NASCAR wants very badly to expand its viewership.
That’s what we took from this ad by Ogilvy New York, which debuted during the Daytona 500 race just over a week ago.
In the campaign, driver Carl Edwards (what do you mean, you’ve never heard of him?!) uses the science of sports cars to stimulate students’ academic curiosity in what looks like his second job as a substitute teacher.
It all ends well: Edwards supplements his meager NASCAR salary by working as a public educator and the kids get ice cream for…well, nothing, really.
As the press release describes it, the NASCAR Acceleration Nation initiative (created in partnership with Scholastic) will “make learning [math and science] fun for kids” while coincidentally turning them into lifetime racing fans.
Of course, if the young lady in question had only known that this year’s Daytona 500 (which effectively serves as opening day for NASCAR) included a four-song set by Kid Rock, she would have aced her physics exam for a chance to go.
Credits
Creative:
Chief Creative Officer: Chris Garbutt: CCO, Ogilvy & Mather New York
Group Creative Director: Terry Finley, Senior Partner
Executive Creative Director: Tommy Henvey
Creative Director: Rich Wallace, Senior Partner
Production:
Executive Producer: Patti McConnell, Senior Partner,
Producer: Dave Lambert
Music Production Coordinator: Chris Mazur
Senior Producer: Michael Freeman
Account Management/Planning:
Managing Director: Martin Murphy
Management Supervisor: Aditi Reddy
Account Executive: Emily Zale
Group Planning Director: Jennifer Peterson
Planner: Jake Stanley
Business Manager: Meg McGinley