Product Shots — NASCAR Rod Series

Check out the new NASCAR rods up close!

Fetha Styx NASCAR series features five different drivers: Mark Martin #5, Danica Patrick #7, Jeff Gordon #24, Jimmie Johnson #48 and Dale Earnhardt Jr #88.

Fetha Styx at ICAST — Day Two

As the reports continue to come back, we’ll keep this post updated. So be sure to check back!

Our NASCAR rods are featured in a Field and Stream online gallery titled “The Most Unique, Innovative and Strange New Tackle from ICAST 2010.”

Gary Loomis and Gina proudly show Homewater rods to ICAST goers.

Two new videos from the World Fishing Network are up here.

Bill shows off the brand new Homewater rod series featuring blanks made by North Fork Composites.
Homewater Rod Series (video)

Gina talks to us for a minute about the NASCAR rod series.
Gina Shows the NASCAR Series (video)

And, lastly, a gallery of the day’s photos.

Fetha Styx at ICAST 2010! — UPDATED

Here are some photos of our ICAST booth setup, including our new NASCAR rod series, our True Hero series and our CCA series. Read more »

NASCAR: Gone fishin’ with new line of Fetha Styx rods

via Charlotte Business Journal

Go fish. And take NASCAR with you.

That’s the plan for Fetha Styx and the Charlotte-based licensing division of NASCAR. Late this year, Fetha Styx’s line of NASCAR fishing rods will debut, selling for $150 to $250 each for adult models and $99 for children. Forty-five retailers have agreed to sell the rods, with national stores such as Bass Pro Shops included, according to NASCAR.

A 2,400-square-foot distribution hub here will serve the primary Southeastern market, though the rods will be sold nationwide.

Fetha Styx, based in Seattle, tapped Chuck Morrison, former owner of a NASCAR souvenir company, as a consultant on the launch of the fishing rods. Morrison lives in Columbia, S.C., but spent many years in Charlotte working in sports marketing and promotion.

To start, five drivers will be featured in the fishing line: Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and Danica Patrick. The drivers’ car numbers and signatures are featured on the rods. All of the drivers except Patrick are part of Hendrick Motorsports, home of the most popular race teams in the sport. Patrick drives for Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide Series team, which includes Rick Hendrick as a co-owner.

Next month, the rods will debut in Las Vegas as part of the fishing industry’s annual trade show. Tie-in promotions at BASS tournaments throughout the Southeast begin this fall.

Next year, Morrison, who has extensive experience in NASCAR collectibles and merchandise, hopes to organize a fishing demonstration with some drivers and fans at the Daytona International Speedway’s 29-acre lake on the track’s infield as part of the season-opening Daytona 500 race weeks.

NASCAR touts a strong connection between racing and fishing.

“It’s a natural fit,” says Paul Sparrow, NASCAR director of business development. The price and quality of the fishing rods reflect NASCAR’s belief that authenticity is crucial. “We didn’t want to just slap a logo on something,” he says.

NASCAR fans are twice as likely to fish as non-NASCAR fans, according to a study by research firm Experian Simmons.

Fishing and NASCAR share more than the same audience. They both want more young fans, too.

“Our industry needs to get more kids involved, and NASCAR as a sport needs more kids — it’s a double-whammy,” says Paul Marcoux, managing director of Boyce Jones Investments, the parent of Fetha-Styx.

Taking advantage of NASCAR fans’ fondness for fishing, camping and the outdoors provides mutual benefits, industry experts say.

Last year, NASCAR and a resort company negotiated a deal to put the stock-car sanctioning body’s name on campgrounds across the country. At Bass Pro Shops, NASCAR-themed sections reinforce the strong bond between race fans and the outdoors.

Sparrow, the NASCAR executive, points to a charity campaign tied to the new line of fishing rods as another hook. For every adult fishing rod sold, $10 goes to the driver’s favorite charity. For the youth line, each one sold includes a $3 donation to the NASCAR Foundation.

If the fishing rods sell well, accessories won’t be far behind. Talks have already begun on companion tackle boxes, cases and other items bearing driver names and logos.

Fetha Styx Helps Raise an Additional $98,000 for National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

“It was really, really moving to be there and just listen to the family members’ stories. It’s amazing to hear these stories and realize the depth of support that the foundation provides for these families.”
– Gina from Fetha Styx

At the “AAA 400” NASCAR Spring Cup Series race, Fetha Styx showed its continuing support for the men and women serving us as police and firemen. Fetha Styx already donates $10 per rod sale from the “True Hero” series to either the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation or the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Last week, Gina represented Fetha Styx at Dover International Speedway where we partnered with NASCAR and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to raise money for NFFF and their commitment to honor our fallen fire heroes as well as provide assistance to their families and coworkers.

Families of fallen firefighters pre-race.

NFFF sponsors an annual national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. The weekend features special programs for survivors and coworkers along with public ceremonies — and all expenses for immediate survivors of firefighters honored are covered by the foundation. In addition, NFFF has a crisis team ready in every state to provide instantaneous assistance in the unfortunate case a firefighter falls. For more information on all that NFFF does, visit their site.

Gina emphasizes how impressed Fetha Styx is with NFFF. She says, “The amount of support that the foundation provides is absolutely phenomenal.”

The "big check."

Fetha Styx will tell you that the weekend was very successful — and the numbers from this year’s event are staggering. Attendance more than quadrupled from last year’s 500 to over 2,000. Tickets and merchandise sales from the weekend raised a hearty $98,000 to bring the total amount raised from the two races to $125,900. This financial contribution is invaluable to NFFF’s programs, and a heartfelt acknowledgment from the public of how much the men and women who serve us are appreciated.

Kevin Harvick, driver of #29 Shell Pennzoil (left), and Mark Rossi, VP of Sales and Marketing for Dover Speedway (right), during pre-race Q&A.

Fetha Styx helped ensure the event’s success by stepping in as a corporate sponsor. Not only does the event raise money for NFFF, but also it provides those in attendance the opportunity to view a special pre-race, access the NFFF hospitality area, and a trackside tour of the track. The race, though, wasn’t the only center of attraction. Fetha Styx was pleased to show more people the “True Hero” series rods. Unsurprisingly, Gina reports that “The rod line-up had a remarkable reception from all the firefighters that were there.”

On top of a serious cause and talking rods, the “AAA 400″ was a great time. Trailer Choir performed the National Anthem before the race, and were a definite highlight — one of the best performances of the National Anthem that we’ve ever heard!

Gina with Big Benny of Trailer Choir.

Bink with Crystal of Trailer Choir.

Video of Trailer Choir’s performance of the National Anthem: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tBmiVnQijc

However, there’s no denying where the true gratification from the event comes from. For Fetha Styx, the most memorable aspect of the event was, “realizing how much money we [all] just raised, and what that money is going to do for the families NFFF supports.”

Please stay tuned for future updates on Fetha Styx’ contributions to Amerca’s police and firemen.

A few more pictures:

For information on purchasing a Fetha Styx “True Hero” rod, please call 425.376.0200.


Dover Speedway event article.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

About National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The United States Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to remember America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the tax-exempt, nonprofit Foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor our fallen fire heroes and assist their families and coworkers. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It is registered as a corporation in the State of Maryland. The Foundation receives funding through private donations from caring individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations.’