The Inside Racing Podcast

How do you create a compelling fan experience? What do today's fans want? Why is storytelling so important? Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins covers a ton of ground with Kasey Coler. Kasey is the Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy for the NHRA. He reveals what he's learned in his stints with IndyCar and the Professional Bull Riders and what he's working on with the NHRA. This conversation uncovers some of the biggest issues facing sports and entertainment and how you can leverage your assets, stories and partners to bring your events to life. In this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, Kasey reminds us how important it is to experience this sport live and why we need to do a better job getting people to the track, stadium or arena. This episode is packed full of great tips and ideas. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Do you want to talk more with Kasey? You can visit NHRA.com or send him an email [email protected].

Are taxes and financial matters the last thing you want to deal with after a long day at the track? Are you constantly worried about compliance? Are you maximizing deductions and getting all of your expenses accounted for? The racing business is a whole different animal. At times, it can be overwhelming to manage. In this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, we chat with CPA and former racing promoter Brent Cox. Brent shares his strategies and recommendations for building a great financial foundation. Whether you are concerned with maximizing revenue, managing expenses or proper reporting, we cover it all. Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins asks Brent about the unique nature of racing and how to avoid typical accounting pitfalls. Brent provides clarity when it comes to employees vs. contractors, part-time workers and managing a seasonal business. Stop guessing and start getting the help you need to build your racing operation. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Are you interested in official advice from Brent? Visit www.coxbeckmangoss.com, call 317-545-0845 or email Brent: [email protected]

What drives fan behavior? Who are your customers? What are the best strategies for marketing to and communicating with your customers? Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins asks Dave Wakeman to uncover some of the myths he's observed and insights he's gained throughout his career. Dave Wakeman, The Revenue Architect, is an expert on marketing, branding and revenue generation. It's all about your customers: the value you create for them, who they are and how do you reach them? In this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, Dave questions the behaviors and methods used in sports to attract real, engaged customers, not fans. Stop making assumptions and start getting clear by talking with your customers and understanding what they want and need. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Are you interested in keeping the conversation going with Dave? Visit www.DaveWakeman.com or follow Dave on Twitter (@davidwakeman). You'll also love Dave's Business of Value newsletter, which is a free subscription when you sign-up on his website.

Dave also mentioned Seth Godin's book All Marketers are Liars (All Marketers Tell Stories, revised)

So you're a racing entrepreneur. Are you crazy or just a typical business owner? What does it take to win as a business owner? How do you create sustainable long-term value instead of short-term profits? On this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, we chat with entrepreneurship expert Mel Abraham. Mel dives into the passion required and approach you'll need to have success. Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins works with Mel to uncover the in's and out's of business ownership. What are the myths and misconceptions, what are the risks and what are the common mistakes other business owners have made. Mel shows us there's a way to think about owning your business that will help you sustain the good times much longer. Most importantly, he provides us with the most important question you can ask yourself as an entrepreneur and the future of entrepreneurship. (Hint: It has a lot to do with a recurring theme we've been discussing on the podcast.) Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Do you want to learn more about Entrepreneurial Thinking? Check out www.melabraham.com. For a deep dive into how to build a business model, you'll love Business Breakthrough Academy (http://www.businessbreakthroughacademy.com/) or for some great online training related to Mel's Book The Entrepreneur's Solution visit: http://www.theentrepreneurssolution.com

Mel also recommended some great books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Blue Ocean Strategy by Mauborgne and Kim.

What is Corporate Social Responsibility? How can it have a positive impact for motorsports? Can and should you implement a CSR program within your racing operation? In this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, CSR expert Dora Lutz shares her knowledge on the topic. She defines CSR and discusses its history, offers suggestions for leveraging opportunities and busts the myths about CSR. Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins dives deep into this topic with Dora. They look at CSR from a small business perspective, talk about how it can impact racing and highlight ideas for building strong long-term relationships for your business. CSR lets you make an impact and do good with your internal stakeholders and the community at large. You can absolutely launch a CSR program today. This new trend is something you'll want to pay attention to in the coming race season. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Would you like to ask Dora more about CSR? You can email her: [email protected] or check out her website www.giving-spring.com. You can sign up for her newsletter and take an audit to see where your company lands on the CSR spectrum.

