Contact: Jeff Parnell, The Family Marketing Partnership, 814-864-7801; David G. Johnson, Contributing Editor, ChristianBusinessDaily, 941-377-9384
ERIE, Penn., Feb. 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- The sports pages are filled with Cinderella stories where lesser known teams with limited resources compete against finely-tuned organizations with far greater name recognition. Nowhere is this distinction more pronounced than in NASCAR, where multi-million dollar corporate sponsorships and driving talent combine to compete for victories, championships, and big-dollar purses, while teams without the financial backing rely more exclusively on resolve, and in at least one instance, faith.
One underdog is taking its story to the Internet with a series of NASCAR insider articles that will blend the concept of a reality show with the learning component of a business case. Faith Motorsports, whose NASCAR Nationwide Series car is driven by veteran Morgan Shepherd, is joining forces with business portal ChristianBusinessDaily.com to share its experience with the business community and race fans throughout the 2008 race season.
"This is an intriguing story that encompasses professional sports, business and faith, and our weekly journal will provide a candid and up-close view of what it's like to compete in the world of NASCAR," states Jeff Parnell, founder and CEO of marketing agency The Family Marketing Partnership, who will be authoring the articles.
Parnell's admiration for Shepherd's faith and commitment to continue competing against the odds led him to partner with the team on several initiatives (he also manages their merchandising function). His mission for Faith Motorsports CONFIDENTIAL is "to provide fresh content from an insider's perspective – information and thoughts that you won't find elsewhere."
Since its 2001 launch, ChristianBusinessDaily.com has featured compelling business articles, as well as insights from such thought leaders as motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, financial talk show host Dave Ramsey, and author Michael Q. Pink.
"We view Faith Motorsports CONFIDENTIAL as another way to bring business learning to our growing audience," offers David G. Johnson, Contributing Editor at ChristianBusinessDaily.com. "We're excited about sharing a real world David and Goliath story in our unique forum. We began by profiling the team a few weeks ago and now, our readers will have access to a behind-the-scenes look at how this inspirational company deals with challenges and setback, and how they measure success."
The race team's driver and chief spokesperson shares the excitement about this online venture. "At the racetrack, we have competed without significant sponsorship for years, so this is an ongoing challenge," notes Shepherd, whose NASCAR career includes victories, Top 10 season finishes and more than 750 races. "But the opportunity to touch lives in a ministry setting is the real reason for what we do, and I look forward to sharing some of the real-life stories from the people who contact us each week."
When asked whether he was concerned about sharing an insider's view of team business, Faith Motorsports co-owner Dana Tomes was quick to respond, "If we're to achieve our mission for Christ, then more people need to know what we're about, how we operate, and what we face. Competing in NASCAR is a fascinating business, and I think readers will enjoy this journey with us!"
Faith Motorsports is a Christ-centered race team that competes in NASCAR's Nationwide Series. The team and its driver, NASCAR veteran Morgan Shepherd, view motorsports as an opportunity to reach millions of racing enthusiasts with Jesus' message of salvation. In addition to his racing appearances, Shepherd shares his Christian testimony at churches and at fan-related events throughout the season.
The Family Marketing Partnership is a sponsorship and marketing services firm that develops business alliances for Faith Motorsports and selected marketing partners. The company offers specialized expertise in marketing, Internet commerce, technology, political fund-raising, and government affairs.
ChristianBusinessDaily.com is the premier online network for Christian business leaders, featuring news, commentary, articles, blogs, a weekly podcast and other resources – all based upon a Biblical worldview. Published every morning, Christian Business Daily features regular columns by top Christian business experts including Dave Ramsey, Dennis Peacocke, Michael Q. Pink, Steve Marr, Zig Ziglar and many others. With a heavy emphasis on business ethics, principled leadership, and business excellence, the site reaches a wide global audience.
