins. For those who want to keep up with where the show car will be next, Like our Facebook page WSSU Motorsports Management for updated photos and semester activities at the track and around the community. We want to say again Thanks to Richard Childress and RCR for donating the car! We hope to see you at all of our events next semester. Happy New Year from the show car team! Fall Semester WSSU Show Car Team Marcia Tealer (Captain) Toby Parese Theo Searcy Lindsey Troutman

2 Speaker Series Written by Kyle Zimmerman, Freshman During the fall semester, we hosted several guest speakers. Take a look at who came to speak about their industry experiences: John Babcock Mr. Babcock has been practicing law within motorsports for over 20 years. Sports law is a very in-depth, time-consuming practice that demands care and precision. He has worked with major companies concerning corporate sponsorships for teams competing in NASCAR. Mr. Babcock explained that the task of ensuring your clients safety in high-stakes negotiations takes experience and dedication. He also introduced strategies and techniques for motorsports management students who may be interested in the marketing realm of motorsports. Candy Borreson Ms. Borreson has more than 20 years of experience as a marketer involved with motorsport. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Marketing at Keystone Marketing Company, where she directed the efforts for the agency s clients, including Pfizer, Hershey, Kraft, GNC, and a host of others. She currently consults with international packaged goods companies providing brand marketing expertise. As a former Marketing Manager at Planters LifeSavers Company, a division of Nabisco, she launched the Baby Ruth sponsorship of the Junior Johnson race team with driver Terry Labonte in 1987 as her first contact with the sport. She shared a case study of that launch, which described key marketing objectives and how they were met while operating on a limited budget. Kurt Culbert Kurt Culbert is currently a Vice President at Taylor Strategy in Charlotte, NC. Mr. Culbert works exclusively in the motorsports marketing division. He got a great start as a sports writer and then went into marketing in motorsports. Taylor has become a leader in sports marketing by focusing on a limited number of high profile clients. The world of marketing is undergoing vast evolution as the social media generation expands. Experts like Kurt Culbert forge ahead with vision and innovation as leaders of the industry. Robert Edelstein Robert Edelstein visited Winston- Salem State University to speak with students about the history of NASCAR. Mr. Edelstein is the exclusive motorsports writer for TV Guide, and has numerous books published about the world of motorsports. Mr. Edelstein s latest book, NASCAR Legends Memorable Men, Moments, and Machines in Racing History, is a great read for anyone who is interested at the fan level or in a career in the world of NASCAR. Mr. Edelstein captures the iconic figures of NASCAR s past and present. Kevin Hamblin Mr. Hamblin is a former championship race car driver from the west coast who manages the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Social Media program. He is also a track spotter, most recently for Clint Bowyer. Mr. Hamblin shared his experience directing and operating the social media sites at RCR. He provided the students with guidelines for operating a successful motorsports social media program and shared criteria that he believes are necessary for success using this medium. Also on the program with Mr. Hamblin was MSM student Tiffany Zielke, whose employment at RCR is a result of her education at WSSU. Ms. Zielke spoke about her experiences working with social media at RCR and shared her perspective as a new professional in the field of motorsports. David Hoots David Hoots has served as the head of race control for NASCAR s Sprint Cup Series for over 20 years. Mr. Hoots has been the race director for NASCAR in its top tier series, as well as the director of races for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. In addition, Mr. Hoots shared with the students that during his offseason, he lays out the schedule for every race, down to the minute. He explained that television time slots are the key element to any sport s success. When the cameras roll for a live event, everything must be ready, and for over 20 years David Hoots has helped NASCAR reach new levels in TV ratings and on-track competition. Mr. Hoots is a referee, director, and producer; he has one of the most challenging jobs in all of NASCAR, and it was a great privilege to have him visit WSSU. Duncan Lee Mr. Lee worked for the RJ Reynolds International branch, working with the Williams Formula 1 team until the tobacco industry reduced its role in race sponsorships. Formula 1 is the highest level of motorsports in the world, attracting millions of fans every time there is a race. This popularity of Formula 1 generates a high demand in advertising and marketing. The opportunity for exposure to millions of fans can be a very successful platform for companies to launch their products, and Mr. Lee was at the forefront of RJ Reynolds International in Formula 1. Also, Mr. Lee directed and organized the Camel Trophy, an annual off-road event that often took place in rainforests or desert conditions. Sharing strategies for effective personal networking and for working in foreign countries, Mr. Lee s advice will be extremely useful to those who attended the lecture. Shawn Stewart Shawn Stewart is the membership director for the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA). Speaking with students in the motorsports governance class, Mr. Stewart gave valuable information on some of the efforts being made by the NCMA to continue to make North Carolina the motorsports capitol of the world. Motorsports is Story continues on page 3 2 WSSU Motorsport Management Program Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2011

