ALAMEDA, Calif. (July 6, 2010) – San Francisco Bay Area native Valli Hilaire and her blog, The Fast and the Fabulous (www.thefastandthefabulous.com), were selected to be a part of NASCAR’s latest media initiative, the NASCAR Citizen Journalist Media Corps (CJMC.) The NASCAR CJMC was created in 2009 to acknowledge the changing media landscape and give the same access that traditional media outlets possess to a select group of 25 new media Web sites.
“Valli and The Fast and the Fabulous have significantly increased their presence at NASCAR events and provide ongoing insight about the sport,” said Ramsey Poston, Managing Director of Corporate Communications at NASCAR. “We are proud to see interest about NASCAR increase among the online community and welcome them to cover our events.”
Hilaire launched The Fast and the Fabulous in 2006, and it has become a destination for female race fans looking for more than race reports and stats. Approximately 40 percent of NASCAR fans are female, according to the research firm Ispsos Insight. Hilaire, 29, writes about her experiences at and around the race track. The Fast and the Fabulous also appears as a column in NASCAR Pole Position, a magazine that is distributed at all 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup race weekends and in various supermarkets across the country.
“The Fast and the Fabulous is basically a reality show but in a written format,” Hilaire said. “Readers always tell me that they feel like they’re there with me when they’re reading my posts. I’m always looking for things to write about that are outside of the mainstream media’s view. My readers get to follow me as I figure out my path through the fascinating world of NASCAR.”
As one of few female NASCAR bloggers, Hilaire is leading the charge for racing content that caters to women. Whether it’s a search for Sprinkles Cupcakes at a Southern California racetrack or sharing the pressure and ultimate success of interviewing champion NASCAR drivers like Tony Stewart, Hilaire never fails to bring readers inside her world to the point that they share in her achievements.
“I’m amazed at the response I’ve received from the women that read my site,” Hilaire said. “They really care about me and are so encouraging. It pushes me to want to do more and attend as many races as possible so I can tell them all about it.”
“NASCAR is a sport filled with drama, feuds, and constantly shifting storylines. The Fast and the Fabulous offers a uniquely personal and unmistakably female take on the weekly soap opera playing out inside the garage,” said Andrew Giangola, Director of Business Communications at NASCAR and author of the new book, “THE WEEKEND STARTS ON WEDNESDAY: True Stories of Remarkable NASCAR Fans.”
“Valli clearly loves NASCAR. Her passion for the sport and its stars jumps off the computer screen. The blog’s tone is that of a kid in a candy store, which is completely refreshing in these cynical times.”
Hilaire recently spoke on a panel at Blogs with Balls 3 in Chicago, a sports blogging conference focused on the present and future of sports media. She was one of only 5 female panelists, out of a total 30 speakers. The Fast and the Fabulous was also selected as one of 101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2010 by WE Magazine for Women.
About The Fast and the Fabulous
The Fast and the Fabulous (www.thefastandthefabulous.com) is a motorsports blog dedicated to NASCAR and IndyCar, written by Valli Hilaire. Hilaire provides a female fan’s perspective of racing. She offers her opinions on the latest headlines and shares her race weekend experiences. It’s a reality show in blog format illustrated with photos, news, reviews and interviews. The Fast and the Fabulous also appears as a column in NASCAR Pole Position, a magazine that is distributed at the 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup race weekends and in various supermarkets across the country.
Contact
Valli Hilaire
(925) 209-6253
[email protected]
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