End of an Era
Today Kodak announced it will no longer be a motorsports sponsor. 2008 will conclude 23 years that Kodak has been involved in motorsports as a NASCAR Official Sponsor and a race team partner. We have enjoyed an 18 year relationship with Morgan-McClure Motorsports and a 5 year relationship with Penske Racing. During those years, 23 different drivers have piloted a Kodak race car in NASCAR's elite series. The Kodak car has seen 620 Winston Cup/Nextel Cup/Sprint Series Cup races, earning 147 Top Ten finishes, 63 Top 5 finishes, and 14 wins including the 1991, 1994, and 1995 Daytona 500. We were also part of Ryan Newman's Daytona 500 win this year.
Based on statistics alone, Ernie Irvan was the most successful Kodak driver. From 1990-1993, Ernie drove the Kodak race car in 105 races, finishing almost half those races in the Top Ten (51), seven of them wins, and one of them the Daytona 500. Ernie averaged a 14th place finish in his career as a Kodak driver.
Sterling Marlin was our next most successful driver with 49 Top Tens and six wins in 125 races. Two of Sterling's wins were back-to-back Daytona 500 wins in 1994 and 1995. Sterling raced for Kodak from 1994-1997.
Many other well known drivers took a turn at the wheel of the Kodak race car over the years including Rusty Wallace, Phil Parsons, Robby Gordon, Mike Skinner, Bobby Hamilton and Ryan Newman.
Kodak has participated in other U.S.-based motorsports series including ARCA (where Kodak won a race with Stephen Wallace in 2005), NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, NASCAR Busch Series, Grand Am-Rolex Series (Kodak won the season-opening 2004 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Bell Motorsports), and the IndyCar Series.
While I have managed the Kodak Motorsports program for the past six years, I must acknowledge the amazing job my predecessors did in putting together a top-notch sponsorship during the 17 years before me. Two current Kodak employees, Bob Peavey and Walt Kowalik, had a hand in much of that success (if you see them, say "Thanks!"). Much of what I learned about NASCAR was either passed on to me by former Kodaker Bob "Monk" Mayhue, something I read in a "NASCAR for Dummies" book , or simply learned "on the job."
I attended my first race in November 2002, the Fall Talladega race, with former Kodak VP of Sponsorship Bud Denker, and Kodak Director of Brand Events and Activation Karen Kozak, for a primer on all things NASCAR. We returned from that experience energized about motorsports as a way to strengthen Kodak's relationship with tens of millions of racing fans.
The following year, Kodak moved Kodak Racing from the Film Group to the corporate function to engage each Kodak business unit in leveraging the sponsorship assets and driving a broad return on investment. Beginning in 2003, Kodak used the race car as a "vehicle" to promote Kodak products including motion picture films, digital cameras, inkjet printers and KODAK Gallery.
From 2003-2005, we traded the space on the race car "deck lid" (trunk) with our retail partners. In return, those partners provided Kodak increased floor display for our products.
One of the most valuable revenue-driving programs was customer hospitality. Kodak has hosted customers at Daytona 500s, Indianapolis 500s, Watkins Glen, Homestead and a number of other regional races over the years.
By far the most rewarding part of working on the Kodak Motorsports program was meeting the fans. Here's a picture of a fan at the 2004 California Labor Day race wearing a homemade hat featuring a Kodak pit stop!
No matter which race team, race car or driver we were aligned with, we raced hard, worked hard and had fun doing it. I have so many memories but here are just a few of my favorites:
- Rusty Wallace's birthday - During Watkins Glen weekend in 2005 I brought a Kodak guest to meet Rusty in his motorcoach. While visiting, a thunderstorm hit the track and lasted two hours. We ended up spending the afternoon talking to Rusty and his wife Patty. Once the weather finally broke, Rusty invited us to grab a bite to eat with him and his wife. Over dinner, he told us it was his 49th birthday. To top it off, 2005 marked Rusty's final season. That was definitely one of the highlights of my tenure.
