Initially, NASCAR fans merely smiled at the funny name. But when Camping World Truck Series driver Mario Gosselin started making headlines for his masterful performance on the track, viewers began truly noticing his sponsor. Like television commentator Darrell Waltrip, they wondered “just exactly what does this TireMonkey do?”

In fact, TireMonkey.com is an Edenton, NC-based online tire retailer working to unite the entire industry so as to simplify consumers’ online tire buying experience. By making use of and supporting existing supply chains of local tire wholesalers and dealers, TireMonkey.com offers name-brand tires conveniently shipped to consumers’ preferred neighborhood installers. The company’s innovative business model has already compelled tire dealers across the 48 continental states to join its growing service network, and now respected NASCAR racing venues want a truck in the monkey race too.

TireMonkey.com and Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway, long-celebrated as one of the most popular NASCAR racetracks, have launched a sponsorship agreement destined to boost both ticket and tire sales while simultaneously introducing new fans to the thrilling sport of racing. In exchange for providing Bristol Motor Speedway tickets to network dealers supporting TireMonkey.com, the speedway will benefit from inventory discounts and monkey marketing materials detailing speedway ticket offers. Both companies will also expand their market reach by exchanging various Web site and e-mail advertising.

The partnership is a great fit because like Bristol Motor Speedway, TireMonkey.com values its customers and their local communities, said Jeff Byrd, president and general manager of the speedway. Instead of cutting retail dealers out of the picture, TireMonkey.com’s technology actually supports these local businesses and offers them online marketing opportunities they never had before.

“TireMonkey.com is a company that is interested in more than just selling shoppers four tires,” Byrd said. “They truly want to bring the industry together to improve the online tire buying process.”

Known as the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” among the NASCAR set, Bristol Motor Speedway is located in Bristol, Tenn., just south of the Virginia border. The 0.533-mile concrete oval track is unique for its enclosed, amphitheater seating and the extreme high-banked turns. Formerly on the site of a dairy farm, the speedway was completed in 1961 and bought by current owner O. Bruton Smith in 1996.

Each year, Bristol Motor Speedway welcomes Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck, Whelen Modified and ASA series events. TireMonkey.com driver Mario Gosselin will compete at Bristol during the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 Camping World Truck Series race on August 18.

Labels: Bristol Motor Speedway, Mario Gosselin, NASCAR, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, partnership, TireMonkey.com, Tully Ryan

In anticipation of Friday's big race, Pirate Radio 1250 AM of Greenville, North Carolina, today welcomed TireMonkey.com CEO Tully Ryan and TireMonkey.com NASCAR driver Mario Gosselin on the Live @ 5 program with DJs Troy D and Ellerbe.



A partial transcript of the interview appears below. To hear the entire segment, click here.

TROY D: Welcome back to the show. Troy D here alongside the Ellebere. And it will be a big weekend if you’re a race fan as the race season gets underway, live from Daytona, Florida. And speaking of which, we’ve got a couple of special guests, one joining us in studio and one on the U.S. Air live line. First, in the studio, Tully Ryan, president and CEO of TireMonkey.com. Tully, great to see you today. How are you?

TULLY: Thanks guys! I’m glad to be here.

TROY D: We’ll talk about why you’re here in the studio in just a minute, but first, let’s go out to the U.S. Air live line. Joining us from Daytona, Florida, is the driver of the No. 12 TireMonkey.com Chevy truck, Mario Gosselin. And Mario, thank you for your time. I know you’re busy down there getting ready for Daytona this weekend. We appreciate you joining us for a few minutes.

MARIO: Well, I definitely appreciate you guys having me on. I’m just proud to be on and representing TireMonkey.com this weekend.

TROY D: Well, let’s talk about what you do as a driver, Mario. You are, of course, down in Daytona. A lot of fans are familiar with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which will be going on Sunday. But, of course, then you have right underneath that the Nationwide series. But talk about what you do, which is driving in the NASCAR Truck Series, which is presented by Camping World. Does that rank No. 3 in the world of NASCAR racing?

MARIO: That would rank No. 3, yes it would.

TROY D: And how long have you been a driver in the truck series?

MARIO: Well, on and off for a couple of years now I’ve run some truck races. I haven’t run a full season yet, but I’m looking forward to hopefully doing that this year – running a full season for points in the Camping World Truck Series with TireMonkey.com on board...

Labels: Daytona International Speedway, Ellerbe, Mario Gosselin, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NextEra Energy Resources 250, Pirate Radio, TireMonkey.com, Troy D, Tully Ryan

A gopher named Digger, the quacking Aflac duck, and, of course, the “Lucky Dog,” have all called NASCAR home. This year, however, a new mascot is stacking his claim.

On Friday, the TireMonkey.com primate kicks off his first complete NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season as the mascot for driver Mario Gosselin, competitor in the Daytona International Speedway’s NextEra Energy Resources 250.

