Bernstein adds another new sponsor (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Bobby Bennett
- Start date
Justin how many Championships have Force/Bernstein won? You can't compare they're marketability with the Sport in General. Look at how many times a sponsor starts out with a low Buck team then vaults to one of the Big guns!
Joker
Nitro Member
I understand that Joe but even before they won a race muchless a championship they had sponsors. I know Kenny came from money but John sure didnt. There are some people who have the ability to get a sponsor for anything and turn a dime into a dollar and they happen to be 2 of them.
handsome
Nitro Member
what do you mean about kenny coming from money? i read his book and don't remember anything about his family having money. kenny seems to be a self made man with an incredible eye and aptitude for buisness and now with bazemore going to top fuel i have a new team to root for in f/c.
Joker
Nitro Member
Well I stand corrected then, I thought I read somewhere that Kenny's dad was pretty well off. Not loaded or anything but had money and I knew that Kenny owned some businesses befoer his race team and such. I didnt even know he had a book, never seen it or heard about it. I would like some info on it if you have it Bruce. Thanks.
DrRocket
Nitro Member
I know for sure one of his businesses was a group of successful restaurants in the Texas area. (I can't remember the name, but I believe they had an English theme.) When He sold those, he did very well. I don't think anyone doubts his business acumen. Anyone who can hold onto a major sponsor, and keep them happy for as long as he has knows what he's doing in my book.
Rollout96
Nitro Member
Wasn't it something like "Chelsea"? I think his car said "Chelsea King". Maybe that was the restaurants' name too.
B
Buzzz Miller
"Chelsea Street Pub" if I am not mistaken.
Prestaged
Nitro Member
That was it. I ate at one in Florida many years ago, just a year or two before Kenny made the sale of the restaurants. He has been a full time drag racer ever since. Say what you will about the guy, but he IS an entrepreneur.
The chelsea king funny car was named after a popular sandwich at his restaurant . He got the budweiser sponsorship by during a rained out race he packed up the race car and hoped in the truck and drove to the budweiser factory and set up a little unprepared display outside and it managed to get him the sponsorship , Well thats the legend anyway.
handsome
Nitro Member
i am pretty sure that it was mentioned during the audiocast during the finals at pomona. bob frey was talking with the gentleman during one of the rounds of qualifying.......... johnny west... i kept looking on the web after i heard that but never saw an official announcement. mabey bobby bennett can let us know. quick bobby ,start diggin'
The Counterfeiter
Nitro Member
This is a good thing . . . but
It's good to see the King and Prince bring a new sponsor on board. That being said, I just don't see how that average guy in the stands who has saved up all year and used his vacation to attend a race is going to relate to this.
We'll never know how much money changed hands here, but if it's not significant, you can bet the new sponsor's signage will be all but invisible from the stands and on TV. Should be interesting to see how long this lasts.
It's good to see the King and Prince bring a new sponsor on board. That being said, I just don't see how that average guy in the stands who has saved up all year and used his vacation to attend a race is going to relate to this.
We'll never know how much money changed hands here, but if it's not significant, you can bet the new sponsor's signage will be all but invisible from the stands and on TV. Should be interesting to see how long this lasts.
At one time he owned over 20 franchises, including one here in Albuq. Once he started racing he eventually sold them off I heard. The first one was in Lubbock Tx.
Kelly Andersen
Nitro Member
I saw somewhere Kenny got his start selling clothing in his dads store. Not sure what kind of store though.
