Thousands of racing enthusiasts were in attendance for Speedway Expo 2008.This event was the major kickoff event for the 2008 racing season and was held from February 29-March 2, 2008. As part of the educational seminars Joseph Clouatre participated in a panel discussion on the relationships between sponsors and race teams. This panel was a who’s who in sports marketing and the speakers enjoyed a packed house with standing room only. This was a unique opportunity for Joe to share his thoughts having been a sponsor, driver and owner.

Joe also conducted another seminar that focused on “Team Building on Race Teams”. This well received programmed highlighted the importance of having strength in every position on the team, cooperation between team members and having fun! There were teams from as far away as California in attendance. Several of the attendees stayed after the seminar and Joe conducted an informal round table discussion fueled by a steady stream of questions. For many years Joe has created very successful teams within his businesses and many of the same principals were easily applied to the world of auto racing.

Joe has been around auto racing all his life, actually owning his first race car at 15 years old when he wasn’t even old enough to enter the pit area. He recruited someone with a driver’s license to drive the car for him. Over the years Joe has been involved as a driver, owner, sponsor and always a race fan.

In recent years he has been involved in restoring vintage race cars and sponsoring cars on the NASCAR Modified Tour. Currently he owns the white #99 Modified which can be found on racetracks from New England to Michigan. The car is pictured here at New Hampshire International Speedway this past May. You can check out many of Joe’s cars, past and present, on his website www.vintageracecargarage.com.

Derek Ramstrom

Today Joe is busy helping out a young gun named Derek Ramstrom. Derek, age 16, has been racing for the past 10 years and has won 16 championships.

This year Derek is defending his Championship from last year in the PASS Outlaw Late Model Division. Go to www.DerekRamstrom.com to see when Derek will be at a track near you.