Latest / The Racer on Demand Show / Episode 25 | Influencers Had It Wrong

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Episode 25 | Influencers Had It Wrong · The Racer on Demand Show

• Megan: look outside of just being a race car driver. Like what are your other experiences and opportunities and occupation and education? What like connections could you build and like piece together through that? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Hello everyone and welcome back to the Racer on Demand Show. I'm Amanda Van Den Elzen and I am joined by my co-host, Megan Meyer. Megan: Hello, what's up? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Hey! And today we are going to be talking about an article that Megan read, wrote a blog post about that's all about relationships in marketing and how the marketing world is evolving to be much more relationship-centric. But motorsports might have been there all along. So we're gonna talk through what those relationships look like in motorsports what they look like in the marketing and influencer world as a whole and we're just gonna talk through you know kind of our thoughts and and what we've experienced on our end for that as well. So Megan, tell me a little bit first off, because we haven't talked in a little bit, not since Crandon. How are you? Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: What's going on in your life? Megan: Yeah, well, not a whole lot over here. we've just been getting just, you know, little stuff around the house, around the farm getting ready. deer season has started. So Adam is full on in hunting mode. Race mode is completely gone for him. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ha ha ha. Megan: we do have a couple short course races left on the schedule at Wheatland. And then there is big 12 hour one in December, which is the weekend before PRI show. And that has been moved to Georgia. So still on the fence if we'll do that because that's quite a drive for us. But the guys are excited because Amanda Van Den Elzen: That's a hike. Holy moly. Megan: it's a three man team. So they're excited to do that. We just gotta make sure the race car is ready to go. But yeah, not much here. Amanda Van Den Elzen: That would be so cool though. Megan: It would be cool. And I would love to do like they so I know like Gray Ledbetter and I think it was with like Travis Pastrana's daughter, which I don't know her name. And then there was one other female. So they I think they were like the first like all female team and they Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: did the twenty four hour race, which is like the Outlaw series puts on both of those, and that was the first 24 hour race. Which looked absolutely insane because it was up in Pennsylvania and they got a ton of rain. So it was like a mud fest. but yeah, last year the twelve hour race was in Jay, Oklahoma at the I don't know what the name of it now is Mid America or American Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: Outdoor Adventure Park. I think that's it's AOAP now. Anyways, so that's where it was last year. Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Is that still open though? I think it's down now again, isn't it? Megan: I don't know. From my understanding. So beginning of the year, that was on our schedule for the central region. because that's only maybe four hours away from home for us. so there was three races on the schedule to do there, and I think that was including the twelve hour race again. But because of politics, something happened as soon as our season started. So then it switched from AOAP to the loop two, which is also in Missouri. Amanda Van Den Elzen: my god. Megan: And so I but I have seen like I had a drag racing friend who went there just for vacation and like did the whole rent to side by side and get to ride around on that. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: so I don't know if they're still doing that, but I don't think there's any races going Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: on. But I think you can still do the rentals and have it a you know, their resort, which I think is just what they're trying to do. But but Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: Outlaw has put out the twenty twenty seven schedule. And so Amanda Van Den Elzen: thank goodness. Megan: yeah, which is great. there is like same races at Wheatland next year and they have some location to be determined for a couple races. So not sure where those will be at. But Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: but I don't think they'll be at the AOAP or Mid America, whatever it's called. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. that'd be interesting. I wonder I know. I I've heard some things about a couple of tracks on our circuit not being on the twenty twenty seven schedule. 'Cause honestly our Megan: Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: series waits way too long to put out our our calendar. Like we're already locked in for budgets for next year based off of speculation, Megan: Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you know, 'cause we don't have a schedule yet. And Megan: Yeah, that's hard. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, but I've heard that there are a couple of tracks that are not going to be on it, and I'm really curious which ones are going to be replacing those, if any. but I wonder if like would it be crazy if the Outlaw Midwest series came up to like Wisconsin or something like that. So Hm. Megan: Who knows? Yeah. It's Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. Megan: it's crazy because then also, you know, if you remember like they had said that the trucks can come and race outlaw when Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it's it seems to just be side by side only. So it'll be really interesting. I don't know if they are trying to compete with champ. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: but I think and I saw that they've partnered up with like SEMA and PRI, and so I don't exactly know how that works. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Saw that too. Yeah. Megan: But there's no T V with Outlaw. So I think that's where they're like they're losing a lot of value 'cause they don't have a live stream or T V or anything like that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. But you know what? We kind of need like a more regional, like not necessarily TV, you know, just like a smaller package kind of Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: series to feed into a national f Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: series. So like if Outlaw can fill in that kind of grassroots, kinda like up by us, we have IODA does just race for Megan: Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: your own money, you know, no streaming, no nothing, sportsman Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: racing, you know. And that's where I'm kind of confused about outlaw bringing in the pros because I don't know Megan: Yeah, me too. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that the pros really fit their business model. Megan: I agree. Yeah. And that's what I originally thought Outlaw was too, just to be like a a training ground, because that's like how I'm thinking of it of like, hey, if I want to ever go race champ, I need practice with Outlaw and get good at that first, which is like what Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: what Carson Hill and like Code St. Peter and Bree and all these other like drivers are doing is like they're Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: starting an outlaw and then they're like Then they get really good and then they're top of the pack for champ. So I don't know. I'm not involved in Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Yeah, I'm not sure either. Megan: that, so Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay, do you want some more short course hot gossip? I mean, it's not really Megan: Okay, yeah. Spill the tea. Amanda Van Den Elzen: like tea because I saw it on Facebook after I heard about it from Cole yesterday while we were chatting here. But Marty Fiolka announced that he is no longer going to be working with Crandon anymore. So Megan: wow. Okay, did not see that coming. Amanda Van Den Elzen: yeah, me neither, but I think that's gonna be a huge detriment to our sport. I guess. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: It for the last probably five years or so, the Flannery family that runs Crandon has been kind of making everything more family based. Like their family is running everything. They've gotten rid of their office Megan: okay. I see. Amanda Van Den Elzen: staff and their behind the scenes staff and their family is taking over the operations as a whole. And it sounds like that's what's happening with this position as well. And I just don't know Megan: Wow. Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And I think this does kind of line up with what we're gonna be talking about today is the relationship side. Like Marty Fiolka is so rooted in relationships with Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: these big companies, and his history in this sport is second to none. And I'm not saying the Flanneries don't have history in this sport. They clearly do. But not Megan: Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: in like a commercial sense, like Marty has. So Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I think it'll be really interesting to see how that changes, given that. now those relationships live with Marty, not necessarily with Cliff Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: and Jason and his kids, so Megan: Yeah. Wow, that's interesting. Well, and I guess kind of like sidebar, like, so what that brings up for me is like sometimes I'll get racers that are like, hey, you know, I just don't have the time. I don't want to look for the sponsors myself. I just want to hire an agent to do it. And I've I've been on both sides of that. I've done it myself. We've used an agency. There's pros and cons to each. I don't know if one's better than the other unless you are like a pro level team and you have the big budgets because an agent is expensive. They need a monthly retainer and they take a commission. So you need to make Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: sure you're getting enough to cover all your expenses plus their fees. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: and for us, honestly, we kind of just broke even with that. And that's why we didn't continue on, also because of COVID. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: But like that's something that I've learned from Alex Striler is like it's so important to just build those relationships yourself because if they build the relationship with the agent, well, if you drop the agent, the agent can just take them to the next racer or the next team Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: or next athlete or series or whoever. And that's where, yeah, like we've talked about before, like building the relationship with them and then, but then also. if they change jobs or positions, they can take you along with them and so yeah, so that's kind of what's going through my head right now, like thinking about, okay, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: yeah, if Marty has built all these relationships, then he can take them to wherever he's going or if he's gonna start his own thing or I don't know what he's doing. But yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Well, we were talking we're staying at the Mamers house right now, working on the pro spec in between testing at Glen Helen. So we were talking with the Mamers about it last night and Cole had brought it up and he's like, if any of our other tracks are smart, they're picking up the phone right now to try and hire Marty. Like effective Megan: Seriously. Seriously. Amanda Van Den Elzen: January first after his December thirty first departure from Crandon, like he should be on with another one of our tracks to to build up our sport more. So very interesting. Megan: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yes. That is a a very good return on investment that a track or a series could get. Yeah. Seriously. Well Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, that's a fair point. Maybe Champ should be picking up the phone. And I'm not saying, you know, that I that I wholeheartedly agree with every single thing that I've ever seen like Marty bring into the Crandon circle either, you know, but like it is a lot more than nothing. He has made Megan: Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: a huge impact and he has brought a Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: ton of relationships and new eyes on our sport. Like our Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Midwest sport especially owes a lot to Marty. Megan: Yeah. Well do you wanna talk about Crandon for a minute? I know you guys didn't have Amanda Van Den Elzen: Sure. Megan: a great weekend. I feel so bad Amanda Van Den Elzen: It was not phenomenal. Megan: for Chris. Man, it was so such a Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: hard weekend. Amanda Van Den Elzen: It was rough. So Saturday, it sounds weird to be disappointed in fourth place, but Chris was having motor issues. Like his he was running on his year one motor. 'Cause if you remember when we were out with you at Wheatland, remember he was having issues with his truck not Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: starting and stuff, and we had that brand new motor in there. And then when we raced Wheatland, we were having even further issues. It was cutting out at high speeds, at high RPMs. And remember he had tangled with Wyatt had rolled in front of him and Chris stalled the truck and then he couldn't get it started. Megan: yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So he got like a seventh place in that race. after Wheatland, we took it out to Mansfield, Ohio for that exhibition race and the second day Like we couldn't get it to run at all. It was just popping and like super high fuel pressure. And since the motors are sealed and the fuel injectors and the high pressure fuel pump are all inside the motor, we couldn't do anything about it. So we took that motor back out, we sent it back to GM and we put the year one motor in. So our very first ever prospec motor. It's got a ton of time on it. And that's what he's been running all year. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And Saturday at Crandon, it was like, no, it's time for that motor to come out. So in the meantime, we had sent that new motor back to GM. They dyno tested it. They told us everything was great on it, that there was no issues with the motor. It had to have been something else. So we had replaced the fuel pressure regulator on the truck after we pulled that motor out. So we thought, okay, maybe it was just a fuel pressure regulator. And so Sunday we put that new motor back in and we took it out for a shakedown lap. First off, the guys were up until they sent Chris to bed at two in the morning and said, like, you need some sleep if you're gonna race tomorrow. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: We got this. They were up till four in the morning getting that motor swapped Megan: Wow. Amanda Van Den Elzen: in. And so they went to bed at four. Chris's dad was back up, I think, at like six or seven, and he was still working on it. When we got Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: up for the driver's meeting, Chris was out there working on it before the driver's meeting. It still wasn't done and he had a shakedown right after driver's meeting. So I went to driver's meeting. I said, Chris, you stay back. I'll just bring back notes and everything if Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: there's anything you need to know about. And when I got back from driver's meeting, the truck was on the starting line ready for a shakedown lap. So like that's what kind of cutting it close it was and getting this motor put in. Megan: Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: we took it out for the shakedown lap. And I was on the radio and Chris was like, This feels so much better than my motor I had in yesterday. Like clearly I was down on power. the shakedown lap went flawlessly. It was great. Like it was really good. And then the guys took it to the wash bay after the shakedown lap and sprayed everything off and whatnot. And they couldn't get it started at the wash bay. It just Megan: man. Amanda Van Den Elzen: wouldn't start and it was like popping. And finally they were able to like Hold the gas pedal down and try and start it. And it started up and they brought it back and they told Chris about it. And he's like, that is the exact same thing that was happening with this motor before. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: he's like, We don't have time to do anything about it now. We don't have another motor, right? Like, we don't carry three motors around with us. Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And so he raced it. There was really nothing else he could do. And I will say it was a calculated risk. We knew that Sunday was not. a points day and we suspected Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that that motor still might have some issues. So there's a reason Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: we hadn't put it in for a points race is because we were very concerned that this might happen. And that didn't make it any less disappointing because we were still racing for money on Sunday. Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: but when he took it out there, sure enough at high RPMs it would just as soon as he let off the gas, the motor would just completely die. Like no power at all, which in these trucks in order to get through corners without rolling, you need to have wheel spin. So if you let off the gas coming into a corner, which you need to do, like then then it died out. And that's what ended up spinning him out right after comp caution. He got hit and he said, you know what, this is so unpredictable. Like it's dangerous for me. Like there there's no reason for me Megan: Yeah. Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: to be out here. I'm not gonna win the race. all I'm gonna do is mess up my truck even more than it already is. So he pulled off and there were Megan: Right. That's so frustrating. Amanda Van Den Elzen: there were big feelings in the pits after that, I I tell you what. But Megan: Yes. man. That's so hard. Amanda Van Den Elzen: we had a new motor from GM sitting on our doorstep by Wednesday, because we had texted them on Sunday and Megan: Good. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: it and yeah, so we've got it in. They actually took it and had it dyno tested to make sure like we brought the truck to a dyno to make sure that everything was good. And we also learned a little bit about like how to drive it better. we can't tune it or anything. Like everything is completely locked down. So Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: it was all about learning, not not about really changing much of anything. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: and yeah, so it ran perfectly on the dyno. It ran really well yesterday at the track. So Megan: Okay. Yes. Okay, good. Good. Amanda Van Den Elzen: fingers crossed, now we've now we've got a winner. Megan: Man. Yeah, what a season. Like and he Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: I think like if you didn't have those motor problems, like ch Chris would definitely be the champion this year. Amanda Van Den Elzen: You know what really stinks is there's a couple of things that have really hurt hurt us this year with that. Like the Wheatland thing with this motor. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Also at Anago, I don't know if you remember, but we had qualifying points. When Chris qualified first, he got zero points. Nobody got qualifying points. Megan: yeah, that's right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So that's five points ahead that we would have been there as well Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: on top of the Wheatland performance and Yeah, I think it would be a lot closer battle. I mean, w it's still really close. We're thirteen points down with two points rounds to go, so it's still incredibly possible to walk away with the championship this year. But it's gonna Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: be an uphill battle. Nick is really running hard this year, so Megan: Yeah. Okay, so I guess what is best case scenario for Glen Helen? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Well, even if we swept the weekend and led it half and qualified well, I think that is like then it wouldn't really matter where Nick was, I think. I haven't done the math. Megan: Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So yeah, I think leading at half and qualifying well is really important. Honestly, it's really important. Cause if we Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: win the race and like let's say Nick gets second, it's not gonna be enough. if Megan: Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: we qualify first both days, that's ten points. And even if he qualified second both days, he would get then six points. And leading at half is worth another couple of points, but second place at half gets a point as well. So like you'd need all of the points in order to make this happen. Megan: Okay. Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Or Nick is gonna have to have a bad day for this to happen. so I know, I know. Megan: Yeah. Sorry, Nick, but we're but yeah, g get us some bad vibes. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I don't like rooting against people. Yeah, I don't like rooting against people, but there's a there's definitely a part of me that's like, come on, like a flat tire or something that's just not gonna hurt ya. No. Yeah, or maybe just qualify poorly, get stuck in the back. I don't know. I don't know. I know Chris has what it takes to to push for the front, but Megan: But we're Team Chris. Yeah, yeah, we don't want to wreck the track, but just something easy that could take him out. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: It's gonna take some luck too. It really is. Megan: Yeah. Wow. That's exciting. I mean, we're yeah. We're gonna be watching for sure on the live stream, cheering for you guys, sending all the Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: all the good luck your way. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. And I think God, I hope this plays out. I there there are things behind the scenes where there might be some big money involved this weekend as well, or this coming weekend. So I I can't say for Megan: Okay. Exciting. Amanda Van Den Elzen: certain yet 'cause it hasn't been announced, but it would be Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: really cool if it happened. Megan: All right. Well cool. Yeah, that's a nice bonus. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. On top of to win the championship in pro spec is another nine thousand, so Let's hope. Maybe it'll pay for the diesel fuel it costs to get out here. Megan: Yes. Yeah. Right. Seriously. Yeah. I'm sure you've spent that much just to yeah, go back and forth to California. Which is insane. Amanda Van Den Elzen: It my god. Okay. So we've got have you ever heard of Mudflap, the app? Okay. So we Megan: Yes, yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: use Mudflap as well as a couple of other like discount diesel apps Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: to put you on like a fleet pricing, right? And I'm looking at Mudflap as we're driving across. So I'm like I'm like hedging our fuel. I'm like, well, if we fill up here, it'll be cheaper, you know, because like we can get further into Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: California, even though we're paying a little bit more per gallon and like my god. California prices though, like the the most expensive sign I saw was $8.49 per gallon. And the the most expensive one that we passed that I saw on like the fuel tracking apps, in between needles and bar stow, there's a big stretch of just mountain road and there's no fuel stations except for like one. And that one station was topped out at $9.99 because their sign doesn't go any higher. So Megan: Yeah. Wow. That's Amanda Van Den Elzen: Wild. It's been wild. Megan: yeah. Yeah. Seriously. Yeah. Yeah. We use mudflap and upside. And there's one more. I don't remember what it's called because I never use it. but it's Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: with it's with Amazon Prime. But it's only for like Amoco or BP or gas stations Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. Megan: that we don't we don't really have around here or go to. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Sure. Megan: but yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So I found Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Green Lane is another one like mudflap and then ten four as well. And Megan: Okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: between the three of I've used all three of on this trip because they're not always like, mudflap's always the cheapest or Green Lane's always Megan: Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: the cheapest. So I've been monitoring all three of to find the cheapest ones and yeah, all Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: three of have had winners, so Megan: Well good. Yeah. I haven't heard of those other ones. I'll just send them to my dad 'cause he is racing. so he was at he was up in Detroit last weekend. This weekend he's by Baltimore. And then next race, then he's got two weeks in Dallas, and then we go west. So then we got two in Vegas and then we finish the year in California and then Gotta drive home to Kansas. So yeah, so he's been using mudflap Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: too, but I'll have to send him the other ones. