Switching Seats campaign going strong Published May 14, 2009 By By Christa D'Andrea Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Air Force is launching the final three webisodes of its multimedia marketing campaign, "Switching Seats," May 15. The online campaign centers on the parallels between Air Force and NASCAR high-performance jobs and focuses on No. 43 driver Reed Sorenson and crew members engaged in each others' jobs. The final three webisodes feature Air Force Special Operations trainees working out with Brett Cummings, Richard Petty Motorsports trainer, as well as watching the No. 43 car shock specialist change a shock on an F-15 fighter jet. According to Capt. Homero Martinez, Air Force Recruiting Service Chief Marketing officer, the Air Force is having positive results with the campaign. "We've been successful in creating an online environment that is both informative and engaging," he said. Since the start of the campaign, which launched March 23, the NASCAR Web site located on airforce.com, has received an average of 1,300 visits per day with an average visit time of 4 minutes. "The RPM sponsorship, across the board, is robust and our driver, Reed Sorenson, resonates with our target audience," Captain Martinez said. "Our onsite activation strategies have worked very well and we have seen an increase in leads from last year." The Air Force, which announced its partnership with RPM in January, is a primary and associate sponsor for the No. 43 car. Mr. Sorenson currently ranks 23rd with 1,090 points and has had a top 10 finish this year at the Dayton 500 and placed 11th at Talladega, the first race that featured the primary paint scheme. The No. 43 car also qualified to compete in the series Pit Crew Challenge May 14. The crew competed in their Air Force crew uniforms and the car featured the primary paint scheme. Additionally, fans were able to vote their favorite driver into the All-Star race by going to the NASCAR Web site. Whichever driver received the most votes will race in the All-Star Challenge May 16, at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Air Force engages in event marketing and sponsorship to raise public awareness about America's Air Force and to help the Air Force Recruiting Service meet its mission of recruiting quality men and women with the right skills, at the right time, in the right numbers to sustain the combat capability of America's Air Force. "NASCAR is an attractive venue for marketing the U.S. Air Force because the sport has a strong, patriotic fan base that really supports their teams and the team sponsors," said Col. Timothy Hanson, AFRS Strategic Communications director.