3 Dropping Everything Written by Kyle Zimmerman, Freshman Growing up in my hometown of Leslie, Michigan, I was able to say I knew everyone. After all, I came from a town of 1400 people, many of whom frequented my family s restaurant, where I worked from ages 13 to 24. After high school graduation, I went to work for the United States Postal Service, where I was a rural carrier in Eaton Rapids, MI. Working full-time for my grandfather at night, and nearly fulltime for the Postal Service, I was a successful adult by the time I reached my 20s. I purchased a home at age 20, owned two vehicles, and had attended a few years of community college. Somewhere in those 80-hour weeks, I asked myself if what I was doing really made me happy. I realized that I was not being fulfilled in the happiness department. Then, a friend and I vacationed in North Carolina for the Coca-Cola 600 in Along the way, we spent Saturday night in Winston-Salem, and I attended my first race at Bowman Gray Stadium. That s when I knew I wasn t happy with my current life. I heard the public address announcer advertise the Winston-Salem State University Motorsports Management Program. Although I didn t act on it right away, I planned a vacation to come back to Winston-Salem in August After several months of encouragement from my friend, I finally contacted Dr. Teague to set up a meeting during my next visit. When I got the chance to sit down with Dr. Teague, he explained to me the opportunities that the program provided, the industry professionals that supported the program, as well as the hands-on learning experiences in which students were allowed to participate. After our one-on-one meeting, I was sold. I went back to Michigan, informed my employers of my plans to leave, and listed my house for sale. I pretty much sold everything I owned, packed what was left into my Dodge Nitro, and headed south in October of 2010 bound for my new home in Clemmons, NC. My participation in just one semester in the Motorsports Management program has provided me with various learning experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime. The guest speakers, the experiential learning trips, and the knowledge gained from my instructors in the Motorsports Management program are the most valuable learning experiences for anyone interested in a career in this industry. Between Dr. Teague, Mr. Bear, and Ms. Conway, there are over 50 years of motorsports Industry experience. I am thankful every day for the experience I am living at Winston-Salem State University and for pursuing a career in my one true lifelong passion, motorsports. I enjoy my classmates, my teachers, and every guest from the industry that shares the knowledge they have gained over the years. The Motorsports Management program offers the best way to network and gain the requisite knowledge and understanding of the industry. I know it is going to turn my dreams into reality one day. With hard work and determination, I will achieve my goals and dreams. Oh, and in case you were wondering about my friend who accompanied me on my first trip to North Carolina Kathryn and I were married on July 1 st, That s been another dream come true. the official sport of North Carolina, and it has a proud heritage. Mr. Stewart shared how North Carolina has provided successful incentives to teams and companies involved in the motorsports industry, making North Carolina the most economically friendly state in the United States for racing. The North Carolina economy sees hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue generated annually, not just in NASCAR but in all forms of motorsports. It is the goal of the NCMA to continue to help North Carolina provide a business-friendly economy for those companies and to continue to grow the local economy by creating new job opportunities in North Carolina for people who are passionate about racing. Chris Yoder Chris Yoder is the Director of Logistics for Penske Racing. He visited with Motorsports Management majors to speak about career opportunities in the field of logistics. Mr. Yoder described his role at Penske Racing, located in Mooresville, NC, which is home to the Penske teams in NASCAR and the IZOD Indy Car series. Mr. Yoder is responsible for getting all the equipment to and from the venues and ensuring that every member of the team gets there and back on time. This may sound easy, but in the summer months -- with over 10 semi-trucks on the road full-time -- making sure they get replenished with proper supplies for the crews, and their drivers, can be a daunting task. Chris Yoder is without a doubt one of the hardest working people in motorsports, but he is living a dream and says he is thankful for every challenge. He shared with students his experiences in operations and crisis management. He also traced his career path and the challenges of entering the industry. Understanding his role at Penske and his career journey was helpful to the students. We thank these individuals for coming to WSSU and speaking about their own personal and professional growth within the sport. 3 WSSU Motorsport Management Program Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2011

