More on the Danica Front
While this doesn’t continue the theme of the preceding post in the strictest sense - in fact it’s diametrically opposed to it in terms of publicity - one of the personalities is the same and it is another “fine” example in my continuing series on NASCAR-nomics.
NEW YORK - They’re not Charlie’s Angels, but the Hostess Race Divas come pretty close as part of a sponsorship deal with Interstate Bakeries that will feature three of the top female professional race car drivers behind Twinkies and other snack cake brands.
Interstate Bakeries teamed up with Danica Patrick (IRL), Leilani Munter (Nascar) and Melanie Troxel (NHRA) to be the first Hostess Race Divas to hawk Twinkies, Cupcakes and Donettes, starting in February.
“Interest in women’s professional racing continues to grow with Danica, Leilani and Melanie serving as excellent ambassadors for the sport,” said Kevin Kaul, Hostess marketing manager.
“We’re pleased to sponsor these outstanding drivers as they pursue their dreams and inspire an even more diverse fan base while leveraging the opportunity to connect the iconic Hostess brand with the enthusiasm surrounding racing.”
Starting in February, limited cupcake editions will feature the likeness of the trio on-pack and on in-store displays. A yearlong PR effort and a Tracks & Treats sweepstakes, still in development, support.
“Having grown up with Twinkies and Cupcakes, I am thrilled to have Hostess as a sponsor and to be part of the Hostess Race Divas program,” said Danica Patrick, who has emerged as an international superstar of racing as the 2005 IRL Indy Car Series Rookie of the Year.
Leilani Munter, who once worked as a photo double for actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, has signed to race for Konica Minolta in the Nascar Elite Division in the 2006 season, while Melanie Troxel is a two-time NHRA champion who is distinguished for being the fastest female racer in NHRA history at over 330 mph.
Leilani Munter is as much of a race car driver as I am, as far as I’m concerned (you should see me on the interstate). Although, I guess when your sponsor is FHM your looks can take you a little farther than your ability.
Oh and I have to disagree with you on one thing… Little Debbie is the best, in my humble opinion.
I didn’t know her sponsor was FHM, which explains a lot.
But I think with the Schrader thing Hostess may have had their hand forced a bit. So they went with what they had. Which ain’t much compared with the other two “Divas.”
Leilani Munter has been racing stock cars for five years now. She has 5 top tens and 2 top fives. She set the record at Texas Motor Speedway for the highest qualifying effort for a female stock car driver when she qualified 4th her first time ever seeing the race track. She beat 24 other more experienced male drivers for that position and finished 7th, very impressive for her first speedway race. Seems to me lots of people in the racing world have her respect as shown by their statements about her on her website: http://leilanimunter.com/testimonials.htm. When is the last time you qualified 4th at Texas Motor Speedway? Yeah, I thought so.
Well gee “turbulence” (nice moniker BTW did you take it off her website for a commercial reason or just a co-incidence?) did you take a slight offense to my post?
It would seen so considering you failed to note I had already linked her website and noted that she did “have some stock car experience” with a link to that resume. I think I’ll stand by my post. Driving her “super late model,” although a very competitive race car that most in Cup and Busch started on, hardly puts her in the same league as Patrick or Troxel. In fact lets add it up - fives years = five top tens, that’s one per year. Two top fives in five years = one every 2 1/2 years. something doesn’t compute!
At least not yet, maybe next year, or in 5 years or maybe never.
I did take a bit of offense to the post, sorry if I was harsh, but I personally know Leilani and she is a true racer. She has had 2 top fives and five top tens in 9 starts, and she has not been on the track regualarly due to sponsorship woes. She did not come from a rich or racing famliy and only could race when sponsorship was available to her. So when you look at the stats, while she does not have the resume of Troxel or Patrick– for not being out there nearly as long, she has done quite well. Those of us in the stock car racing arena have believed in her abilities for a long time, she just has never had the financial backing to run regularly. That will all change next year as she now is fully backed by Konica Minolta.
My point is this: No, it does not hurt Leilani that she is not hard on the eyes. However, once she gets behind the wheel of the race car, her looks do her no good– then it is all about her abilities. While she may have landed the FHM sponsorship due to her looks, her looks did not help her qualify that race car 4th at Texas Motor Speedway her first time at that track. That was purely her abilities as a driver. Trust me, the girl can wheel a race car.
“While she may have landed the FHM sponsorship due to her looks,”
And that, in the context of my post, was my point. She would never be connected to the Hostess deal without her looks. The company in searching for someone that matched Troxel and Patrick in appearence had to look so far down the NASCAR ladder, about 4-5 steps, to find someone. That didn’t make her a “Race Diva” it just made her available to fit what the company wanted.
There are a lot of women that race with a lot of talent but for various reasons don’t make it to the top. The same can be said for many men.
Best of luck to all of them.
[...] Leilani signed to appear on boxes of Hostess Twinkies, Cupcakes and Donettes as one of three “Hostess Race Divas” alongside Danica Patrick(IRL) and Melanie Troxel [...]