Joe Gibbs Racing held a press conference with Matt Kenseth and Joe Gibbs at Daytona International Speedway:
JOE GIBBS, team owner, Joe Gibbs Racing
What are you announcing today?
“I just wanted to say a big thanks to everybody for being here and everybody watching. This is a big day for us. As you know, in our sport one of the most important things we have is our partners and we’re thrilled today is a happy day for us to be announcing that one of the most successful companies in America, DEWALT, will be our major sponsor – our primary sponsor – for 2017 on our 20 car, so we’re thrilled to announce that. Also as you know, with Stanley Black and Decker they are also on our 19 car for 12 races, so it’s a huge deal for us. Like I said, one of the most successful companies in the world and to have them be a part of our sport and a part of our race teams is a thrill for us. The DEWALT FLEXVOLT is going to be a major focus for us. I was looking at this – Pat (Gibbs, wife) might get a little upset that she’s heading home with that. She might be a little afraid of what I’m going to do with this. This thing is powerful and we’re here to kick off the FLEXVOLT program. This is going to change the way pro contractors go to work because they’re going to have the freedom to go cordless and have the power to do that, so it’s a huge deal for us. We mentioned the fact that Erik (Jones) and Daniel (Suarez) are here, so for the rest of this year there will be six FLEXVOLT races in the XFINITY program with Erik and there’ll be one with Daniel and then there’s going to be six Cup races – actually seven Cup races – with Matt (Kenseth), counting this weekend. So we’re thrilled to announce that. It’s a real thrill for us to have partners like this. We’ve got to know everybody inside the company. It’s a thrill for us and we’re excited about being here and so I think we’ve got some other things to kind of share with you.”
Why are partnerships like this important for sponsors in NASCAR?
“I think this is another example of our fan base – the power of our fan base – and a company like this recognizes the fact that by coming forward with this new platform, one of the key things here is to work out, to step out with all of our fan base that many of them are working in the construction area. And again it’s a testimony to what our fan base can do in supporting the sport and the products that go along with our sport, so we appreciate it in every way and we really appreciate our fans and we know they’re going to enjoy demoing these new products that they’ve got here with FLEXVOLT and to sign on board to being a part of their program.”
Has Joe Gibbs Racing signed an extension with Matt Kenseth and how many races will DEWALT have on his car?
“DEWALT will have 15 races next year and be the primary on that car. We don’t talk about our contracts and stuff for drivers, but I will say this – our plan is Matt’s (Kenseth) going to retire here, so that’s what we’d say.”
Are you close to filling sponsorship for all of Matt Kenseth’s races in 2017?
“We feel pretty confident right now. We’ve got some great things in the works. Nothing that we can announce right now, but we feel good about where we are with that car and this is a big step right here and so we feel confident that that car will be fully funded for next year.”
Is it difficult to secure multi-year deals in the current environment?
“Yeah, actually our deal will be multiple years, but, yeah, you always typically are striving to get long-term deals, but we feel so confident with Stanley and DEWALT being on board with us. It’s a huge deal for us and they are multiple-year deals and we’re thrilled to be a part of their team. And we’re confident I think that we’re going to wind up with – this is going to be one of the bigger things to hit the construction market and we feel like we’re thrilled to be a part of it and I think it will definitely be something we’re going to be a part of for a long time.”
Why are your thoughts on some of the teams showcasing the emblem to honor the Orlando shooting victims?
“It was obviously – for our country, it was devastating for all the families involved and our sport is – obviously, our sport is America and we support our troops overseas and anytime we have a catastrophe like this that affects so many people, we’re thrilled to be a part of it and we’re thrilled to be a part of this program also to honor those that lost their life and to in particular the prayers and praying for everybody lost a loved a one there, so we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”
Are the races determined for when DEWALT will sponsor Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez in 2016?
“Yeah, they are. I don’t have the list right here in front of me, but we’ll get that to you. But it’s already been determined and we’re going to have a big kick off this weekend and this it’s going to go all through the year. This will be a big deal in ’16, so we’re thrilled to be a part of that and so down the stretch here you’re going to see a lot of FLEXVOLT at the race track on both our XFINITY program and for Cup.”
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 DEWALT FLEXVOLT Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
What are your thoughts on the expanded partnership with DEWALT?
