October 2, 1998] A new online store for NASCAR fans started its engine revving at thatsracin.com, a site devoted to stock
car racing coverage.
The store will features products from Motorsports by Mail, a direct marketer
of NASCAR-related merchandise, and also allows fans to browse racing-related
classified ads.
The phrase “that’s racin,” for those who follow other sports, is the mild-
mannered expression, usually spoken in a laconic Southern drawl, that drivers
frequently use after a hair-raising accident at speeds well in excess of the
highway limit that leaves their vehicles in twisted bits of smoking wreckage.
“We have been very pleased with the tremendous response to our ‘That’s Racin’
site, and we are excited to be able to offer our thousands of users in North
America and overseas the convenience of online shopping,” said Dick van
Halsema, director of new media at the Charlotte
Observer. The Observer,
long recognized for its coverage of NASCAR, is the parent company of
thatsracin.com.
“Electronic commerce will be an integral part of our company’s long-term
presence on the Internet. With the That’s Racin’ Store and online classifieds,
we are leveraging our strong content franchise to create e-commerce services
for our customers,” van Halsema added.
Thatsracin.com provides independent, daily news coverage of NASCAR racing,
produced by reporters and photographers from the Charlotte Observer and its
sister Knight Ridder newspapers, as well as other papers in racing cities. In
addition to its news coverage, the Web site includes fan participation
features, a free fantasy racing game, contests, weekly fan polls, and an
online forum and chat.
Motorsports by Mail offers merchandise related to NASCAR’s Winston Cup, Busch
Grand National and Craftsman Truck series, as well as Ford and Chevrolet
Racing and Winston Drag Racing.
With the free classified ads on thatsracin.com, NASCAR fans can search for
bargains in 16 racing-related categories, including racecars, engines, tickets
and collectibles.