- Watkins Glen weekends - Each year we did something different for employees around the Watkins Glen race including Kodak Night at the Red Wings game and driver autograph sessions.
- Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 - Anyone who has been to these 2 races knows just how special they are. Great for celebrity watching as well as incredible race action.
- Hollywood partnerships - Working with the team in Hollywood to create programs that strengthened Kodak's relationship with studio partners has not only been beneficial to the company but also a lot of fun! This year's Kodak/"Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" race car with Universal Studios was a blast. The car was cool and we got to hang out with the star, Brendan Fraser, for the day. No one who saw it, will ever forget Brendan shouting "Gentlemen, start your engines!" in his Kodak crew shirt.
- Our extended team - Throughout the years, we have had no shortage of Kodak employees wanting to help with the program. This is especially true when it comes to our Watkins Glen weekend activities. There is not enough space here to list everyone's names, but please know how much your enthusiasm, diligence and perfect execution has meant to our team. You know who you are!
- Race teams - Behind the drivers, the crew chiefs and the owners are the men and women who are the backbone of the race teams that we sponsored. From the folks working in the garage, to the transporter and merchandise trailer drivers, to the office staff, we were fortunate to have known you and I thank you for helping Kodak maximize our racing partnerships. We will miss you.
Now, the checkered flag drops and we pass the finish line. We load up our equipment and leave the track for the last time. The lights shine bright as we drive away, but our memories shine even brighter. It was a great ride.
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Comments
Posted By: John Douglas (1/14/2009)
Comment: ok, before i tell you all how much you have affected my life i must first say that you are the only company ive ever seen do anything like this and its great.
Im from the Syracuse area and i can tell you as someone from kodaks homestate this one hurts alot. rick wilson ernie irvan sterling marlin brendan gaughan. These are the drivers we saw drive a kodak car every sunday. what we didnt see is all the dedicated passionate kodak employees who didnt just become part of the racing program to increse sales and raise profits. they came to race and to savor every moment. I was lucky enough to drive by the Eastman Kodak Building in Rochester NY lit up in all its glory during i believe a fourth of july celebration and it was the most beautiful thing ive ever seen period! and yes my kodak digital cam did the picture taking. Well after all that what im trying to say is thank you from a fellow new yorker for adding, through racing and not some of the most memorable moments of my life. Thats not a kodak moment, thats a kodak lifetime.
Posted By: Gabe Meyers (12/5/2008)
Comment: Tom,
How do we thank you and the teams that gave us so much to cheer for and be proud of - even when we didn't win. As one of the NASCAR nuts I have so many memories that without the Kodak team would not have been possible. The folks at both MMM and Penske Racing always treated us Kodakers like family taking us behind the scenes at the shops, allowing us to bring friends so that we could show off the pride in "our" race team. I will never forget the passionate conversations I had with both you and Bud Denker about the status of the program and the team.
Of course my two favorite memories involve drivers but were both off the track. The first was the conversation my husband and I had with Mike and Angie Skinner and I just remember the passion when they talked about the relationship they had with the folks at Kodak. The second was Brendan Gaughan convincing a lady that his image would not appear on her camera because it was not Kodak (She really believed him). He was and still is a great spokesman, for us and our products and a true gentleman.
And yes... I will still wear my bright yellow Kodak racing jacket to Charlotte every year and will still cheer for the drivers that were "ours".
Special Thanks to you and Paula for treating Mike and I so well over the years.
Posted By: Albert T (11/16/2008)
Comment: Tom, thanks for your updates and putting up with these Northern Kodak Nascar fans over the years. It was with great sadness and a tear when my son came with the news concerning Kodak's departure from Nascar. He has been the world's biggest Kodak fan since the age of four and has been a great promoter of Kodak ever since. Many of his friends in town wear their "Kodak Nascar souvenirs" proudly which he always gave out at his birthday parties. He has the autographed Brendan Gaughan picture you sent still hanging on his wall.
