TMone joins NASCAR world with Sprint Cup car co-sponsorship

Iowa-City based TMone is hoping its first NASCAR sponsorship puts its nationwide branding and marketing efforts on the fast track.

TMone is co-primary sponsor of the No. 34 David Gilliland NASCAR Sprint Cup Car in this weekend's Jeff Byrd 500 Presented by Food City at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is the third race in which TMone  has joined fast food entrepreneur Bob Jenkins' Front Row Motorsports Team, but its first as co-sponsor.

The TMone name will be riding on the side of Gilliland's Ford Fusion as it flies around the track at Bristol, next to Taco Bell brand, one of the fast food restaurants operated by Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins.

A NASCAR sponsorship is a way to gain brand recognition, a way to network with other businesses, and a morale builder, according to TMone President and co-founder Anthony Marlowe

Some of the TMone contingent were hoping to be allowed in to the driver's meeting before the race, and to get a close-up look at the race as it unfolds.

“Everybody is completely stoked,” Marlowe said Thursday, March 18, in the early stages of an 800-mile motor coach ride to Bristol with seven members of TMONE's leadership team.

Marlowe said he sees similar cultures at  TMone and Front Row Motorsports, one of the few .

“Racing is all about being nimble, ability speed and quality of executivtion, which is what TMone provides to its clients on a daily basis,” Marlowe said.

A crash in the last race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Las Vegas dropped Gilliland out of a top 10 ranking in the standings for series, but he was hopeful going into Sunday's Jeff Byrd 500.

“I'm excited about going to Bristol,” Gilliland said. ” It's a track where we've run well in the past.  In fact, last year, we were fastest in one of the practices there.  So, I feel like we're going back with a good, solid set-up that we ran really well with last year and I'm looking forward to going back there.”

One message Marlowe wants to convey through the company's marketing effort is that while TMone offer business process outsourcing, it's all onshore. He said the company is growing with the addition of a new Fortune 500 client, and looks forward to adding more jobs in the United States.

TMone employs about 400 in Iowa City, Des Moines and North Sioux City, S.D., offering services in customer service selling and customer relationship management.

Marlowe said the company's NASCAR sponsorship makes an “inherent statement”about the progress TMone has made in its first eight years.

“We've come a long way from the days of working in the basement with sticky notes and a phone modem,” he said.

Gilliland was pleased to add a new sponsor.

“They've been a cool partner so far and we're excited to see them expand their involvement,” he said. ” It's good to see a new company, and a growing company, come into the sport and get involved.  They're going to have a group of people at the race this weekend and we look forward to giving them a good show and a great experience.”

Long John Silver's, another of Jenkins' fast food franchises, will be on the team's No. 38 car, driven by Travis Kvapil.