UNHWildCats wrote:
And which of the drivers you have listed have driven for Wood Bros Racing in the past 20 years.... yes Elliot has driven for them a bit since 2007, but he isnt the marketable driver, or successful driver he once was.
What Im saying is Rudd has been the only real marketable driver Wood Bros has had in the past 20 years... Not comparing Rudd to the marketability of Gordon or Earhnhardt or anything, just saying he is the best marketed driver they have had....
Well, you didn't make it clear you were only talking Wood brothers, and if that's the case, Bill Elliott was far more marketable than Ricky Rudd. He won NASCAR's most popular driver award so many years in a row that he finally told them to stop putting his name up for consideration. The only year anyone beat him when he was up for the competition was Sr. the year he died. Awesome Bill from Dawsonville carried the Ford banner for over 15 years and still holds the NASCAR speed record, pre-restrictor of course.
UNHWildCats wrote:
And as for marketability, I am referring to the marketabilty for sponsors... using the drivers name and image to make money... not for which driver sells the most merchandise at a race.
They're one and the same IMHO.
It doesnt matter with arguing between Elliot and Rudd.... Neither were in their marketing prime when driving for Wood Bros.... they need a young, marketable driver... this kid who won the 500... could be that person in a year or two if he can build off his 500 win... but he belongs to another race team... if they can get a young driver who is successful on the track and has marketing appeal, landing sponsorship even in this economy wont be impossible.
