Moving on, with the positive impression that you have cast by your attire, you can now tell about what it is that you do, and if you are a race car driver, you do more then just drive.  Lay it out on the table, and talk yourself up, without making yourself out to be Dale Earnhardt Jr., because if you were that good then you wouldn't have to ask any local business for sponsorship, you would be going to the Corporate giants.

 Explain to them how you will not only be painting their business logo on your racecar, but you will also be putting it on the t-shirts you sell at the local racetracks, and also on your website will help to get their business name out to the public even more.  Hum, did I just mention a website?  Yes, you can also let them know that you will have their business logo, and a direct link to their business website on your racing page that is all part of the package if they decide to sponsor you.

 Don't forget, it doesn't stop there, get your act together, just the same way you presented yourself when you went to see the business for a sponsorship, you must also present your racecar in a similar manor, it is an extension of who you are, and if it looks first class, then it will help you seal the deal even more.  A big draw is getting your racecar out and on display at local racing shows, this is just another way of saying to the business, we will have the racecar at this show, and that show, and of course thousands of racing fans, and non racing fans will look and see who is sponsoring racing.

 Another tip, write up a press release prior to the season, and during mid season, and at the end of the season, which not only tells everyone how things are going with your team, it is another way of getting your business sponsors free advertising when you mention them in your articles.  You Thank all your sponsors in the articles, even the guy who could only afford $50.00, he might just be the guy who the following season puts a few thousand into your program!

 Before, during, and after the season keep in touch with your sponsors, let them know how you are doing, and tell them that you used the funds they gave you to purchase X amount of tires, or X drums of racing fuel, so they have a better understanding of the sport you are in, and how much it really does cost to run a successful program.  When you get your t-shirts made up, don't forget about your sponsors, you can afford to give them a handful of shirts, it shows you care about who has given you sponsorship funds.

 One of the best gifts you can give a business sponsor is having a racing photographer take an action shot, as well as a shot of you with your racecar during the beginning of the season, framing them in nice, not cheap frames, and hand deliver them to the business sponsor with a personal Thank you for all that they have done for you.  Make them at least 8x10 photos, and if you can do it, try going the extra distance and making them larger photo prints of the car.  Key, make sure on the photos that the sponsor can see their business logo, if not, have a marketing specialist, like BTM cut and paste their logo onto the photo showcasing their logo.