Unique Hashtag Program Provides Unprecedented Experiences
LEXINGTON, Ohio – Cooper Tires is passionate about helping the rising stars of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires prepare and take the next steps in their careers as witnessed by the extraordinary experiences on offer in the Cooper Tires Hashtag Program. Now in its sixth year, the program encourages drivers and teams to utilize the #RoadToIndy and #TeamCooperTire hashtags throughout their social messaging on Twitter and Instagram in various “challenges.”
In addition to increasing their social media messaging and followers, at stake is a bounty of awards to the winners in each of the seven Cooper Tires Hashtag Program contest periods held throughout the racing season.
Winning drivers to date have benefitted from a variety of special experiences such as one-on-one meetings with NTT IndyCar Series drivers like Graham Rahal and Colton Herta, who were happy to offer career advice to drivers climbing the driver development ladder; one-on-one visits with IndyCar team managers like Terry Brown at Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan; and IndyCar Pit Visits, which place a Road to Indy driver with an IndyCar team during a practice or qualifying session for an inside view of the pinnacle of the sport. Recent IndyCar Pit Visits have been held with Meyer Shank Racing with Arrow SPM, Harding Steinbrenner Racing and Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.
Providing drivers with increased exposure is also key and the Cooper Tires Hashtag Program offers drivers feature stories on indycar.com, interviews during NTT IndyCar Series practice or qualifying on the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network and individual feature segments with Road to Indy TV.
In addition to a set of racing or street tires courtesy of Cooper Tires, other prizes awarded in each contest period include VIP race weekend packages with hospitality for four and pace car rides for driver and team sponsors and guests.
“I believe that the Cooper Tires hashtag contest has become a real asset to not only the drivers in the Road to Indy series, but the teams as well,” said Michael Duncalfe, Team Owner of Exclusive Autosport. “The program awards great prizes and motivates drivers and teams to activate their own social media to promote their unique brand and what they have to offer. Social media has become a huge marketing tool and this program helps promote everyone aspiring to make it to the top levels. A huge thanks to Cooper Tires for continuing this program.”
Also included in the Cooper Tires Hashtag Program is a separate drawing for a Hi-Tide Kids On Track $500 cash award each period. A newly formed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Kids on Track is dedicated to “lifting” the spirits and inspiring the dreams of children throughout the country by providing them unique access to all race events of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires. At the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend, 38 mentors and children from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio and Youth Mentoring will be in attendance.
“The Cooper Tires Hashtag Program is a win-win all around,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “It places a high importance on social media, which is a must have for drivers and teams today, sparks creativity with the various challenges posed each contest period and provides drivers with tremendous opportunities for their personal growth and experience.
“Each year Cooper provides us with data on the Hashtag Program results for that season and the contributors, impressions, etc. are astounding. Our drivers and teams have really embraced this initiative and hats off to Cooper Tires for continuing to make it better and better each year.”