2008 PPR Plus Driver Advancement Marketing Summit Speakers

Shane Huffman

NASCAR Busch Series Driver. USAR Hooter's Pro Cup Champion.

Topic: His personal story of how he overcame his shyness by taking public speaking classes and how it helped is career.

Andy Papathanassiou

Hendrick Motorsports Training & Development Director; Also the executive director of the North Carolina Motorsports Association.

Topic: Driver development programs at the top levels of motorsports; what teams such asHendrick Motorsports look for in drivers.

Peter Visconti

Roush Fenway Racing; Driver X Competition

(Roush Gong Show)

Topic: Working your way to the top; the inner workings of "The Gong Show" and Roush Fenway's driver development program; what characteristics they look for in potential drivers.

Gray Abercrombie

Sports Marketing Manager, Lowe's Companies.

Topic: What companies look to gain from their race-team sponsorships; what sold Lowe's on investing in motorsports; the comprehensive nature of sponsorship marketing programs, the importance of return on investment and positive PR.

Kymberly Brantigan

President of Performance PR Plus, the agency most widely known for handling DuPont Motorsports marketing activation program and Jeff Gordon's public relations for the last 15 years.

Topic: Summit host; will touch upon a variety of topics throughout the Summit including the challenges of gaining sponsorship, public relations, sponsorship marketing, activation and networking.

Annamarie Malfitana

Owner/Designer; Drive-In Webdesign. 20 years experience in motorsports marketing, sales, public relations and promotions. Combined her background into a website design and internet marketing business that caters to the racing industry.

Topic: The importance of websites, driver & sponsor packages. Professionally representing yourself in these venues. How to utilize your website to advance your career.

Randy LaJoie

Two- time NASCAR Busch Series Champion. Owner; The Joie Of Seating.. Racing dad and team owner.

Topic: Why he chose not to advance to the NASCAR Cup Series despite being offered very competitive rides with top teams; having something to fall back on; perspective on the sport as a racing dad.

Dennis Huth

Veteran racing promoter from grassroots level up. Founded NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. New owner of the ASA Series in which he is revitalizing on a national level.

Topic: Racing at all levels, advice and information about what it takes to move to a regional touring series; and how to advance into a national touring series.

Judy Kouba Dominick

Public Relations, General Motors Racing

20 years experience in motorsports from open-wheel to the top levels of stock car racing, her career highlights includes publicist then business manager for Tony Stewart when he moved up from the NASCAR Busch Series to the Cup Series. Now handles PR for GM's motorsports program for NASCAR's top three series.

Topic: The effect that living in the spotlight has on drivers who "just want to race" and the challenges of dealing with new-found fame. A behind-the-scenes perspective about what drivers should know as their career advances in several key areas.

Matt Yokum

FOX SPORTS, TNT, SPEED TV, Sirius satellite radio broadcaster.

Topic: Will speak about the importance of the media and the dynamics of an interview. He will demonstrate how drivers can put themselves in a bad position very quickly when caught off guard during an interview.