Occasionally I get some rather interesting thoughts and recently while enjoying an ice cream sandwich in the Media Center at Worldwide Technology Raceway, yours truly again came up with the following premonition:
Myles Rowe is a budding superstar and is perfect for a corporation looking to further develop their brand in a high-level partnership that works for the driver and sponsor.
Sure, he put a proverbial beat down on the entire field in Madison, Ill. this past Sunday night when he charged from the rear of the field to win yet again on an oval circuit, but that’s just another example of his skill behind the wheel and in a much bigger picture, I’m speaking to his persona and the fact he is a handsome, articulate, polite, young man who just happens to be a helluva driver to boot.
Even an old curmudgeon like myself can envision him aligned with a Fortune 200 company that caters to the younger demographic which, by the way, he’s a prominent member of, so I ask, why is this not happening already?
Rowe calls New York City his home and I can’t help but think how advantageous it would be for any potential sponsor to use the platform that is NYC as a springboard for an ad campaign that capitalizes on his natural charm and million dollar smile, to represent their company in a well-designed national marketing approach that targets the coveted Gen-Z demographic which now accounts for an enormous percentage of the buying trends in this country and around the entire globe.
Racing has always been about the haves and have nots and it always will be an expensive proposition for any team, be it an upstart organization or a well ran established one, but the fact remains Rowe is prime time in all the facets in which a sponsor must consider before diving in to a lucrative program that can transcend both a driver and those who provide the huge financial resources it takes to be successful in motorsports.
You might say I’m biased about this unique young man and you’d be absolutely correct, as l have taken the time to get to know him as well as his family who has been incredible in terms of the support they continue to provide to their affable 26-year-old son.
There’s another huge supporter in Rowe’s camp that knows a thing or two about racing by the name of Roger Penske, who has been beyond instrumental in terms of providing financial and technical support to date.
His commitment to the Drive To Diversity Initiative and the establishment of Force Indy Racing along with Rod Reid of NXG Motorsports is well-documented and proven to be most instrumental to the degree of success Rowe has experienced to date.
The next step for this extremely talented young driver is what does the future hold for him? One industry insider told me he thinks Rowe will land in the IMSA series full-time next year and also have an opportunity to run the Indianapolis 500.
That’s quite a combination for Rowe who clearly has earned the opportunities to distinguish himself in both of the disciplines that are being forecasted for 2027, but it will obviously take additional financial resources for each of those programs to be sustained and successful.
Clearly Rowe is up to the task but the concerns regarding sponsorship remain in play.
Corporate America needs to look at Rowe as a potential business partner that they can grow with and allow him to not only drive at a high level, but also win at the game of enhancing their brand, all the while fostering long-term relationships that can then reward all parties.
The real question is what is taking so long for them to hop on with a rising star and allowing the on-track results to speak loudly for everyone?
Danny Bridges, who thinks Myles Rowe indeed has the necessary moxie for IndyCar Racing, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com
Danny Bridges is an award-winning journalist and a longtime sports columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder. He covers college, professional sports and especially all things IndyCar racing. He can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
