Domino's looking to fans to decide which pizza is best

One thing you can tell about NASCAR fans, no matter the generation, they have definite opinions on a variety of subjects.

Domino's Pizza has asked NASCAR Nation to weigh in on their favorite type of pizza, and the answer will be revealed during the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 29.

Fans casting their vote at Texas

"It's a different kind of rivalry," said Chris Brandon, sports marketing manager for Domino's. "This is the idea of two classic sports towns squaring off. The nature of Philadelphia and the tri-state region and Brooklyn is one of towns with a lot of character, and everything in the sports field is a big rivalry.

"These are two great towns with a lot of pride in their regions, and now they're duking it out in NASCAR."

The choices in this topping-vs.-topping showdown are either the Philly Cheese Steak pizza or the Brooklyn Style pizza available at Domino's across the country. Whichever pizza wins -- and it's hard to pick a winner -- will be the primary sponsor for David Reutimann's No. 00 Domino's Toyota Camry at Talladega the final weekend of April.

The program was launched at windy, rainy Texas Motor Speedway last Thursday, and it involved feeding Texas Motor Speedway general manager Eddie Gossage and the rest of the TMS staff.

Good start! Gossage used to do public relations for, among other companies, Miller Brewing Co., so he's done this countless times, and his staff is comprised of several former members of the media.

In case you missed it, the second thing you're taught at journalism school is where the buffet starts! The first is the five W's -- who, what, when, where and why---and the H -- how.

"I was a J-school graduate at the University of Kansas," Brandon joked. "That was always brought up as a good way to go."

The paint schemes were unveiled the following day, and, continuing on the theme, media members were fed and then asked to vote. That's MASS marketing at its finest!

Fans are invited to do the same thing: eat and vote. Domino's corporate displays are located in the midway at Phoenix International Raceway, and race fans are also able to vote for their choices at Teamdominos.com and Dominos.com

As for the response, Brandon said it's been very good.

"We're offering the vote, and fans really seemed to get into this," he said of the initial voting at Texas. "It's really kind of cool. You can vote on pizza, you can vote on regional ties or you can vote on the paint schemes themselves. Regional ties can be anything from having family there to liking the sports teams in the area. We're hoping for a lot more of the same at Phoenix."

Dale Jarrett, asked about his vote, said it was "hard to go against Brooklyn because he's a big Yankees fan," Brandon said.

Lots of people are voting on the schemes themselves, he added.

"The Philly scheme is black and sleek and sharp, and the Brooklyn is more colorful and classic," he said. "It's been interesting to watch the trends."

Asked as to how Domino's is planning to expand and fill out its sponsorship in NASCAR, Brandon said this promotion was a good start.

"As a sponsor you're trying to look for your position in the sport and use them in different ways," he said. "We wanted to use this as a national effort, and that's why we went with a "you choose" rivalry.

"Our partnership with the 00 Domino's car provided a great concept to bring the Philly vs. Brooklyn rivalry to the racetrack."

After all the votes are tallied, the winning paint scheme will be applied to the car in time for it to be unveiled at Talladega.

"It's been pretty amazing," Brandon said. "We are continuing to receive votes and feedback, and we'll be taking that into consideration until shortly before the Talladega race.

"It's pretty amazing how split it's been. We sampled some of the voting at TMS and on the web and it's very, very close."

The rain that plagued the launch of the program also cost driver David Reutimann the chance to qualify for the Samsung 500, but it didn't seem to have a huge effect on the fans' enthusiasm for the promotion.

"We were feeling really bad for David because he had a great racecar, and obviously the 00 car deserved to be in the race," Brandon said after Reutimann was second-fastest in the morning practice session. "But it really didn't affect the enthusiasm for the vote. David was at the Domino's display and he brought a great crowd. Our enthusiasm for this program and certainly the fans' has not wavered a bit."

Domino's also used its FOX TV Hot Lap segment to ask fans to vote, and that went well, according to Brandon.

So hurry up and cast your vote! Pick a pizza, pick a paint scheme and then weigh in!