Four UMass students are taking their marketing talents to South Beach; local racing family helping its own; Movie Night for NEAR Hall of Fame.
The UMass NASCAR Kinetics team - (from left) Jake Flynn, Maria Marascia, Prof. Steve McKelvey, Derek Bennett, Amy Sonder and Matt Graham - hope to meet the real Dale Earnhardt Jr. next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.As Matt Graham walked through icy wind gusts across the University of Massachusetts campus Wednesday, his mind drifted to warmer, sunnier things in his future.
Graham, of Agawam, four other students in the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the Isenberg School of Management, and their professor will be on Miami Beach by next Thursday night.
The students, directed by Prof. Steve McKelvey, will be guests of NASCAR, in recognition of the UMass team beating out 17 other schools to win this semester's "NASCAR Kinetics: Marketing in Motion" competition. Amy Sonder, Derek Bennett, Jake Flynn, Maria Marascia and Graham spent the fall researching a pair of case studies and putting together a public viewing party of a NASCAR race.
The Minutemen - who were runners-up a year ago - finished second in each phase of the competition, giving them enough points to edge Syracuse University and Belmont Abbey College for the top honors and the trip to witness the NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"I don't really think it has hit me," Graham said. "We can't wait. From what they've told us so far, they're putting us up in a five-star hotel - the Loews on Miami Beach."
In addition to the ritzy accommodations and VIP treatment at the track, the group will also attend a concert on Miami Beach put on by rockers Daughtry. Team UMass looks forward to making contacts within the industry and, hopefully, meeting some celebrities as well.
"I'm really just looking forward to taking in the whole NASCAR experience," said Graham, who attended the September race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with his team and professor. "It would be kind of cool if we could meet the drivers as well."
As for the race and the chase for the championship between Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski?
"Hopefully, it's really close and it comes down to the final five or 10 laps," Graham said
The UMass viewing party - held Oct. 21 at The Pub in Amherst - was very well received. Close to 300 people turned out to watch the Hollywood Casino 400 from Kansas Speedway. Attendees took part in fantasy racing, answered trivia questions and played Activision's NASCAR video game.
"I feel like each year we get more and more people outside of the UMass college body," Graham said.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Melissa Kopec, of Ware, is using her Tupperware business to help a former area racer who lost his home in Superstorm Sandy.
Kopec, the sister of Stafford Motor Speedway driver Dylan Kopec and daughter of former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Chris Kopec, has set up a special sale to raise money for former Tour racer Fred Vordermier.
Vordermier lost his home and most of his belongings. The money raised will go toward Tupperware to help restock the family's kitchen as well as to buy toys and clothing for Vordermier's 2 1/2-year-old daughter Hailey.
To get involved and to receive the link to order, contact Melissa Kopec at melissa.kopec66@gmail.com. Forty percent of your purchase will go to the relief effort.
GET YOUR POPCORN READY: The New England Antique Racers will hold their annual Movie Night on Saturday at the Dante Club in West Springfield. This event, open to the public, is NEAR's primary fundraiser. This year's proceeds will help maintain the trailer that houses NEAR's mobile New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Hall of Famers from several generations will be in attendance, so this gives fans a chance to rub elbows with many of the area's legends. Tickets are $15 at the door and includes a buffet. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Jason Remillard can be reached at jremillard@repub.com