TeamWWF Sponsorship Ambassador
An incredible asset to the Wings and Wheels Foundation as TeamWWF Sponsorship Ambassador, Ralph Hansen’s experience in racing dates back to 1967, when he first became friends with Anton “Tony” Hulman, the owner of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ralph Hansen with actor Paul Newman
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Ralph Howard Hansen, Jr. was still attending Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, when he became close friends with Tony Hulman, the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When he graduated in 1970, Ralph became Tony Hulman’s executive assistant and worked until 1977, when Hulman passed away.
Ralph became acquainted with many notable figures in the world of Motorsports. He became aware that Racing drivers and Team owners needed help securing sponsors; he actually secured sponsorships for Tom Sneva and Arie Luyendyk when they were both rookies in the early 1980s. Ralph decided to start a full-time professional sports marketing business, focusing on sponsorship acquisition and helping drivers become better known and create Racing opportunities for them during that time.
Ralph conceived the Kmart model for acquiring sponsorships. That is when a major retailer initially works with its vendors to fund a Racing program. It started with a one-car program with Mario Andretti as a driver at Newman Haas Racing; it later expanded to become the first father-and-son racing team with Mario Andretti and Michael Andretti. In addition, Kmart added two cars in the NASCAR series.
Ralph Hansen was responsible for securing all funding for both IndyCar and NASCAR, and during that period, he raised a documented $400 million in sponsorship revenue.
Ralph Hansen was responsible for securing all funding for both IndyCar and NASCAR, and during that period he raised a documented $400 million in sponsorship.
Ralph Hansen was responsible for the creation of Cause Marketing and Motorsports. His initial program was with the TV actor David Hasselhoff, who starred in Knight Rider. We created a relationship with the Make-A-Wish organization, through which we could bring groups of children to various races.
Later, he worked with Paul Newman to establish his Hole In The Wall Gang Camps. Now there are 30 of those camps Worldwide.
Ralph Hansen created the opportunity for Newman’s Own salad dressings to be sold in all McDonald’s restaurants nationwide; the program lasted 12 years. It raised over $200 million for dozens of charities over the last couple of years.
Many years later, with over 400 million dollars in sponsorship raised, the concept remains valid and in use worldwide. Ralph has developed other major creative programs for prominent companies, including Eli Lilly and Company and many others. Believing in and following “The Golden Rule” has been the standard by which Ralph and his firm continue to live and do business today.
Ralph Hansen has focused on helping young drivers move up from karting to cars, and has also assisted many drivers in securing funding to race.
Today, Ralph helps TeamWWF in several ways, including identifying some of our team’s talented drivers and building valuable relationships that advance the team on and off the track.
Click here to read more about Ralph Hansen.
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