What brings a new sponsor into NASCAR?

Earlier this week, Young’s Motorsports announced it would field a fulltime entry in the Gander Outdoors NASCAR Truck Series this season with up-and-coming driver Gus Dean, who has competed in ARCA the past two seasons.

Sponsoring Dean for a significant portion of the 2019 season is LG Air Conditioning Technologies, a division of LG Corp., a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation that manufacturers cell phones, appliances, TVs, computers and even solar technology.

It’s LG’s first foray into sponsorship in NASCAR.

Gus Dean LG-sponsored NASCAR Truck

Photo by: Grace Krenrich

So, how does a company like LG finally decide to pull the trigger and venture into motorsports, and specifically NASCAR?

“A lot goes into it. We have lots of opportunities to sponsor things and I think the biggest thing for me is when Charlie (Dean, Gus’ father) and Gus were sitting around talking and getting to learn about Gus and his history and what he’s done and their passion for this sport,” said Kevin McNamara, senior vice president and general manager, Air Conditioning Technologies, LG Electronics USA.

“Being a dad, and my son is kind of in the same age range, I was like, ‘Here’s a great young guy. Here’s a guy that’s committed to what he does. He works real hard. He wants to be a winner, he is a winner.’

“We just thought it was the opportunity to associate with a really good group of folks and somebody who is going to do real well and be a part of a winning team. It was a very easy decision to make, quite frankly, with all the other decisions we have.”

Companies like LG are pitched sponsorship opportunities daily but McNamara said personal relationships with those involved is probably the biggest deciding factor on completing a deal.

“We could sponsor anything we wanted to, any sport, any activity. It’s about people. It’s a business of course but if you’re not associated with the right kind of folks then there is no point in doing it.

“Then with NASCAR, and with as big as NASCAR is, it is still very personal. People relate to the drivers, people relate to the teams and it’s a good thing for us. For LG to be part if it is a big plus.”

Gus Dean LG-sponsored NASCAR Truck

Photo by: Grace Krenrich

LG is already cashing in on its NASCAR sponsorship even though Dean’s No. 12 Chevrolet hasn’t yet hit the track.

One of Dean’s LG-sponsored trucks will be on display during the upcoming International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition in Atlanta, site of LG’s air conditioning technologies headquarters.

“We’ve kept it off the radar screen a little bit but as part of one of our events at the expo, we’re going to have a truck there,” McNamara said. “Our employees, our partners, our customers are all going to see this at the same time.

“We think it’s a great opportunity to blow up the excitement to a whole new level.”

Dean said the faith and trust from LG is “very humbling.”

“Like they said, they could take their money and put it anywhere they want to. They could put it on billboards, but they chose to use me as their marketing platform,” he said.

“Obviously, they feel I can represent the company well which is an enormous honor. And in doing so, they are allowing me to live out my dream. I’ve been racing my entire life and now I’m going to be in one of the big three NASCAR series.

“That’s possible because of them and their faith in me to represent them both on and off the track. It’s a little bit of added pressure but I like pressure. I’m really excited and I can’t wait to represent them and get them out front.”