What challenges will short tracks face in 2017? As a track owner or promoter what challenges can you control? Are you setting yourself up for financial success or failure? On this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, John and Joe highlight their 5 biggest challenges facing short track racing in 2017. They identify trends caused by decisions within the industry and look at outside forces as well. Business expert and racing promoter John Robbins continues his discussion with Joe Janowski, owner of the National Karting Alliance. Once again, John and Joe go totally unscripted to debate the challenges (good and bad) in short track racing. They discuss front gate vs. back gate, standardizing rules, low car counts, bad social media content, the lack of money in racing, attracting fans and more. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Want to talk business models with Joe? Head over to www.nkaonline.com or email him [email protected]

What trends will continue to impact short track racing in 2017? What are the next big things to consider as the 2017 season approaches? How can you maintain your traditions, embrace change and thrive? Business expert and racing promoter John Robbins teams up with the National Karting Alliance's Joe Janowski to debate the biggest trends facing short track racing in the coming year. John and Joe each bring their 5 biggest trends to the table for discussion. This unscripted conversation uncovers some very interesting observations. In this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, the show celebrates the new year with a totally different format. John and Joe cover topics that include: social media, marketing, sponsorship, fan experience, ticketing, technology and more. This episode is a great way to kick off a new year and a new season for short track racing. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Interested in chatting with Joe? Head over to www.nkaonline.com or email him [email protected]

How can you develop a comprehensive PR and advertising plan? What does it take to get noticed by media and race fans? How can you partner with local and regional tourism to build long-term relationships? On this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, Public Relations authority Vanessa Stiles shares tips and best practices from her career in PR, events and advertising. She reveals her three most important lessons for track owners and provides a guide for building the right PR and Advertising plan. Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins works with Vanessa to uncover the secrets of storytelling and reaching your audience. Once you start to understand Vanessa's approach you will see how to turn your drivers into stars. These strategies will allow you to connect with your fans and the community. You'll gain insight on how to begin creating unique experiences for guests. Finally, you'll hear how tourism can be good for your venue. This episode will help you see the power of your racing operation. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Want to keep the conversation going with Vanessa? Tweet her @VictorySunPR, connect on LinkedIn or email her [email protected]

Do you have a cyber security plan? Can your operation recover from a disaster? Do you know what threats are most likely to affect you? Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins invites Brian back on the show to share his knowledge on this very important topic. He discusses why cyber security is a hot topic in technology and how you can protect yourself against hackers. On this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, technology expert Brian Rappe brings 15-plus years of experience to the table to reveal exactly where you should focus your efforts. It's not just cyber security but disaster recovery as well. What happens after an attack or a natural disaster? How do you keep your operation up and running. When your business depends on technology, downtime is not an option. This episode will help you better understand exactly what you need to know to stay safe with technology. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Want to learn more from Brian? Give him a shout 317-215-5525 or send him an email:[email protected].

To learn more about TLS.net and their offerings visit www.TLS.net

What are sponsors looking for in a partnership? How is digital advertising driving the need for metrics? Why are custom programs so important in today's sponsorship market? Business expert and motorsports professional John Robbins uncovers corporate sponsorship insights from Rob Louthain. Rob has 20-plus years of experience working in sports marketing with the Indianapolis Colts, Learfield Sports, Chicago White Sox and the PGA's Western Open. He discusses how sponsorships have evolved over time. Today it's more about corporate partnerships than traditional sponsorships. There's more emphasis on creating mutually beneficial relationships and going the extra mile to develop custom programs in sports. In this episode of The Inside Racing Podcast, Rob explains exactly what his corporate partners are looking for. For them it's all about breaking through the clutter and creating a unique experience to reach the key objectives of their marketing plan. This episode will get you to think differently about your approach with new and existing corporate partners. Whether you are just getting started or you've been promoting racing for decades, there's something here for you.

Want more episodes like this? Visit www.NSTAracing.com/archive for past episodes. Become a VIP Listener and get access to exclusive listener bonuses. Join the conversation on Twitter (@NSTA_Racing), Facebook (@NSTAracing) or email [email protected].

Want to chat with Rob? Send him an email [email protected]