IndyCar Partnership

Dale Coyne Reveals IndyCar Partnership With Boy Scouts

Today, Coyne and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) revealed plans to promote the 100th anniversary of the scouting organization through a partnership with Dale Coyne Racing. While discussing plans to promote scouting activities and advance he high-tech nature of Indy cars as a platform that promotes three cores of scouting – math, science and technology – the announcement said nothing about a driver for the No. 19 Indy car that will advance the BSA culture. “Driver announcements will be made later this month.”

The red/white/blue Dallara/Honda/Firestone entry has the logos of the Boy Scouts from front wing, through sidepods and rear wing. There are more than 290 local councils throughout the United States and its territories and having the 100th anniversary of scouting commemorated and celebrated on Coyne’s Indy car can only advance the cause.

Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca noted, “The state of scouting is strong and we have 50 million living alumni. 2010 is our centennial year and with this partnership we reaffirm our commitment to the future.” Choosing to ally with the IZOD IndyCar Series is part of the thrust to “think outside the box. We are 100 years old and we could be stodgy, but we want to define ourselves in our second century and push our core of math and sciences forward,” he said.

The appeal of the alliance is a call to young people, Mazzuca stressed, a call that is close to the heart for Coyne and wife Gail. “Dale understands the need to expose kids to math, science and technology and make it an integrated platform.” The IZOD IndyCar Series, he stressed, is a good match in terms of audience and marketplace.

There will be events planned throughout the season, particularly around the BSA Jamboree, which takes place in late July and early August. The anniversary thrust began with the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

“This is a monumental announcement,” said Coyne, who spent much of 2009 looking toward this liaison and the initiatives that could work around an IZOD IndyCar Series meeting. “Gail and I looked at this great cause as a marketing opportunity and it went further as the year went on. We had Boy Scout representatives at our races and they brought their excitement and desire to learn. Good things happen when you wear a uniform,” he said.

“I feel very humbled to bring Indy car racing and the Boy Scouts of America together. Our goals for the 2009 season are a strong commitment to improve every facet of our team. Every year we get better prepared and this year,” among other items, “we have a fitness program for all our guys.”

In addition to pre-race promotion, the Boy Scouts of America intend to have kiosks at various tracks and a show car program is possible. They hope to combine racing activities with various local Jamboree programs. “We looked at the educational component and Dale’s passion for his work” in making the decision to form the alliance.

Dale Coyne Racing intends to announce a driver lineup at the end of January, for the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America car and for the No. 18 Dallara. No mention of 2009 partner Z-Line Designs came at this announcement, which was confined to the BSA program.