Kasey Kahne
Labonte, Waltrip, Bodine and Elliott. Bonnett, Schrader, Dallenbach, and Earnhardt Jr. Some of the biggest names in NASCAR built their legendary status while wearing Budweiser red. In 2008, Budweiser tabbed one of NASCAR’s up-and-coming stars, Kasey Kahne, as heir to the throne, with nothing but endless possibilities ahead for the most powerful new brand in NASCAR.
“Kasey is a talented and dynamic individual, hard-working and collaborative in the shop and gracious with his fans and business partners,” said Tim Schoen, vice president of sports and entertainment marketing. “Through Budweiser and our extensive sports, entertainment, media and retail partners, we can expose Kasey to limitless opportunities. Kasey is becoming more than just a successful driver, he’s becoming Kasey Kahne the brand, and we’re helping sculpt that image.”
Kasey Kahne has made more Victory Lane stops in June than pit stops it seems, and stock in NASCAR’s hottest driver continues to rise with the help of Budweiser.
On the track, the soft-spoken Kahne is known as a hard charger – confident and aggressive until the checkered flag waves. As a newcomer, Kahne earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2004. The relatively unknown driver from a small Washington town won a series-leading six races in 2006 to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup in just his third year in the Cup Series. Through the first 16 races of 2008, Kahne amassed three wins and nine top-10 finishes.
However, he’s quickly becoming as successful off the track, as Budweiser helps the 27-year-old young gun grow into one of NASCAR’s powerhouse brands.
Backed by a full line of custom signage, promotional items, a merchandise line, and national print, outdoor, radio and television ads, Kahne’s stock among NASCAR enthusiasts is on the rise. Nearly 95 percent of Anheuser-Busch wholesalers participate in the program, giving Budweiser Racing and Kasey Kahne a ubiquitous presence in the marketplace.
For the past nine years, Budweiser helped build Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s brand into what it is today. The lessons learned are being applied to Kahne, whose popular appeal and success on the track has made him top of mind with NASCAR fans.
Kahne consistently finishes near the top in NASCAR’s annual “Most Popular Driver” balloting and his appeal to both die hard and casual fans is transcendant.
“The possibilities are endless for us,” said Schoen. “Our system gives us the opportunity to help build Kasey’s image in emerging NASCAR markets, simultaneously growing sales opportunities for Budweiser. He’s going to be a tremendous brand ambassador for us.”
To learn more about Budweiser Racing, visit www.budweiser.com or www.kaseykahne.com.