Over the years I have had great memories starting with the #4 Kodak MMM car up to the present Kodak sponsored Penske cars. Visiting the #4 Kodak Film Racing Museum in Abingdon, Virginia and the Penske shop as well were great experiences. Nascar will not be the same without a "Kodak car" in the show and as a result some of the shine has left the sport. Many thanks to you, Bud Denker and all those present and past Kodak Team members who gave us Nascar fans some great memories. All the best and again thanks from Christopher and I for your friendship over the years. Take care.
Posted By: Tom Page (fromer Kodak Motorsports Mktg Mgr) (10/29/2008)
Comment: Wow! I am so thankful for the wonderful comments so far. It was my hope that this blog would be an opportunity to celebrate Kodak's motorsports partnerships. You have all illustrated wonderful memories and I want to thank you for taking the time do do so. Please encourage other fans of "Kodak Racing" to leave a comment as well. Although leaving the sport is very sad, remembering the good times is very therapeutic. Thanks again for sharing!
Posted By: Darrin (10/28/2008)
Comment: Tom, thanks for all you have done for us.I have been to a couple events, and had a great time! I have met a lot of great people in doing so. We have had a great time while "the ride" lasted.
Thanks Darrin
P.S. So whats next?
Posted By: Brendan Gaughan (10/28/2008)
Comment: This news truly saddens me. I have to say thank you, especially to you Tom, but also to all the great Kodak employees and family members I met during my brief time as your driver. I know my year was not the most successful on the race track but for me it ranks up there as one of my greatest experiences of my life. From Daytona with the President, to carrying my DX 4530 everywhere with me (including Iraq!) to my grandmother in the media center at the Watkins Glen race with the Kodak Health Imaging Scheme and who could forget The Punisher paint scheme, that may go down as one of the coolest paint schemes in NASCAR history! I have mempries that I will never forget. But the thing that I will remember the most is the great people! Lori, Monk, Billy and Susan, and all the great people that supported me and that still show up in Kodak racing t-shirts and hats and some of the cool gear that you guys made for me. It was a special time in mine and my families life. Thank you for all you did for me, my family and I will very much miss you!
I still ONLY buy Kodak paper and digital cameras and I will always correct people for calling it "disposable" and not "one time use" and, oh yeah, the green guys are still just a four letter "f" word!
With a heavy heart I say goodbye and Godspeed in all of your ventures
Brendan Gaughan
Kodak racing driver 2007
Posted By: Mike Paz (10/28/2008)
Comment: My early announcing career here in Rochester NY received a big boost from the Eastman Kodak sponsorship of racing. From the Kodak Copier 500 IMSA Camel GT race at Watkins Glen when it first reopened in 1984 to the NASCAR sponsorship of the #4, #04 Busch Series and the Penske #77 & #12, I was able to get "inside" through former Kodak exec James Albright. It was Jim who allowed me to interview Scott Pruett from the Camel GT Series at Kodak/Elmgrove, Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin at various stops in Rochester and it was Jim who graciously invited me to attend the '91 Indy 500 as the company's guest. Through those and other experiences, I was able to achieve my dream of becoming a motorsports announcer. I now handle the PA duties at 10 races for 6 tracks: Daytona, Watkins Glen, Richmond, Phoenix, Auto Club Speedway and Homestead-Miami. There has always been a certain hometown pride I've felt whenever I have announced and/or interveiwed a Kodak-sponsored driver, whether it was Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin, Mike Skinner, Brendan Gaughan, Travis Kvapil or the Grand Am #54 Prototype team of Forest Barber and Terry Borcheller.
Kodak has had a great run in NASCAR, Grand-Am, INDY and other racing venues and for now, it's over. Hopefully, at some point, maybe the Kodak racing team colors will fly again!
Mike Paz, Motorsports Announcer
Posted By: Jo Ann (10/28/2008)
Comment: Tom, I am so thankful I was able to attend and Blog for Kodak at the 2008 Indianapolis 500 in June and the July 12th Nascar race in Chicagoland for The Mummy movie promotion with Brendan Fraser. I will cherish these memories forever. The over 600 photos of these two events are priceless to me. Thanks again!
