NASCAR events to generate traffic at Walmart

Walmart has long shunned outright sponsorship of a NASCAR team, while such other retailers as Target, Office Depot, Bass Pro Shops, Home Depot and Lowe’s have embraced the sport with much success. With most NASCAR fans already shopping its stores, Walmart has adopted for a more surgical approach, which is evident again this year as the company executes promotional events at stores in markets where races are being held.

Thenext big event is coming up in the Talladega, Ala., area where the Aaron’s 499 is scheduled for Sunday, April 17. A series of exclusive events will be held at four Walmart stores in Talladega and the nearby towns of Leeds, Oxford and Pell City beginning on April 13 and running through April 16. For example, the store parking lots will feature such interesting attractions as race car simulators and replicas of actual cars that will be in the race, many of which feature brand sponsors whose products are sold at Walmart such as Hefty, M&M’s, Cheerios, Oreos, Ritz, Coor’s Light, Keystone Light, Pepsi Max, Frito Lay and Coca Cola.

Races at Talladega are a big deal in Alabama so the presence of a bunch of colorful NASCAR show cars and simulators in the parking lots at Walmart is likely to attract quite a crowd.

“We've found that nearly nine out of 10 NASCAR fans chose to shop at Walmart,” said Walmart market manager Kevin Smith. “We wanted to provide Talladega race fans with unique Race Time experiences and unbelievable savings on NASCAR merchandise that you can only find at Walmart.”