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Tampa Team Using Parade To Promote, Entice Sponsors

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By BILL GREEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 3, 2008

Updated: 07/03/2008 12:13 am

Plant City's Fourth of July parade has always brought in a crowd. Friday, Tampa driver Matt Haynes will use it to reach a new audience and some potential sponsors for his racing career.

"I was just thinking of how I could get my sponsors more publicity and promote myself differently than just sitting my car in front of their business locations," said Haynes, 17, of Orient Park.
East Bay Raceway owner Todd Hutto even loaned Haynes the track's pace truck to tow the car on its trailer. Haynes will wave to the crowd from the bed of the pickup truck driven by his father, Steve. His mother, Jo, and older brother, Steven, will be out front in a golf cart giving away sponsor necklaces, key chains, pens and flying discs.

"The idea of using the parade was Dad's," Haynes said, "but as soon we started telling folks what we were doing they all wanted to be involved or help in some way."

Haynes started racing at age 13 after visiting the go-kart track with a close school friend. Matt took a practice spin in his friend's go-kart and was hooked.

"I just kept bugging my dad," Haynes said. "I just wanted to go racing. Finally, he gave in and bought a second-hand kart. Then I got my chance to show what I could do."

Haynes didn't always win, but he showed a natural ability to drive and think ahead. The outdated equipment had Matt struggling to stay in the top five most weeks. Finally, he got a couple of wins, and a small sponsorship led to another.

"That meant new tires and even a badly needed engine rebuild for new horsepower," Matt said of the sponsorship money. "We started winning more and more. My dad finally felt I was ready for the change into the bigger cars."

Haynes' first race in the Outlaw 4 class was in another friend's car.

"Just to test the waters," Haynes said. "I finished seventh in a car that I never even sat in or practiced with. That really got my dad's attention, and several sponsors noticed also."

When Haynes was 15, his father bought him an Outlaw 4.

"Three years later, I'm trying hard to win the track championship for a list of sponsors that have been great to me," said Haynes, who is fourth in the standings with 295 points, 80 behind leader Jim Courson.

Plans include a step toward the high-powered and expensive Late Model class.

"We're hoping to move into Late Models, but the cost of racing has us looking for ways to draw more sponsors for the Outlaw car," Haynes said. "I can't imagine what it will take to run at the Late Model level, but I'll ride in every parade I can, if it helps."

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