“For me, it’s a dream come true really for DEWALT to come back. A couple years ago, I made my first Cup start with DEWALT and I hope to make my last Cup start with DEWALT – not today of course, but hopefully someday a few years down the road. They’ve been more than a great sponsor for me – they’ve been like family. I’ve made a lot of friends over there. They obviously make the best power tools in the world. I’ve always been proud to represent them, so really happy they signed on, took on a bigger role and I’m looking forward to getting the DEWALT colors back to victory lane.”
Why are your thoughts on some of the teams showcasing the emblem to honor the Orlando shooting victims?
“I don’t really have much more to add than what Coach (Joe Gibbs) said there. He pretty much hit the nail on the head with that one. That was my little tool reference too – more for the Stanley part I guess.”
SCOTT BANNELL, vice president for corporate brand marketing, Stanley Back and Decker
Why is this sponsorship important to Stanley Black and Decker?
“Thank you Matt (Kenseth) and Coach (Joe Gibbs) and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization for the past two years. Whenever I have a challenging day, I call Coach and in five minutes I feel 100 percent better, so he has this way of talking and lifting spirit is one of a kind and then when he calls me from victory lane – oh my God, he goes up about 15 octaves with his exciting voice, so thank you Coach. We appreciate all that you do for us. So 100 years ago we invented the electric power drill and 50 years ago we invented the cordless power drill – two pretty significant accomplishments. Hopefully, you’ve used our products in the past. This week we introduced the biggest innovation in cordless power history – it’s the DEWALT FLEXVOLT. Job sites can be cord free now with the power of corded and the freedom of cordless and a lot more, which John (Howland, DEWALT) will tell you about. We’re excited to use our sponsorship with Coach and Matt and Erik (Jones) and Daniel (Suarez) to bring this exciting product story into the lives of 80 million race fans. The DEWALT sponsorship is a platform that involves on-track visibility, digital marketing, hands-on demos as well, so next up is John Howland who will explain the power of FLEXVOLT.”
JOHN HOWLAND, vice president of vertical and event marketing, DEWALT
Why are you using your sponsorship with Matt Kenseth to highlight FLEXVOLT?
“Thank you very much and Coach (Joe Gibbs) we appreciate everything you do. Our engineers and our entire company respect the way your engineers have found increased power and performance through breakthrough innovation that mandates and dictates performance on the track and allows you to beat the competition and complete the task. Matt (Kenseth) mentioned it earlier – DEWALT has a long history with Matt, one that we’re very proud of. Matt, you and Katie (Kenseth, wife) and your family have represented our company and what we stand for with class and dignity, so we greatly appreciate that and recognize it. It’s great to be back here today. I’d also to thank Tony Merritt, who is our motorsports manager, for putting together this program and it’s not only on-track, but it’s also off the track as well, so Tony thank you very much. Last week, we introduced our FLEXVOLT program to the world and within 24 hours we had over 125 million impressions from various media platform perspective. The contractor has long wanted the power of a corded tool with the freedom of cordless as Coach mentioned and again DEWALT is able to revolutionize the way the contractor here today goes to work. It allows them the speed and the power in a corded tool all in a cordless platform. We have various saws, grinders and drills that complete the first wave of FLEXVOLT. From an engineering perspective, we will continue to develop the FLEXVOLT to provide the contractor the tools that he needs, both in the fabrication shop and also on the job site to get his job done with safety in mind. If you look at the lineup that we have here today, it’s the most innovative lineup of tools. The video states a little bit about the features and benefits. The backwards compatibility allows us to use this FLEXVOLT battery in our existing 20 volt platform. We have over 70 tools that make up our 20 volt platform. We will soon have the world’s largest cordless platform in the world from a cordless power tool perspective. From activation perspective, our program is not only about the performance and the power on the track, but also off the track. We have a history of taking our message out to the user throughout the United States utilizing our digital and social and our mobile media methods where we’re going to put our tools in their hands – where the contractor buys, works, learns and plays. It’s with a tremendous amount of excitement that we enter into this extended agreement and amplify the program with Joe Gibbs Racing. On behalf of our employees around the world, we want to thank everyone for their support and we really look forward to being a part of this community, showcasing our FLEXVOLT message.”
