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Bill Gates a Drag Racing Fan?

Written by David Lamm · November 14, 2005

Probably not yet, but after meeting an extraordinary young lady he just might come out to the drag strip. As part of a Microsoft contest and promotion, a 15-year old girl from Washington State was one of the five finalists and is a member of the NHRA’s junior drag racing program. Her use of Microsoft products on her race car helped her win $5,000 worth of computers and software.


Adweek: Microsoft Keeps Fast Company With Dragster
Seattle Post Intelligencer: A Windows drag racer
The Seattle Times: Microsoft award has teen running in fast company
Jeannine Johnson Racing: Start Something Amazing Awards

Admittedly Gates has received a few speeding tickets and owns a number of fast cars so he would be a natural fit to become a drag racing fan. And don’t think the NHRA brass in Glendora, Calif. are not hoping that this exposure might tempt him into throwing some sponsorship money towards the NHRA. It might be a bit far fetched but the Microsoft folks might not be too far off if they decide to advertise to the motorsports fan. Many of you reading this are probably using Internet Explorer to view this web page so it is not too crazy to think that computers and software might be good advertising fodder instead of motor oil and beer.

Maybe a 15 year-old girl might be able to do what sales and marketing gurus at the NHRA have been trying hard to do for a few years now. If it does happen, who cares who gets the credit. The NHRA returns to Pacific raceways in Kent, Wash. July 21-23. Keep an eye out for a guy that looks a lot like Bill Gates hanging out in John Force’s pit area. It probably won’t happen but it is nice to dream.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Bill Gates a Drag Racing Fan?”

  1. Bill on December 6th, 2005 9:41 am

    Thanks for the write up. This is Jeannine’s dad and I would love to see Microsoft step into the world of Drag racing. If you want to learn more about Jeannine her web site is http://www.jeanninejohnson.com.

    Bill

  2. Bill on November 26th, 2006 7:55 pm

    Well the cat’s out of the bag, yes Jeannine did what the NHRA couldn’t. Her new Top Comp Dragster has a Title Sponsor of Windows Vista. Check it out at http://www.jeanninejohnson.com.

    Thanks
    Bill

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