Car Insurance

Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Karen Stoffer has signed Geico Motorcycle, a new corporate backer in NHRA Drag Racing, to a three-year major-sponsorship deal. Stoffer, one of only seven women in the 53-year history of the sport to have won a Pro category at a national event, took the insurance giant’s famous gecko for a test ride in 2004, a ride so successful that the company picked up an option to back her Jonco Racing Suzuki for the next three years.

“I’m really excited, not just for getting this deal for our team and having that security for the next three years but because we’ve brought a huge corporation into the NHRA family.” said Stoffer. “If they’re taken care of properly, this could get bigger and bigger.”

“We at Geico Motorcycle are thrilled to be announcing this long-term relationship with Karen Stoffer, her team, and NHRA,” said Geico Motorcycle Director Kirk La. “It is our firm belief that this deal is the right combination to take two very successful programs to the next level.”

Stoffer and her crew chief and husband Gary added Geico Motorcycle to the team’s Suzuki at the end of 2003 for a two-race program. In 2004, the insurance carrier signed her to several small, multi-race deals as they testmarketed the NHRA audience and fan base across the country. At the end of the corporation’s fiscal third quarter, Stoffer was flown to the company’s headquarters for discussions about making the commitment a full-time proposition.

“They did a beta test with us last year,” said Stoffer. “Through a dedicated phone line and people using my name or mentioning NHRA when they signed up for insurance, they were able to track our reach and effectiveness. When they brought us up after they put together their earnings report, they told me they had experienced double-digit growth in their motorcycle division, so we were ecstatic.”

With Geico Motorcycle’s big commitment to Doug and Debbie Johnson’s Jonco team, Stoffer is hoping that winner’s circle celebrations become commonplace.

“We’ll definitely be able to step it up across the board,” said Stoffer. “We’ll add a crew person right away, and we’ve already ordered another engine. I plan to take a few days off to go to Florida to attend George Bryce’s Drag Racing School to refocus again on what I’m doing on the bike.

“Gary is super excited about having the budget to test the bike. We only tested twice last year, and it probably cost us several rounds. Now we’ll have the ability to test on off days rather than when we’re at a race, which will really pay off for us. This just opens so many opportunities that we haven’t had before.”