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Monster rises in first year of NASCAR deal

In its first year as title sponsor of NASCAR’s premier series, Monster Energy’s deal has already become one of the most recognized partnerships in sports, according to the results of the property’s 11th annual sponsor loyalty survey conducted for SportsBusiness Journal by Turnkey Sports & Entertainment.

Monster signed on with NASCAR to become title sponsor for 2017 and 2018 in a deal worth about $20 million annually — with a two-year option for 2019 and 2020. Monster brought a different vibe from prior title sponsor Sprint, introducing more risque and adrenaline-packed activations such as the ubiquitous Monster Energy Girl models, Bellator MMA fights and motorcycle stunt shows on the midway. Monster also leveraged title sponsorship assets to sign an expanded business-to-business deal with Kroger, introduce a can promo that let fans into Friday’s practice sessions for free, and eventually introduce retail activation at convenience and grocery stores in race markets.

That led to a recognition rate of 50.5 percent in the 2017 survey, good enough to make it the seventh-most-recognized partnership out of all deals studied across sports.

Mitch Covington, Monster’s vice president of sports marketing, has refused media requests in recent months as the company maps out possible renewals with NASCAR, Stewart-Haas Racing and NHRA team John Force Racing. But Brian France, NASCAR’s chairman and CEO, said during a press conference in November that the sanctioning body was pleased with the first year of the partnership, which did come with growing pains.

“We’ve been really pleased with how Monster has come in and engaged with our fans … in all markets it’s been fantastic,” France said. “Their young, edgy demo, they’re motorsports centric and they always have been in their culture. … This is also a complicated sport to make sure that they’re getting all the value, but they’re getting a lot of value, and we’re very pleased with where that relationship is.”

While Monster’s relatively high marks were a major takeaway, Goodyear had the highest recognition rate in any category for the sixth year in a row, though its figures were slightly down among avid fans, from an overall recognition rate of 57 percent last year to 56 percent this year.

In the automaker category, all three brands in the sport — Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota — garnered their highest awareness levels ever in the NASCAR study. Toyota won this year’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship, its second in three seasons, and the Japanese brand continued its growth in recognition rate; after hitting an all-time high of about 37 percent last year, Toyota stretched that to 42 percent this year. Meanwhile, Ford and Chevrolet were both up about 7 percentage points from last year.

In its second year as the sport’s official credit card, Credit One Bank came in with an overall 17 percent recognition rate, up solidly from the 13 percent recognition rate among avid and casual fans that the Las Vegas-based company earned in 2016. Still, the company came in behind Visa, which was incorrectly identified as NASCAR’s official credit card by about 28 percent of respondents.


Methodology

For this project, Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, through its Turnkey Intelligence operation, conducted national consumer research surveys among a sample of more than 400 members of the Toluna online panel who were at least 18 years old.

This year’s survey was conducted Nov. 7-25. The 2015 survey was conducted Nov. 18-Dec. 3.

Respondents were screened and analyzed based on general avidity levels. Fans categorized as “avid” were ones who responded “4” or “5” to the question “How big a fan are you of NASCAR?” and then claimed to “look up news, scores and standings several times a week or more often,” “watch/listen/attend at least 21 races per season” and “have a favorite driver.” Fans categorized as “casual” responded “3” to the same initial question, then claimed to “look up news, scores and standings several times a month or more often,” “watch/listen/attend at least five races per season” and “have a favorite driver.”

When asked to identify official sponsors, respondents selected from a field of companies and brands that was provided to them for each business sector. The percentage responses listed have been rounded. The margin of error for each survey is +/- 4.9 percent.

What Brands Do NASCAR Fans Consider Buying?

To read: 82 percent of NASCAR fans said they would be more likely to consider buying NASCAR’s official motor oil if they knew which brand had that designation. The rate decreased to 45 percent when considering only those NASCAR fans who did not know that Mobil 1 is NASCAR’s official motor oil.

