So you want to build a cool car, or you already have but need a few things to finish it up. Money is tight and parts are getting pricey. It may be time to look into a Sponsorship!

While many of us have surely heard this term before, some may not fully understand what Sponsorship really means, so we’re here to help!

What is Sponsorship?

A sponsorship is typically an agreement between a company that markets parts or services and an influencer who can help spread the word about those products. Simple. Sponsorships typically come with a set of rules and specific guidelines for how the company would like their image portrayed so be sure to read everything in your offer letter!

What can they do for me?

These agreements can be for a percentage off of the company’s services, free product, or even a full-ride sponsorship with money paid out for events.

We want to clarify: accepting a sponsorship offer does not mean you will get paid. It does not mean you will receive free parts. It does not mean you will be featured throughout the company’s website or social media. It is essentially a contract to become a freelance marketer for that company in return for assistance that may further your goals.

Sounds like work, why do I want to work for these companies?

Proving that you can market product and services to your following on social media and attending events where you are in high visibility will show the company that you are worth the investment. A driver who brings in thousands of fans to one of the companies sponsoring their build may be offered a better discount or free parts. These drivers may even be asked to be featured on social media and advertisements which can really boost a racer’s career.

How should I approach sponsorship opportunities?

How do you handle yourself at work? Professionally, we’d hope. Sponsorships are exactly the same. You are asking a company to take you under their wing for some reason, being polite and professional will do wonders. Sending the same “I emailed you about this” message 7 times doesn’t come across as professional. Our friends at Driving Line touch on a few examples of proposals we’ve seen over the years that are guaranteed to land your application in the trash.

Who offers sponsorships?

You can technically reach out and propose a sponsorship agreement to any company. Come up with reasons you would be a good fit to market their products and how they could benefit. Don’t start asking for free stuff right away or your message will most likely end up being left on “Read”. Instead, sell yourself and see what they offer in return.

A few companies offer an application right on their website for these inquiries. We put together a list to make it easy for you to find your first real sponsor:

Okami Racing

Whiteline Performance

Continental Tire

Toyo Tires

BRAUM

Modern Automotive Performance

Adam’s Polishes

Other companies offer sponsorships but require a more formal message to be sent over either to a specific email inbox or via mail:

Blox Racing

Raceland

R1 Concepts

Magnaflow

Meguiar’s