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, especially out west, mudflap became the more expensive option. So Yeah. Yeah. Okay, Megan: Okay. Good to know. Good to know. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: so tell me about this article that you read and like some Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: of the points that it was making. Megan: Yes, so Erica from Autofluencer had sent me this article and it was just like a newsletter that she's subscribed to and it's called Net Influencer. And so I thought it was really cool. So I have recently subscribed. And so basically it's just all about like the the creator economy, which is basically brands, you know, typically ones that are not in motorsports, but big brand names who partner with influencers and creators to make their content, do the brand deals, you know, do affiliate links, all that type of stuff and promotion. And so basically what this article was saying is that they had interviewed 50 experts on the brand side and just been like, hey, you know, give us a an analysis of compared to the first half of twenty twenty six to What are you going to change going into the second half of the year? And one of the biggest themes that they had said is that they're trying to shift away from one off campaigns and go more towards long-term campaigns, which is based on the relationships that they have with those creators and influencers and other athletes or whoever. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: instead of it just being like a one-term Deal trying to turn it into something longer because they're seeing a return on investment or they have a really good relationship and they want to keep going with their partnership with that creator. But you know, as I was reading it, I was like, like that to me, it's like, well, like we already do that. Whereas like in Amanda Van Den Elzen: Like duh. Megan: motorsports, it's kind of like you don't see like one off or one race. sponsorships or campaigns, you don't really see those very often. And when you do, like my impression of it, which I'm not on that site or anything, but just from, you know, bird's eye view, it's kind of like, you know, you do this really big splash for like a one race deal, maybe two race deal, but then nothing else happens. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: so it's just like, you know, w did you kind of overpromise and under deliver and that's why they didn't renew with you or is there you know something other behind the Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: scenes with like the B2B deal that maybe fell through or you know there to me it's like if you would do a one race deal there was something that happened that prevented it from being a long-term partnership. So you don't see that very often in my opinion, but we do see the long-term Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: partnerships in multi-year contracts and multi-race partnerships. And so to me it was just like it was just funny because it's like, that's what we do. It's like, and you guys are just now realizing that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. yeah, what's really interesting with what you're talking about with the creator economy kind of being based off of these one time partnerships in the past. And obviously now they're kind of veering more towards those longer term relationships is that I have seen over the last couple of years those brands that rely on influencers and creators for a big part of their marketing strategy have been expecting that from us as well. And there have been quite a few times that we have said, you know what, this isn't a good brand fit for us because they have been looking at us more like an influencer, more like a creator than as a true marketing partner long term in the motorsports space. So it's really interesting to hear that now the trend is kind of veering towards what we've always kind of stood for in the first place, you know? It's a Megan: Uh-huh. Yeah, yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: It's like knowing your value, right? Like what what value do I provide? Well, I don't provide value in like a one time commercial. I'm not an actor. I'm not an expert in a commercial world, right? But but I'm really Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: good on the relationship side with with our fans, with our team and with our partners. So, you know, understanding what it is that you have to offer and being able to bring that forward to that company and n knowing when to say no, that doesn't fit our brand or our offer, you know, that Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: That I I wonder if that's starting to move that trend as well. Like how much are the creators and the influencers driving that trend, not just the marketing people? Megan: Ooh. Yeah, that is an interesting perspective. Cause yeah, I don't think the that article originally it I think it was just on the brand side. so that'll Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: be interesting to see if they do kind of yeah, the creator side as well. Cause I can totally see what you're saying. And I've had even, you know, not as many now, because it was a lot more in the past when it was a lot easier to get those ambassador deals. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: But I've had a couple now. Like there was one and the so kind of what I'm seeing more now is the brands are using the social media platforms to have them reach out to people. So like I got one on YouTube and it was like, Hey, this brand is looking for ambassadors and it is for flags. And I was like, well, I could kind of see like how we could use a flag, like put one on the golf cart. And it was like, you know, you can make your own custom flag. It can have anything on it. You get four Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: flags for free. But you also it was also like, and you get three hundred dollars like just to make one reel or like one YouTube short. And I was like, Well, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. Megan: that that could be worth it. Like just one video. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: and that but then I was thinking, I was like, Okay, but like where am I gonna use these flags? Like we don't really use flags for anything. It's like, and we don't have a boat. like I can't put it on the car, obviously. And it's like, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: I could put it on a golf cart, but I don't know. So it's like, so I turned it down because like what you're saying, like, just because it it could like it's did sound like a good deal, but it's like, I don't think I could actually make it work. And I didn't want to come across as like super inauthentic and just like, hey, I'm promoting Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: this just because they gave me $300, you know? So yeah, I see what Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: you're saying. And they're c I mean, hopefully creators and the ambassadors are like starting to pick up on that as well. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, because I mean what what they're looking for at that point is not actually influence. They're looking for a commercial. Right. And I I think that Megan: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: a lot of people get confused between like what is true brand alignment and representing a brand. And that comes with the relationship piece, right? for example, okay, so as we were driving here, Chris's phone started blowing up. And he was getting message after message. I had him screen record it in his story and and post it because it was such a great example of brand alignment. He was getting message after message of people that had taken a video of the baseball game they were watching. I think it was baseball. But in the background Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: behind the batter, a Nexen Tire advertisement popped up. Megan: okay. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And people were screen grabbing it or taking pictures of their Megan: Cool. Amanda Van Den Elzen: TV and sending him pictures of it because the first thing that they thought of when they saw the Nexen Tire logo was Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Chris. And like, with a one-time Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: deal, can you imagine? Okay, we put Nexen Tire on the side of our truck one time and we posted one video about it, right? And they paid us $300 and gave us a set of tires, right? Like Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: comparing it to your flag. can you can Megan: Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you think that people would be snapping pictures and sending him messages. I mean, he had like four or five of these come through in rapid succession of just his fans, Megan: That's awesome. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you know, recognizing this logo. But like Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that doesn't happen. That connection doesn't happen from a one-time Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: commercial and getting some product, you know? And Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that is where the power comes from because those people like Chris. They know Chris. They trust Chris. And when they need tires, they're gonna go buy Nexen Tires because of Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: the relationship that we have with Nexen Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I love that. Well, that's such a good example. And yeah, you know, yeah, it's more than just yeah, putting the logo on the car, right? You got to also Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: become the true, you know, brand ambassador for them, because that's how you do build the trust and you build the relationships and you build a long-term partnership with them. And once you understand what the company goals are and you get to know the people that work there behind the brand, it it does become Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: more like that synonymous partnership. And it becomes just a a natural relationship. Whereas if you, you know, you come into the perspective of well, this will just be a one post or a one race deal. That doesn't happen. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: No. Megan: like I know, like, you know, there is the possibility, you know, thinking long term of like, hey, you know, I really love this product. I want to work with this brand. And maybe they do offer just like a discount program and you can sign up for that and you've got a six inch sticker on your car for the first year or something. Like that's not Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: that's not gonna build much. you know, brand value. But if you use that like to get your foot in the door and maybe they are a vendor at some of the races. So you talk to the people that come to the track or other events or trade shows that they go to and you just you use that to get your foot in the door and build the relationship, then in two or three years it could lead to something a lot bigger. And we always Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: want to think like long term and yeah, how can I How can I, yeah, build a relationship with this company and not just expect a discount or free product without doing much in return for them. but it does start with that relationship. it it does take time. But, you know, I guess kind of also boils down to trust. Like you that brand has to learn to trust you to represent them well. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, and vice versa. Okay, so you know what you're talking about with it taking years, right? And like sometimes these one off things do grow into these longer relationships that turn into bigger partnerships, right? I think there's a really big distinction to make here. And that is that you need to know somebody in order for a partnership to really happen right like you have to be able to have a conversation and understand the goals behind their marketing and if coming into this you have I'm thinking of of a specific brand out there that does discounts for just about anybody who asks for one right they'll you go to their website you sign up for it you get an email that says congratulations now you're an ambassador you get a discount code and a contract. You get a contract in your email without ever having spoken to a person. And there's still no Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: contact for you to reach out to. If you find the contact, most people I've talked to never hear back. And that that kind of a relationship doesn't grow. You are going to stay on a discount until you can Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: actually make the relationship happen because there's no Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: relationship with A generic inbox and a generic contract and a generic discount, right? The flip side. Megan: Yeah. Well and that company still makes money even though they're giving you a discount. Like they're still making the sale, so they don't care. Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. No, that is a sales program, not a marketing program. And to really make motorsports turn into a a job, right? If you truly want to take this from a discounted hobby into I'm making money doing this, you will never get there in sales programs. You have to target the marketing programs. You have to be a marketing asset. And Megan: Yes. Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you have to learn how to tell the difference between those two things. Megan: Yeah, a hundred percent. And yeah, that's like I know, yeah, like the the company like and for us, we do we are on some of those discount programs, like for our tires and wheels, right? For Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: for short horse. And like that's fine with me because I know I know what I'm getting into. Like I honestly Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: just like I'm gonna use this product anyway, so I'll get the discount. But Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: At this, like I am trying to actively do my research and find out who is the person that is on the marketing side of this and trying to figure out, okay, like I need to build a relationship with them. And yeah, like the generic email that we get. And sometimes it's even an agency or like a third party company that Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: is doing their like discount and like affiliate program. So they're never gonna say yes to a a sponsorship or like or anything else like that Amanda Van Den Elzen: No Megan: is nothing that they handle. So yeah, I t I love that you said like we need to make that distinction between like a sales discount program versus a marketing program. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: yeah, knowing there is a difference, it's usually a different person, different department, sometimes even different company that handles that too. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Yes. And sometimes it is the same person, but like companies that are putting out these kind of sales programs where they're like broadly giving discounts to anybody who will sign up for them. Like I'm gonna use Amsoil as an example, right? We had Sara on from Amsoil and she and I talk a lot because I love her and yeah, she just loves Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: our team and whatnot. And You know, she and I have been talking since our podcast almost a year ago about like how can we work together, right? And Amsoil has their preferred racer program that they put out, which is essentially this, right? You apply, you say, Hey, I race with this series, you get a discount. It is valuable, but it is not a marketing program, it is a sales program, right? Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And From the get go, I told Sara I was like, This is valuable, we'll sign up for it, but this is not a partnership and we're interested in a partnership, right? is there opportunity here? Megan: Yes. Yeah. And you're you're not gonna put AM zoil this big on the truck because of that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And so, you know, as simple as it is, it's finding the right person to talk to. It's having the understanding on both sides, right? She says, Well, right now our budget isn't there to bring you guys on, but I understand what you guys are worth. And why does she understand what we're worth? Is because we Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: have that relationship. She's been in our pits. They hosted our chili cook-off at Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Crandon, right? Because she saw the relationships that we have with the other racers and wanted to get the preferred racer program in front of other people. So Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that is that is something to think about, is just because there is a sales program doesn't mean there's not also a marketing program. But just because their sales program exists doesn't mean that there's also a marketing program either. Sometimes these companies only have the sales program and they call it marketing. Sometimes it's a separate entity and you just have to figure out who to get in with. So you need to be able to do that research. You've got to be able to network into the right spaces, ask the right questions. And sometimes you'll find that there's just simply not a path for growth there. And that's okay. Walk away, find one that does have that. Megan: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, well said. Cause yeah, you can walk away. There are especially in the motorsports Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: world. I mean, there is other oil companies, other fuel companies, other tire companies. It's not like, you know, you're you're just tied to this one. And, you know, sometimes Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: like the the rules with the series might limit you. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: but most of the time I'd say, you know, there are some other options out there and figure out Hey, you know, does this other product w work with our program? and yeah, we've we like we had to walk away from our oil program that was really good. And it was it was kind of like a mutual thing on both sides because they were Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: changing a lot, dropping a lot. We kind of saw, you know, hey, in three years we doubt we'll still be with this company. So we made the decision early on to start testing other products. And thankfully we were able to build a good relationship with a different oil company and help them do some R and D. So then when, you know, they were able to then make a product that actually did work for our types of cars. Cause before that it was kind of like everyone just ran the same thing because that's what we thought was available. But then Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: Yeah, I mean there there was a new door, a new opportunity, and it's led to some new relationships, some new content, some new products stuff. So it's been cool. But Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: but yeah, I mean, before that we were with the same oil company for over ten years and it was kind of like, you know, hey, we're comfortable with this. Like it it wasn't a title sponsor or anything close to that, but it was like It was just big enough to where like we were comfortable and we had just enough value or we were doing just enough for them Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: that you know we we weren't kind of looking to expand on that, if that makes sense. Like, you know, we we Amanda Van Den Elzen: It does, yeah. Megan: were good with where we were at and they were good with it too, but then things change, right? People change, personnel change. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Strategies change. Megan: Yeah. And so we we had to make a change. And we're we're very happy, you know, that we did, but at the time it was scary 'cause it was changes Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: is not always easy. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. You know, one thing that you brought up with that switch is that you were able to do some R and D and help I assume you're talking about Maxima, right? Yeah. You were able to help Maxima develop Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: an oil that worked better for your application. And I think about the amount of value there, right? I I spoke very absolutely when I said you need to find somewhere with a marketing program to make money in motorsports. That's not always true. RD is also a huge opportunity to provide value and earn income in working with a brand, right? being able to go out there and say, like this worked, this didn't work, here's my feedback. We were able to put this through far more valuable Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: testing than you ever will in these simulations. You know, that's that's hugely valuable. So kudos to you guys for leaning in in a space, you know, that provided value in that way. Megan: Yeah, well, and it was scary because like, you know, we didn't know how it was going to perform. you know, it could blow up the motor and cost us Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: thousands of dollars, right? So we, you know, we're kind of going into it a little blind, but at the same time, it's like, okay, we've got a a long-term vision for this, and we'll Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: we'll, you know, work through it to be able to help them develop a product that could then work for our application and our our market. And you know, yeah, hopefully it can help then trickle down to more the you know, the other consumable items that they have, you know, hopefully through the RD, it does maybe improve their other formulas or something. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: but yeah, you know, we we weren't just like, hey, we we need, we want a different oil and and we weren't shopping around with each one to be like, okay, what's the best deal you can give us? Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: And or like what's your best discount and stuff. So it was more of like, Hey, we'll take a risk here. We'll try to, you know, we'll try it out, see what happens, and then see, yeah, like if okay, it works. Yes. Okay. So now let's build a campaign around this and and do a long term deal. And we like my dad is always working with companies, like, cause that's like unlike with you guys where everything's sealed up and you can't change anything, for us, like we can change everything, like we c like everyone has all their different own types of combinations to run a dragster, which Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: makes it, you know, it it makes it cool and like the competition is really tough because somebody Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: will they'll find this new part or this new product and they'll gain a little bit more horsepower. So then everyone's like, okay, now we need to chase that. And now, you know. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: We're gonna try to one up you. So my dad is always like trying to one up everybody else. Like he always says, You're only as strong as your weakest link. And so whether it's, you know, oil or fuel or bearings or crankshafts or, you know, fuel pumps, like whatever it is, he's always Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: like, Hey, like let me tweak this, let me test it. And it's like, okay. And you know, sometimes the company is like, we physically like we don't have the equipment to make something that you want. Or, you know, the sis I don't know much about this stuff. But like I know like one thing was like pistons. Like my dad custom makes his pistons and they're like, nobody else can have these. Like nobody can buy this piston. Like this is his design with it. And so but Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: he had he had to find a company that was willing to do that. And we did have to change. but along with that you know, he's building those long term relationships with those Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: companies as well. It and 'cause we're trying to then help them because then, you know, maybe they can't use the Randy Meyer serial number, but they can change it a few percentages, you know, maybe sell it to someone else. Like I don't Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: know I don't know the exact specifications. But but anyways my point is my dad is always trying to build these relationships with the manufacturers and you know, those people that, you know, you see all the time at PRI show, he's just there to build those relationships and you know, kind of be like, hey, let's work together and do the R D. And he's Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: not he's not like, Hey, what can you give me or what's your discount? You know, and just kind of going with that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. And again, like those are not things that happen with one time deals. They're not things that happen without long relationships. Like Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: a company is not gonna trust your feedback if they've never heard of you, they don't know you, and they have no idea like if you're actually blowing smoke up their ass or not, right? Like I'm thinking even like Megan: Right. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Like you're talking about, well, we can't really change much. And that's true. Like we're in a spec class. We can't do a lot for power gains. But that doesn't mean that we can't help with R and D for our companies too. Like, Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: with Nexen I know I talk about Nexen a lot, but I think we just have like a really good relationship that's representative Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: of of how healthy it can be to work with a brand. We we are helping with R and D in a couple of different ways that you know we can't do on the track. obviously we test the tires on the track, but they're already created, they already are released. We're not allowed to run tires that are not available for sale to the public. So like Megan: Mm, mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: we can't test tires in racing and be like, yeah, we should change this, we should change that. But, you know, the race tires that we have, we bring to the corporate office, the R and D team comes out and they look at how sipes are opening and how the wear is happening and w did they overheat, you know. so they're able to look at our our race tires like that. But I'm thinking very specifically of two different ways that we test their products or get them like R and D knowledge off the track. One of is when we are in the pits and we're doing data collection, we're putting people on our newsletter. And we're giving away a set of Nexen Tires what they're doing is they're filling out market research for the next set of tires as well. So I know you took that survey. It's a long survey, but it asks Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: questions like, like, what is more important to you? Like wet handling, quiet tires, high mileage, right? And it's it's getting the consumer preference on what they're buying tires for. You Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: know, what what's important when they're shopping for a tire? And Have they ever heard of Nexen Tire? And, you know, it's getting all that background data and all of that goes straight back to the RD team, and they're using that to Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: develop the next set of tires. The other way that we're working with Nexen is they've got a couple of sets of tires that are in the works right now that are not available for sale yet. We've had the opportunity to see the RTX, which will be released hopefully next year. And while we're at the corporate headquarters, you know, they're rolling out these prototype tires and they're going, Well, what do you think about this? What about the lug Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: count here? Are these biting edges gonna help you in your racing? You know, and so like the the things that we're giving them feedback on on these prototype tires are going to hit the market, but they're also saying, like, okay, what size do you need? We're gonna produce those first as like the next prototype. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: so that we can get you out on a test track. You can't race on them yet because they're not available for purchase, but you can go out and test them for us. So, you know, those are the kinds of things that can happen not at the racetrack and still provide value in the RD space. Megan: Yeah. Well, and that just goes to show like your knowledge in that industry, it like with the data, like that is valuable to Nexen, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: right? Because if if like I was to like work with Nexen, like I would not be able to give them that feedback. Like I don't know anything about tires. So I would not Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ha ha Megan: know what to look for or how to translate that back to them. So like that is, yeah, like your value with them because you can then Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: you can tell them exactly what you want and exactly what you need and what the consumers are wanting like by having that survey and putting it all together and being like, hey, like this is like a invaluable what we can offer to you because this like they're not gonna get that from Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: anywhere else, right? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Exactly. Exactly. And that's part again, I'm gonna just circle back. That's part of knowing your value, knowing your Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: offer, right? Like what is it that you have that Joe Schmo off the street doesn't have? And there's a lot that racers overlook because I think Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: oftentimes like we we look at ourselves and we're like, Well, all I did was I bought a race car and I got it and like I drove it on a track. You know, I'm just like everybody else. But But when it comes down to it, you're not. You're not just like everybody else. You have an experience that people don't have. You have an opportunity that other people don't have. You have an influence that other people don't have. And you've got insights that you're getting along the way that maybe you don't realize you have, but you do. And it's valuable to a lot of companies. Megan: to do in my early days of sponsorship and racing. haven't really done it in a while. but would use my experience and Opportunities when I college to work with a So when I was in school, I worked for one of the departments of education. And I helped, like I was just their graphic designer and helped with their recruiting events. So I would actually like this was something that like the like my boss, like the professor. connected me with one of the local businesses that made kits for education that schools would purchase. hey, like you guys have a like racing STEM kit. Like you guys should work with Megan to help promote it. And like so I didn't put two and two together, but he did. And I was like, my gosh, like yeah, like that is such a great sponsorship opportunity. And so that That was something that was completely Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: outside of, you know, the racing industry. Like it that was that's an endemic you know, Alex Strailer says. you like build a top fuel dragster out of paper and it comes with wheels and axles. And then the kids you know, learn engineering of like, hey, you know, my my wing is crooked, so I need to cut my paper. more straight like this way. Like the it was really cool to kind of like build your own car and then learn how to improve on it, make it better, because a lot of times they do end up really crooked and only three wheels are touching the ground. Even though like you try to follow the lines as best you can when you're cutting and folding this, it like it usually doesn't end up how Amanda Van Den Elzen: He Megan: the picture is, right? So anyways, so I worked with this company to make more dragster Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: kits and the ones that looked like our dragsters. And then went to schools and went to conferences to promote this and to sell it to them Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: and do some, you know, like just basic presentations. And it was more of like fourth and fifth graders, right? So I don't need to give them all this high tech info of race cars, but I can be like, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: hey, you know, if we change our wing angle, maybe we can have more downforce or something like that. So that's like s where I'm thinking of when you're talking about like look outside of just Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: being a race car driver. Like what are your other experiences and opportunities and occupation and education? What like connections could you build and like piece together through that? And that's still like they still sell the kits today. and so like it's it's really cool 'cause I'll hear back from them and they'll be like, Hey, you know, just check it in, like, you know, the like we still have the products and like earlier this year they interviewed both Rachel and I for a podcast that they have. And so it's just cool to like we still have a relationship with them and to see them like growing the company and they're getting a lot more involved the community and with like the college we went to. So I I am due to go down and visit them and and check in in person. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. You know what I love about that story is that the connections that you made were not in Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: like a motorsports marketing capacity. And it came from your personal life. And there's so much value in the relationships that you already have. Like I can think of from my corporate role at US Venture, I have a connection with one of the sales people that I worked with there. And I worked in learning and development. and I worked with this salesperson and his team and did some trainings for their team. Well, this guy, he's really big in World of Outlaws. So he has connections there. He works with the World of Outlaws team. And so, like, we've been talking about let's do some really cool collaborative content with Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: off-road and world of outlaws and get some really cool like sprint car off-road, you know, mix-up kind of stuff. And like those kinds of relationships. Aren't things that you purposefully build. You know, you don't go and say, like, I'm gonna go talk to Greg about stuff because I know that 15 years from now we're going to be working together on creative, collaborative content for racing, right? No, I got to know him through work. He's cool, dude. We got along really well. Found out we both liked race car things, and the way that our lives went ended up being like. Now, hey, maybe in the next couple years we have this cool opportunity. And and that's how this really works, right? It's about going out there and it's about making relationships and and meeting cool people and doing Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: cool shit because it's fun and it's working and the relationships come naturally, Megan: Mm. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: right? Yeah. And Yeah. I was talking to Cole Mamer yesterday and we were just talking Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: about like the state of of sponsorships in our sport. And it it is challenging to get money right now, right? It is challenging. It's not impossible. But one of the things that we were talking about is the fact that like the people who are bringing money in right now Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: are the people who have had these relationships for many years. And I I truly do think, much to the point of that article and and the connections that you drew from that article, I think it's veering even more in that direction. And and the people who are bringing in money right now are the people who have been working on those relationships for five, seven years, you know, coming from maybe a discount program, maybe being just like a loyal customer with a good relationship. And and those are the kinds of things I think we're gonna be seeing. Megan: Yes. Yeah. I agree. And yeah, to just kind of like bring it back, you know, we always kind of think of motorsports as a Amanda Van Den Elzen: be even more important in the future too. So yeah. Megan: little behind or a little lacking because we do focus on eyeballs, right? But I think where, you know, we do need to catch up is just proving the value Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: of those relationships and focusing on the things that we can do outside of Well, this is how many races Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: I'm going to, and this is the attendance, or or my media exposure, or this is how many social media posts I can do for you. Like they they matter, but they don't tell the entire story. And there are other things that can be so much more valuable to the brand that will help build Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: those long term relationships together and not treat it as just like a one time transaction or a you know, just a discount program. Like we need to be able to show them why and how we can help you out. And you know, one thing that I love like we do all also talk about on here is like storytelling. And like that could be another thing that can help extend a partnership is like telling the story Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: together. Because, you know, like I mean just like you said, okay, so going back to Chris and the Nexen at the baseball game, like, so like Chris is now like tied with Nexen. And like that's like your story moving together Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: is like Chris and Nexen together. Like if people see Nexen, they think of Chris. If they see Chris, they think of Nexen. And so we want to, yeah, like we just want racers to be able to ha you know have that identity a long term brand ambassador for them, but you've got to understand how to provide the value and prove that for them. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes, I love that so much. And I I think you're spot on that that is a place that we just as a whole in motorsports are not capitalizing on. The the the word that you said that I really just want to highlight is that it it shouldn't Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: feel transactional, right? Like the value that you bring is not solely from the transactions that you have with a brand. And if if a relationship is feeling transactional, then you don't really have a relationship. You have an obligation. Right. And the valuable relationships come from what's happening behind the transactions and between the transactions. It's the conversations about your family and your travels and you know, like I mean, I was we have something really cool going on with Nexen. We're doing a promo giveaway Megan: Nice. Amanda Van Den Elzen: and and like a VIP experience at Glen Helen. and I finally got everything detailed yesterday, right? But Nexen right now is doing a ride and drive event that we have nothing to do with. We're we're not involved with the tires that they're, you know, showcasing there. Chris runs them on his Mazda and loves them. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: But but like we we don't promote those tires. We are really just on like the the truck tires, right? for the most part. so like we're not out there, but we know that the whole marketing team is all hands on deck and that this is a really big job for us. So as I'm texting, them about this Glen Helen promo that we're trying to get straightened out. I'm also saying, how is the ride and drive going? Like and you know, we had a little bit of a snafu with the hotel, but the event is going really well. And, you know, just back and forth. Well, you know, people forget about a hotel snafu, but they're never gonna forget about being able to drive down an indoor Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: ski ramp, you know, like and it's just like that's the conversation Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that actually sells your program, right? Like The the data is important, you know, the the transactions are important, the deliverables are important, but but that relationship behind the scenes and being able to say, like, hey, I'm Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: super excited that you're pregnant with twins and you know, we're gonna miss you in December when you go on maternity leave. And I hope your ride and drive is going really well and and understanding how all of those things tie together for the dynamic at that company so that I'm not waiting until December to ask for something. but you know what? She's out on maternity leave and I didn't even know that was coming up. Or like, you know, right now, like we we tried, we tried really hard to have details done for our Glen Helen stuff before this ride and drive event because I know that their team is like all hands on deck right now and and the communications that I'm putting out to them right now are apologetic and here, let me take this off your plate Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: instead of like asking for something, right? Because I understand what's happening in their business right now and you know, like Those relationships Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: are what really make you more valuable because then you can deliver on your promises better, you know. Megan: Mm-hmm. Exactly. Well Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. I know that you've got an appointment to get to. We're doing Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: stuff out here with race cars, so we should probably wrap up. Honestly, I do want to say just one thing before we close close, and that is that our numbers have been drastically growing lately. Megan, Megan: Yay Yeah, awesome Amanda Van Den Elzen: I know you don't see these insights, but we've we've got a lot of people listening. And I hope that you are enjoying it enough that you're sharing this with other racers in your circles. leave Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: us some reviews, leave us some ideas for what you want to learn. What what are your challenges? So put that in the comments, DM us. Post on our social media. You know, we want to hear from you as much as you want to hear from us. So thank you. Thank you for being our loyal listeners. Thank you for following along. And we will see you in another two weeks. We'll have a guest on every other Thursday. We post a new episode. But Megan: Bye everybody. Amanda Van Den Elzen: until then, we love you. Bye.