4 Three Generations of Motorsports Written by Mikela Norman, Sophomore Winston-Salem, NC is a city full of racing history, including the onetime NASCAR Cup Series sponsor, R.J. Reynolds, and the longest running weekly NASCAR track, Bowman Gray Stadium. Out of Winston-Salem also comes the Norman family, which consists of three generations of motorsports professionals: Whitey Norman, Mike Norman and Mikela Norman. The first generation of motorsports professionals in the Norman family is Whitey Norman. Nicknamed Whitey for his blond hair, Whitey competed in twenty-nine Sprint Cup Series races from He raced at several tracks, including Bowman Gray Stadium, Daytona Beach, Darlington Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway and various road courses. His finishing results at the Cup level include eight top tens and three top fives, with his best finish a second-place finish at Langhorne Speedway in Whitey was also a regular at Bowman Gray Stadium, collecting eight wins in his career and a second-place finish in the championship standings in Throughout his racing career, Whitey won more than 160 races on Whitey s No. 11 Modified pavement and dirt from Pennsylvania to Florida. Whitey was recently inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame in Danville, VA for his contribution to the pioneering of the NASCAR Cup Level of racing. Up next is Mike Norman, the second generation of Norman motorsports. Mike has attended auto racing events since he was a child watching his father, Whitey, race and has been associated with NASCAR modified racing for a number of years. Mike has driven the pace car at Bowman Gray Stadium for over twenty years and has sponsored multiple racecars in the Modified division. Waiting until he thought he could afford racing, Mike started racing in the NASCAR Modifieds in In his first year of racing, Mike finished seventh in two races at Franklin County Speedway and Ace Speedway. In the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Mike earned six top tens and three top fives. Mike s best finishes came in 2011 and include a sixth place finish in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour at Bowman Gray Stadium and a fourth place finish at Ace Speedway. The third generation of motorsports professionals is Mikela Norman. Mikela is a junior at Winston-Salem State University in the Motorsports Management program. She currently serves as President of the Motorsports Management Club. Mikela is striving to earn a career in the motorsports industry and credits her family for her love of auto racing. And who knows, if given the opportunity, Mikela might try her hand at racing too. Out of Winston-Salem also comes the Norman family 4 WSSU Motorsport Management Program Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2011

5 See What our Students Have to Say Complied by Jonathan Tillery, Junior Every experiential learning opportunity is different for each student. They help provide industry insight as well as the hands-on experiences utilized in the classroom and as preparation for their future careers. Here is what a few MSM students decided to share about their experiences in the program. Chase Rushing, Junior Charlotte, NC NHRA Carolina Nationals ZMAX Dragway Concord, NC September 15 th 18 th, 2011 Drag racing is one of my favorite sports and I have been around it all my life. This Sunday, I got the chance to go near the starting line. I loved being close. It was funny to see the students that had never been that close to the top fuel dragsters to feel the engine vibrations. The new students weren t prepared, so they constantly jumped at the shock wave. I learned how to work with a group of people I had never met before. I received great hands-on experience working with the Rick Quezada and the NHRA officials. I also had the opportunity to see firsthand what goes on behind the stage during driver introductions. It was interesting to see how much sponsorship activation takes place at these races. Lindsey Troutman, Senior Winston-Salem, NC WSSU Show Car Program Martinsville Speedway Martinsville, VA October 30 th, 2011 I helped promote our new show car program recently launched here at Winston-Salem State University. Martinsville brings out a very diverse group of fans, who showed both interest in our show car and the Motorsports Management Program. Theo Searcy, Junior Kernersville, NC 24 Hour of LeMans LeMans, France June 2011 "Being chosen to go overseas to Europe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the high point of my 2011 academic year. It was a unique and amazing learning experience to attend such a historic racing event. The various experiential learning opportunities that the WSSU Motorsports Management program provides its students are exceptional." I have thoroughly enjoyed, learned, and networked Toby Parese, Junior Mohnton, PA Commenting on the Fall Semester Experiential Learning Opportunities December 4 th, 2011 Being a part of the Motorsports Management Program at Winston- Salem State University requires students to participate in four experiential learning events each semester. I am a junior and have been to several events and races due to the experiential requirements. I have thoroughly enjoyed, learned, and networked with a lot of people by participating in these experiential opportunities. One of my favorite experiences was at the Shell Eco Marathon in Houston, Texas. It was not a race, but an event for Shell. I got to be a part of something that was totally different than being at a racetrack. I got to meet great people and learn about event planning and also hard labor. With every experiential learning event or race I attend, I believe it makes Winston- Salem State University's Motorsports Management Program that much more unique. As you see, the WSSU Motorsports Management Program has a lot of exciting opportunities. Students are constantly provided opportunities that give them the necessary hands-on experience in the motorsport industry has been a phenomenal year for the students and the university, and 2012 is looking to be just as promising! 5 WSSU Motorsport Management Program Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 3 Fall 2011

6 WSSU Motorsports Management 2011 Photo Gallery Contact Us: Dr. Travis Teague, Program Coordinator