by Bob Goodwin
On September 14th, Andrew Miller (VP of Billboards2go.com) was the race driver behind-the-wheel at the US Diesel Truckin’ Nationals. Andrew did not drive the Billboards2Go professional dragster, but he did race one of the company’s diesel powered mobile billboards. (photo shown left) According to track officials, the annual event at Raceway Park in Englishtown New Jersey attracted over seventeen thousand people- it’s biggest turnout in 25 years.
The US Diesel Truckin Nationals is an all day "trucks only" event that features hundreds of custom, racing and show trucks, plus the Transportation Industry Service and Equipment trade show. The event culminated with a thrill show featuring jet powered trucks, dragster trucks and Monster trucks pouncing on and crushing several lines of junked cars. The event draws huge crowds of people who work in the trucking and related industries among many others, young and old who just love trucks. There is no other truck extravaganza like it. Best of all, the thousands of Truckers, Fleet Owners, Manufacturers and Fans all attended with a good frame of mind and a special camaraderie that seems to exists only between soldiers that have experienced the crucible of combat together.
Andrew ran 5 passes down the packed-bleacher drag strip making it all the way to the semi-finals. His Billboards2Go truck raced the ¼ mile track at decent ET of 25 seconds and at a shattering top speed of about 52 MPH. He was in a good position to win in his category when he “red lighted” on his last pass. Additionally after each pass, Andrew stopped a few times in different spots on the return road in front of the bleachers and tossed HFI logo tee-shirts and caps to the overwhelmingly enthusiastic crowd. Between the races the Billboard2Go truck slowly cruised the pit areas and parked in prominent positions to get the best possible exposure for the client HFI.
You may be asking yourself, how can a billboard truck win any race when they seem to be slow and lumbering? It’s an easy answer… it’s called Bracket Racing (Google it). Bracket Racing is a form of drag racing that allows for a handicap between the predicted elapsed times of two faster and slower vehicles racing down a 1/4 mile drag strip. The effect of the bracket racing rules is to place a premium on consistency of performance of the driver/vehicle package rather than on raw speed and HP, which in turn makes victory less dependent on large infusions of money, and more dependent on mechanical tuning and driving skill.
The Billboards2Go mobile billboard truck featured a message from the HFI Isuzu Truck Dealership. According to the HFI VP Brian Costigan, the audience and method of placement of his ad was ideal in every way. They were very pleased with the massive targeted exposure opportunity for their company. So much so that HFI booked the event again (that day) for the 2014 race. Andrew says he doesn't know of any other advertising job that would be as exciting on so many levels. His personal feeling about truck racing and getting targeted media exposure at the same time for his client is summed up in a few words… “Daddy has to go to work now. See you later kids.”
This article was written and submitted by Bob Goodwin, Customer Service Manager at Billboards2Go.com. All inquiries about Billboards2Go.com media services may be sent to Andrew Miller, VP via email: Andrew@Billboards2Go.com
