Game Boy: Videogame Chain Sees Logano Sponsorship As Good Fit

GameStop Sponsoring Logano In 20 Nationwide Races

Videogame retail chain GameStop is serving as the primary sponsor on Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Nationwide Series entry driven by Joey Logano, and if there "ever was a perfect fit between driver and sponsor," it would be that pairing, according to Anthony Andro of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. GameStop is "expanding its [advertising] in all markets," and it is "riding the wave of one of the hottest names in racing." GameStop Exec VP/Merchandising & Marketing Tony Bartel said that the company has "taken advantage of NASCAR's 75 million fans" by making Logano's car a "driving billboard." Andro notes while paint schemes "rarely change on Logano's Sprint Cup ride -- the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota -- that's not the case for the GameStop car." When there is a "new video game the company wants to promote, it does it on Logano's car and gains national television exposure." Logano already has driven a car promoting Microsoft Game Studios' "Halo Wars" at the March 21 Scotts Turf Builder 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, and his car will feature a paint scheme for Activision's "Guitar Hero: Metallica" during Saturday's O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. Bartel said that GameStop is "comfortable sponsoring Logano's Nationwide ride," as it does not "cost as much as the Sprint Car series and the company is seeing a return on its investment" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/1).

IMPROVING ITS VISION: Vision Racing has added IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay to the team's '09 driver roster. Hunter-Reay will drive the team's No. 21 car, and while sponsorship of the car is still in the developmental stages, a formal announcement is expected following Sunday's season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Izod, the official apparel sponsor of IndyCar, will continue the sponsorship of Hunter-Reay it agreed to last season (Vision Racing).