Budweiser and Harvick Team-Up with Blippar App

Use the Blippar app to scan this image to begin the Blippar/Budweiser experience

The innovation of the smart phone and phone apps has brought about a variety of unique user experiences. Advertisers are taking advantage of these platforms in a variety of ways. Whether they advertise through apps, iAds, or QR codes, there are a number of ways for companies to get their products to the end user. When advertising meets the smartphone, users are given a unique experience.

Blippar, a smartphone app company based in the UK, has created a unique advertising experience for fans of NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick and Budweiser Racing. When you use the Blippar smartphone app on your iOS or Android device to scan the Budweiser logo or either images on this page, you will enter an exclusive world. As the video illustrates, Blippar uses augmented reality to deliver exclusive content.

Use the Blippar app to scan this image to begin the Blippar/Budweiser experience

Blippar has created a world filled with exclusive content from Budweiser and Richard Childress Racing. After scanning a Budweiser logo or banner, users are presented with a menu (pictured below) with a variety of options. Under “Experience the Bud 29,” users can access a 360 degree view of the Budweiser 29 car or view two exclusive videos from the RCR race shop. When “Away from the Track” is selected, three videos are presented. These videos show Kevin Harvick away from the track racing g0-karts and pulling pranks. The final option of having your picture taken with Harvick is like a number of apps that allows you to insert yourself into an image. Blippar gives users three different picture options – at the bar, at the track, and just hanging out.

Blippar has created a unique form of advertising that goes far beyond QR codes and banners. But Budweiser is not the only company taking advantage of Blippar’s creative advertising. Blippar experiences are also available for Cadbury, Heinz, Kit Kat, Dominos Pizza, Wrigley’s Gum, and several other companies. Blippar’s unique form of advertising may not be mainstream, but it is a unique way for users to interact with their favorite brands and for companies to interact with potential customers.

So, as Kevin Harvick hits the track today at Watkins Glen, grab a Bud, your smartphone, and the Blippar app to enjoy a unique Harvick experience.

Kevin Harvick Inc. to Shut Down

Kevin Harvick announced this week that the Nationwide Series cars fielded by KHI this year will become part of Richard Childress Racing next season.  That left many fans wondering if KHI would continue in Camping World Truck Series.  In an interview today, Harvick confirmed the truck teams will also cease to exist after this season.  The news has shocked the racing community since KHI has won 39 races and 2 championships in the last nine years.  In the interview Harvick said, “I had to tell all 140 of my employees what was going on. I told them on Wednesday. They will have a chance to get a job at RCR with the merger, but we dont know how many.”  He admits that the hardest part of telling driver of the #33 truck and long-time friend, Ron Hornaday that he would have to find another ride for the 2012 season.

Kevin and DeLana Harvick founded KHI in 2001 and began in the Truck Series.  Slowly, they built up their team and expanded into the Nationwide Series.  KHI has had success in both series, but especially in the Truck series with Hornaday.  A four time Truck series Champion, Hornaday won two of those championships with KHI in 2007 and 2009.  For the 2011 season, KHI fields the #2 Chevrolet driven by a variety of drivers, #8 Chevrolet driven by Nelson Piquet Jr., and the #33 Chevrolet driven by Hornaday.  In the Nationwide Series, the #2 Chevrolet driven by Elliot Sadler and the #33 Chevrolet driven by a variety of drivers.  Bot the #2 and #33 Nationwide cars will move to RCR for the 2012 season.

I have been to KHI two times in the past year and Kevin and DeLana put together a great program.  It is sad to see them go, but as Harvick stated, “It’s a tough model, business-wise. We’ve scrimped and scraped and got the sponsorship and things that you need, and GM has been a great supporter of everything that we’ve done. But from a business standpoint, sometimes you just have to make the decisions as to what you want to do, and for us it just didn’t make sense.”  Kevin wants to focus more on his Sprint Cup Series career.

Source: NASCAR

Harvick Wins at Auto Club Speedway!