CATEGORY (NASCAR SPONSOR) AMONG NASCAR FANS WHO CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE SPONSOR AMONG NASCAR FANS WHO DID NOT CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE SPONSOR DIFFERENCE
Motor oil (Mobil 1) 82% 45% +37 pct. points
Airline (Allegiant) 53% 16% +37 pct. points
Fuel (Sunoco) 55% 24% +31 pct. points
Tire (Goodyear) 84% 54% +30 pct. points
Beer (Coors Light) 64% 34% +30 pct. points
Chocolate (M&M’s) 85% 57% +28 pct. points
Credit card (Credit One) 45% 17% +28 pct. points
Insurance (Nationwide) 59% 34% +25 pct. points
Soft drink (Coca-Cola) 80% 61% +19 pct. points

What Brands Do Fans Think Are NASCAR Sponsors?

To read: 50 percent of NASCAR fans said they think M&M’s should be a NASCAR sponsor, compared with 15 percent who think Cadbury should have a NASCAR deal. Those numbers became 66 percent and 15 percent, respectively, when considering only those NASCAR fans who correctly knew that M&M’s is NASCAR’s official chocolate.

Among all nascar Fans AMONG nascar FANS WHO CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE SPONSOR
NASCAR SPONSOR/COMPETITOR RESPONSE RATES DIFFERENCE RESPONSE RATES DIFFERENCE
M&M’s/ Cadbury 50% / 15% +35 pct. points 66% / 15% +51 pct. points
Goodyear / Bridgestone 58% / 33% +25 pct. points 70% / 28% +42 pct. points
Mobil 1 / Castrol Edge 35% / 18% +17 pct. points 51% / 17% +34 pct. points
Coca-Cola / Pepsi 64% / 45% +19 pct. points 74% / 44% +30 pct. points
Nationwide / State Farm 36% / 33% +3 pct. points 55% / 37% +18 pct. points
Allegiant / Frontier 12% / 10% +2 pct. points 25% / 12% +13 pct. points
Sunoco / Shell 23% / 35% -12 pct. points 37% / 32% +5 pct. points
Coors Light / Bud Light 29% / 38% -9 pct. points 38% / 36% +2 pct. points
Credit One / MasterCard 14% / 44% -30 pct. points 18% / 43% -25 pct. points

Notes: Fans could select both the official sponsor and the competitor if they chose to do so. The one specific competing company listed was selected by Turnkey for consideration in the survey file.


Impact on Sampling and Support

Are you more or less likely to consider trying a product/service if that product/service is an official sponsor of NASCAR?

  Avid Casual
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
More likely 81% 79% 72% 62% 63% 51%
Unaffected / less likely 19% 21% 28% 39% 37% 49%

Are you more or less likely to consciously support a company by purchasing its products/services if the company is an official sponsor of NASCAR?

  Avid Casual
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
More likely 83% 81% 69% 59% 62% 55%
Unaffected / less likely 18% 19% 31% 41% 38% 45%

Are you more or less likely to recommend a product/service to a friend or family member if that product/service is an official sponsor of NASCAR?

  Avid Casual
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
More likely 80% 76% 66% 59% 65% 48%
Unaffected / less likely 21% 24% 34% 41% 35% 52%

Which of the following is an official sponsor of NASCAR?

