1. Contact:
847.513.3409
craig_ells@hotmail.com
Overview
2009 will mark 30 years of experience in sports marketing with special emphasis on
sponsorship sales and sponsor procurement in professional motorsports as well as individual
athlete endorsement procurement.
Key Talents
1. Sponsor sales program organization / implementation
2. Sponsorship concept development
3. Presentation materials design and artwork
4. Contractual development & legal aspects
5. Training in sponsorship sales
Motorsports Chronology
1977 – Bobby Rahal Formula 2
- procured AMPEX as primary sponsor
1978 – Bobby Rahal CanAm
- maintained AMPEX as sponsor
1978 – Whittington Brothers
- Winners/24 Hours of LeMans
1980 – 1982 – Formed new CART Team Psachie-Garza
- Rookie of Year Indy 500
- Sponsorship
- Mexican Govnt/Yom-Yom/Champion
1982 - 1983 – Whittington Brothers (CART)
- Union Carbide corporate sponsorship
- SIMONIZ Corporate sponsorship
- Josele Garza (CART)
- Schlitz & Champion
1984 – 1986 – Rusty Jones Motorsports Director (IMSA)
- corporate manager of Camel GT Racing Program
- immensely successful in growing market share
for this automotive aftermarket company
- Winners 1985 24 Hrs. of Daytona (Mazda’s First Victory)
1986 – Newman-Haas Racing (CART) (Mario Andretti)
- brought Beatrice Companies to team
- one of the largest sponsorship deals in the history
of US racing totaling $ 32 million over 4 years
1987 – 1988 – Newman-Haas Racing (CART)
Force Formula 1 (Haas F1 Operation)
- continuation of Beatrice program
1989 - 1991 – Dick Simon Racing (CART) (Arie Luyendyk)
- Cellular One Sponsorship Program
- Indy 500 Reporter CBS Radio (Chicago & New York)

2. 1991 - 1992 – Director of Marketing
US Offshore Racing Association
- procured EXIDE Batteries as title sponsor for
The EXIDE Grand Prix of Chicago
- organized this sanctioned, ESPN-telecast
championship event at Winthrop Harbor, Ill.
- drew a verified 200,000 people to shores of Ill/Wi.
1994 - 1995 - Director of Sales & Marketing
Offshore Race Portion of The Chicago Air & Water Show
- on air commentary for ABC WLS-TV
- managed publicity, hospitality and sponsorship
1996 – 1997 – Consultant to Unlimited Hydroplane Driver Scott Pierce
- sponsorship and marketing management
1998 – Sales & Marketing Director- Bertil Sollenskog Champcar Atlantic Team
1999 – 2001 – Co-Founder of Sigma Autosport Team (CART)
- managed new business development & press
- procured Globalstar & LYCOS as sponsors
- drivers: Oriol Servia and Max Papis
- my graphic-design finished 2nd in global fan poll for
PPG Best Use of Paint Competition
NOTE: Honored with an attribution,by name, in Bobby Rahal’s
biography “The Graceful Champion”
2002- 2003 - Marketing consultant to Blair Racing (CART)
- Rayovac sponsorship
2004 – Consultant For Bobby Rahal
2005 – Consultant For Bobby Rahal & Rahal Letterman Racing
- advance work on ALMS marketing program
- procured Procter & Gamble as Danica Patrick personal
endorser and as team sponsor (Secret deodorant brand)
- presentation design work for Graham (A1GP/Atlantic)
2006 – Consultant for Bobby Rahal & Rahal Letterman Racing
- procured Barton Brand’s St.Pauli Girl Beer as sponsor Indy 500
2007 – 2008 - Consultant for Chris Festa / Target Chip Ganassi Racing(IPS)
- Independently procured associate sponsorship from D.A.M!
for Sarah Fisher Racing for 2008 Indy 500
2008 – 2009 – Consulting Vice President for The Milwaukee Mile
2007 – 2009 – Consultant to Segeltorps, Championship Pro Hockey Team (Sweden)
Personal
Education: B.S. Journalism/Northern Illinois University
Age: 58 Health: In shape & athletic
Family: Two Children/ Matthew – 31 & Kelly – 30