Posted By: Wally Kowalik (10/28/2008)
Comment: There are many great stories from the Sterling era, let's hope other alumni of Kodak Film Racing will post. Here's one of my favorites. Sterling was scheduled to appear for autographs at a Ukrops (grocery) store in Richmond. Well, ESPN or some TV interview obligation came up and we had to cancel. Needless to say, this caused much duress for me (Motorsports rep) and the sales rep and fans who came out. I told Sterling, "Man I'm in big trouble on this one, isn't there something we can do?" Sterling says to call up the president of the chain , he'll talk with him. I call the rep, get the gentleman's name and home phone. Sterling calls the man. Naturally, he doesn't believe who it is. You can only imagine Sterling, with his unmistakable accent and perfect manners trying to convince this guy who he was! We arrange for him to come to the track Sunday morning and meet Sterling and get a little VIP treatment. It was one of the greatest pieces of instant PR I ever witnessed!
Posted By: Dave (10/28/2008)
Comment: Yes, please do not forget Rick Wilson, a great driver in the late 80's was soooo close to getting the first win for Kodak in one of the most exciting finishes in NASCAR History. I understand that things change and marketing plans have to be revised, but until I got my first digital camera, my 35mm was alway loaded exclusively with Kodak Film, because of its involvement with NASCAR. Thank you Kodak.
Posted By: Danny Lyons (10/27/2008)
Comment: Just to echo Jonathan, yeah that #4 car was a force to be reckoned with in the 90's, it was AWESOME! I remember Daytona, the engine in that car always had a different sound to it. It was fast! And, it didn't hurt anything to have the sponsor based in my home state of Tennessee, in nearby Kingsport. My friend & co-worker's Uncle was the Gas man for Sterling. We would call Morgan-McClure and talk to her Aunt, who was also an employee of MMM and get the scoop. So many memories with Ernie, Sterling & Tony Glover. The car was just AWESOME! Thanks Kodak, for all you did for the sport. Your presence in Nascar will be sadly missed.
Posted By: mike (10/27/2008)
Comment: always an ernie irvan fan you did a good thing replacing his trophies when his house burned.thanks for the"kodak" memories
Posted By: darrell (10/27/2008)
Comment: thanks so much for being part of nascar ! but please dont forget where it started with driver RICK WILSON . WE WILL MISS THAT WHEETLAND YELLOW FLASH THATS FOR SURE ,, DARRELL , CANADA
Posted By: michael smith (10/27/2008)
Comment: Lets not forget Rick Wilson was the first to drive the Kodak car in 1986
Posted By: Jessica (10/27/2008)
Comment: Thank you for all the memories. As an Ernie Irvan fan Kodak will forever be in my memory.
Posted By: Jonathan (10/27/2008)
Comment: During the Sterling Marlin and Ernie Irvan era that Kodak car was a force. It was also among the top 5 nicest looking cars year in and year out during that era.
Sad to see Kodak leaving, but it was also sad its not the Kodak #4.
Posted By: Ken Mooney (10/27/2008)
Comment: I was working at the Elmgrove plant when Kodak started the sponsorship with MMM. I remember bringing my Dad lunch in Building 25 in KP one Saturday afternoon while he was working and seeing a big wall mural on one of the hallways of the #4 car with Rick Wilson painted above the driver window and thought "This is cool". I followed the Kodak Race Team on and off through many years until 6 years ago when I started watching almost every race. I "drank the Kool-Aid" and started to help promote the racing program as well as volunteer anytime and anywhere I was needed to help with hospitality or any other function. I served a little "Kool-Aid" myself and now have many friends and relatives that follow racing now.
I have so many great memories (way too many to list here in this blog) but one of my fondest memories was going to Pocono Raceway in 2005 and watching Travis Kvapil drive the #27 Kodak Dodge to Victory Lane in an ARCA race and being right there to get a little Gatorade spray myself.