  Avid Casual
TIRE
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Goodyear* 61.0% 62.5% 72.1% 51.0% 51.0% 61.2%
Firestone 11.0% 6.5% 7.5% 11.5% 13.5% 11.9%
Bridgestone 12.0% 12.0% 4.0% 8.5% 6.0% 6.0%
Michelin  4.5% 6.5% 3.5% 12.0% 8.5% 5.0%
I’m not sure 2.0% 7.0% 6.0% 11.0% 15.0% 14.9%
  Avid Casual
Energy Drink
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Monster* 53.0% NA NA 48.0% NA NA
Red Bull 23.5% NA NA 21.5% NA NA
AMP Energy 5.5% NA NA 4.0% NA NA
I’m not sure 4.5% NA NA 15.5% NA NA
  Avid Casual
Soft Drink
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Coca-Cola* 54.0% 59.5% 61.2% 46.5% 50.0% 48.3%
Pepsi 18.5% 10.5% 12.4% 16.0% 7.5% 13.4%
Mountain Dew 11.0% 8.5% 9.0% 9.0% 11.5% 13.4%
I’m not sure 4.0% 10.5% 9.5% 16.0% 15.0% 18.9%
  Avid Casual
Automobile
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Chevrolet* 47.5% 39.0% 43.8% 43.5% 38.5% 29.9%
Toyota* 48.5% 46.5% 41.8% 35.5% 27.0% 20.4%
Ford* 41.5% 32.0% 30.8% 33.0% 28.0% 30.3%
Dodge 17.5% 15.0% 13.4% 12.0% 13.5% 12.9%
I’m not sure 9.5% 15.0% 17.4% 20.5% 22.0% 38.3%
  Avid Casual
Fuel
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Sunoco* 45.0% 44.5% 52.2% 32.5% 32.0% 33.3%
Exxon 11.0% 12.0% 11.4% 16.5% 15.5% 9.5%
Shell 12.5% 10.0% 9.0% 12.5% 13.0% 10.0%
Chevron 11.0% 13.5% 9.0% 13.0% 7.5% 12.9%
I’m not sure 4.5% 10.5% 8.5% 13.0% 19.5% 28.4%
  Avid Casual
Chocolate
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
M&M’s* 47.5% 47.5% NA 39.5% 46.0% NA
Snickers 14.5% 15.5% NA 14.5% 12.0% NA
Kit Kat 8.0% 8.0% NA 8.0% 5.5% NA
Reese’s 7.0% 6.0% NA 6.0% 4.5% NA
Cadbury 5.5% 2.5% NA 5.0% 2.0% NA
I’m not sure 13.0% 18.0% NA 22.5% 25.0% NA
  Avid Casual
Motor Oil
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Mobil (Mobil 1)* 37.5% 38.5% 36.8% 33.5% 38.5% 35.3%
Pennzoil (Pennzoil Ultra) 13.0% 15.0% 15.4% 19.0% 14.5% 19.9%
Valvoline 11.5% 10.0% 9.5% 10.0% 9.5% 9.5%
Castrol/Castrol Edge 9.0% 8.0% 7.5% 7.0% 7.5% 4.5%
I’m not sure 10.5% 11.5% 15.9% 13.0% 16.5% 21.9%
  Avid Casual
Insurance
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Nationwide* 38.5% 42.0% 46.3% 29.0% 30.0% 30.3%
Geico 11.5% 9.5% 11.4% 16.0% 9.0% 11.9%
Allstate 13.0% 11.5% 6.0% 8.0% 7.0% 7.0%
State Farm 8.0% 6.5% 6.5% 8.0% 11.0% 4.5%
Progressive 5.0% 5.5% 3.5% 7.0% 4.0% 5.5%
I’m not sure 9.5% 14.0% 15.9% 21.0% 30.0% 34.3%
  Avid Casual
Beer
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Bud Light 33.5% 30.0% 32.8% 27.5% 29.0% 32.3%
Coors Light* 22.5% 29.0% 25.9% 23.5% 30.5% 31.8%
Miller Lite 11.5% 11.5% 10.4% 14.0% 6.5% 9.5%
I’m not sure 11.0% 14.0% 14.9% 15.0% 18.5% 18.9%
  Avid Casual
Credit Card
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
Visa 25.5% 24.0% 34.8% 30.0% 29.5% 33.8%
Credit One* 19.5% 15.5% NA 14.0% 10.5% NA
MasterCard 18.0% 19.5% 13.9% 14.5% 17.0% 11.9%
American Express 11.0% 10.0% 10.9% 11.0% 9.0% 7.5%
Discover 10.0% 8.5% 6.0% 6.5% 6.0% 4.0%
I’m not sure 16.0% 22.5% 31.3% 24.0% 28.0% 41.8%
  Avid Casual
Airline
  2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015
American 15.0% 17.5% NA 14.5% 13.5% NA
Allegiant* 13.0% 12.0% NA 15.5% 21.0% NA
Southwest 14.5% 13.0% NA 10.5% 10.5% NA
United 12.5% 8.5% NA 7.5% 5.0% NA
I’m not sure 28.5% 34.0% NA 32.5% 38.0% NA

* Official NASCAR sponsor
NA — Not available; this category was not asked about in the annual survey prior to this year.


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