RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The NASCAR Phenomenon: Auto Racing Sponsorships and Shareholder Wealth
JF Journal of Advertising Research
JO J Advert Res
FD WARC
SP 281
OP 296
DO 10.1017/S0021849904040279
VO 44
IS 3
A1 Stephen W. Pruitt
A1 T. Bettina Cornwell
A1 John M. Clark
YR 2004
UL http://www.journalofadvertisingresearch.com/content/44/3/281.abstract
AB This study presents the first analysis of the impact of NASCAR sponsorship announcements on the stock prices of sponsoring firms. The primary finding of the study--that NASCAR sponsorship announcements were accompanied by the largest increases in shareholder wealth ever recorded in the marketing literature in response to a voluntary marketing program--represents a striking and unambiguous stock market endorsement of the sponsorships. Indeed, the 24 sponsors analyzed in this study experienced mean increases in shareholder wealth of over $300 million dollars, net of all of the costs associated with the sponsorships. A multiple regression analysis of firm-specific stock price changes and select corporate and sponsorship attributes indicates that NASCAR sponsorships with more successful racing teams, corporate (as opposed to product or divisional) sponsorships, and sponsorships with direct ties to the consumer automotive industry are all positively correlated with perceived sponsorship success, while corporate cash flow per share (a well-known proxy for agency conflicts within the firm) is negatively related with shareholder approval.