As I have mentioned in previous posts on this blog, it appears that the money interests in this sport of scuba diving have finally determined that we need to do something different to stimulate interest in scuba diving.  Yesterday, I blogged about the DEMA Be a Diver campaign and my hopes that this will be a successful effort.  Today, I want to talk about another effort supported by DEMA to achieve this same objective.

Diver Down Motor Sports, with the support of DEMA and a number of principal manufacturers and other industry stakeholders, will field a scuba diving themed race car in the increasingly popular NASCAR Bush East Grand National series.  Led by young driver Ray Black, Jr., Team Scuba will bring scuba diving to the millions of fans of NASCAR racing.  NASCAR has demonstrated the ability to provide clean, effective sponsorship opportunities to some of the largest corporations and most prominent organizations in the country.  The brand loyalty and product recognition among NASCAR fans is among the highest for any advertising or promotional opportunity, and the number of potential consumers reached by a winning NASCAR team is simply mind-boggling.

While the connection between scuba diving and NASCAR racing may seem a little strange at first glance, this race car sponsorship idea may well make some sense.  Ray Black Jr. came onto the stock car racing scene with an amazing performance right out of the gate.  Even at his young age, he has apparently demonstrated all of the qualities necessary for a successful race car driving career.  The follow except was taken from the Team Scuba website:

 With talent and determination, 16-year-old Ray Black Jr. took the FMCRA Junior All Star series by storm. At the age of 15 he not only finished in the top five in every race, bit collected seven wins. The team secured the Championship for the FMCRA Junior All Stars, making him, FMCRA’s “Rookie of the Year for 2006.” Ray Black Jr. and Diver Down Motorsports’ “Team Scuba’ have built a reputation of solid and honest racing style.

If Team Scuba and Ray are able to lead only one or two races in the Bush East series next year, the television exposure on cable channels that exactly target the diving demographic will be invaluable.  Scuba diving should realize the same benefits seen by the largest corporations in the country through NASCAR sponsorship.

This industry sponsorship of a NASCAR team is exactly the out-of-the-box thinking that is essential to the growth of this industry and this sport.   I know I will be personally taking a little more interest in Bush racing next year and everyone involved in the industry, either consumer or supplier, should wish Ray Black, Jr and Team Scuba good luck.

Phil Ellis

Your Local Scuba Store…No Matter Where You Live!