As I was watching the #12 Kodak yellow car ride around the track for the last time as the checkered flag dropped yesterday, I couldn't help but think about all the great times and great people I have met over the last 6 years. To all the Kodak Employees, drivers and crews, and anyone else involved over the 23 years...Thanks for the ride!
Posted By: Tom Warda (10/27/2008)
Comment: Although I missed the "glory years" for some reason, I did get to be part of the extended team starting in 2003 when we did the first KOS / NASCAR promotional event at Kodak Park. As far as I know, that was the first time that kind of thing had ever been tried by anybody and I had an absolute blast being associated with the event. I still remember Johnny Miller asking me what I thought of the second pit stop he did. I told him he should try to make more noise next time when he left the pit box. Well, he certainly did - and almost ran me over after he pretty much burned up a set of Goodyears leaving the pit box we had set up. For months afterward I got to walk by those black stripes in the parking lot and know I had something to do with them. Very cool.
The following year we turned up the wick a bit and brought an even bigger event to Frontier Field next door to Kodak Office. Do you know I still have people come up to me and mention what a great time they and their families had at that event? Someday when I look back on my career at Kodak, that will still be one of the best things I ever got to work on because so many people were a part of it. I even have a 20" x 30" picture of Officer Charlie Horst handing Brendan a ticket right over my desk. That was a true Kodak moment. I still remember the throngs of Kodak people (especially the kids) mobbing the pit crew for autographs. They'd never received that kind of attention before and they really deserved it. Again, very cool.
Thanks for the great memories!
Posted By: Josh Cade (10/27/2008)
Comment: And end of a very successful era of sponsorship by Kodak. The 1987-88 #4 cars were among the best looking in the history of NASCAR and really cemented Kodak as one of the best branded corporations in the US. I was fortunate enough to work with the Kodak team in 1999 on the launch of the Advantix brand and both Kodak and Morgan/McClure were great folks to get to know. Good luck in the future!
Posted By: Dave Kassnoff (10/27/2008)
Comment: Quite a ride indeed. I was honored to help out Kodak's NASCAR program with PR and media relations support. The sport's changing, so maybe this is a good time to park the cars -- although I'll personally miss the rush of seeing that brilliant yellow Kodak car zooming around the track. Golf may be a good move, but it'll be hard to re-kindle that rush with a titanium wedge. Thanks for the memories.
Posted By: Wally Kowalik (10/27/2008)
Comment: I was the motorsports coordinator to the program from 1994-98. I succeeded Bob Peavey who did more than anyone to raise up the brand's visibility in a very hot market for us. We had a show car program that enjoyed hundreds of appearances a year. At the ignaural Brickyard 400 (Indy)we had 20 appearances in the days leading up to an event we almost won. We had a poster-for-purchase program and we regularly emptied out the inventory of 50,000 posters...not to mention the hero cards, hats and all the swag. We were on of the first "Official" products of NASCAR. We used to marvel at all the flashes you would see at the night races...look at each other and say...see all those flashes? That's our stuff! Sterling Marlin proved to be one of the finest ambassadors the team ever saw, Fans loved him...and boy could he wheel that #4 at those superspeedways. Everybody talked about us in the NASCAR garage. Very sad to see it come to an end. We the Kodak we, gave hundreds of thousands of fans phots of days they will never forget. I certainly will not.
Posted By: Luke (10/27/2008)
Comment: Tom - Being fairly new to NASCAR, I can't remember NASCAR without a Kodak sponsored ride - I will miss you guys. I'm sure the rationale for moving in a new diretion is sound. However, from a fan's perspective, know that Kodak and NASCAR are forever linked. Thanks for all you have done to promote the sport.
Posted By: Krista (10/27/2008)
Comment: Tom, thanks for sharing. While I was only a part of our motorsports team for a short time, I have to agree, it's been a great ride. Congrats on a job well done.