TireMonkey.com’s sponsorship helped Gosselin’s No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado compete in three NCWTS races in 2009, but Daytona marks the start of his first complete NCWTS season.

“We’re pretty excited to be here in Daytona, especially after the run we had at Talladega,” Gosselin said Tuesday. “I’m really looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and putting this truck up front.”

Although registration for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 didn’t open until Tuesday, Gosselin’s DGM Race team arrived in Daytona early to race an ARCA car in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday. Competing on the same track that will be used Friday helped the team get a good idea of what they’re up against.

“At Talladega, everyone’s truck handles fairly well, but here, the track is really bumpy and the pavement is older, so you tend to not have as much grip to the track,” Gosselin said. “It’s a lot bigger challenge to get a truck handling good here for a long period of time.”

His team will use Wednesday and Thursday’s practice sessions to concentrate on making sure the No. 12 truck handles well enough to perform throughout Friday’s 100 laps.

Daytona, however, is just the start of a successful season Gosselin is eager to begin with his monkey friend.

“We’re just ready to get started,” Gosselin said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

Experience Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race by tuning into the SPEED Channel or Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Motor Racing Network at 8 p.m. A detailed event schedule is available on the TruckSeries.com Web site.

Labels: Chevrolet Silverado, Daytona International Speedway, Mario Gosselin, practice, preparation, TireMonkey.com

Dealers, start your engines!

Ecstatic about TireMonkey.com’s new sponsorship of a winning NASCAR team, company executives want to share the thrilling NASCAR experience with the entire tire industry. By partnering the online tire retailer with premier racing venues, they can now provide monkey network tire dealers with a chance to personally absorb the ear-tingling screech of spinning tires and the heady smell of race exhaust.

One of the first racetracks to partner with TireMonkey.com is the venerable Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, known for its distinctive, triangle-shaped track. Each dealer member of the TireMonkey.com network supporting driver Mario Gosselin and the company’s No. 12 race team through the “Let’s Go Racing” program earns two free tickets to Pocono’s inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the Pocono Mountains 125, on July 31.



Participating dealers are also eligible to win:
• Terrace Club tickets for the Pennsylvania 500 July 30 weekend
• Stockcar Racing Experience rides
• Pace car appearances at local tire dealer shops

Local tire dealers may use the tickets to personally enjoy a race or to create promotional giveaways for their store customers. The dealers will also have access to promotional codes providing customers with discounts on select NASCAR merchandise.

In exchange, the partnership provides Pocono Raceway ticket holders with access to discounts on TireMonkey.com inventory, name brand tires already marked with the Internet’s lowest prices.

Raceway officials said they struck the deal because they were inspired by the Edenton, NC-based Internet company’s innovative approach to improving the tire buying experience by supporting local tire dealers.

“There are various different companies that sell tires online but only one that is actually invested in the local dealers that complete the tire buying process,” said Brandon Igdalsky, Pocono Raceway president. “This new dealer-incentive program is a perfect example of how TireMonkey.com strives to give back to the loyal members of its network.”

TireMonkey.com President and CEO Tully Ryan said he’s pleased to be associated with “The Tricky Triangle,” long recognized as one of NASCAR’s most competitive raceways.

“As a new sponsor to a new NASCAR team, we’re fired up about being a part of Pocono’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, and as a new partner of the track, we’re committed to helping spread the word about this historic event,” Ryan said. “We’re also confident this partnership will build some real excitement for NASCAR’s existing fans while simultaneously attracting a new audience made up of our extensive network of customers and dealers.”

About Pocono Raceway:

“The Tricky Triangle” is host to two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and ARCA Racing Series races each year and has added a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2010. Pocono Raceway’s 2.5-mile triangular design makes it truly unique. Pocono is the only track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Circuit with three turns, three different radii and three variant degrees of banking. All that ensures our fans will enjoy some serious action, meanwhile presenting a competitive challenge to the world’s best drivers and their crew chiefs. Pocono strives to create a family atmosphere with increased focus on the Fan Experience. We are Pocono Raceway and this is “The Tricky Triangle.”

In business for over 50 years, Pocono Raceway is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. We are located within 300 miles of one-third of the US population and within 90 miles of New York City and Philadelphia. Pocono Raceway is and always will be an attractive option for NASCAR and race fans alike.

Labels: Edenton, Mario Gosselin, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Pocono Mountains 125, Pocono Raceway, Tricky Triangle, Tully Ryan

Once in awhile, every online shopper’s keyboard-thumping fingers deserve a break. Recognizing that, MyTireMonkey.com executives are doing their part to preserve diligent digits everywhere by ditching two letters and shortening the discount online tire retailer’s name to TireMonkey.com.

All kidding aside, this is a calculated change, said Tully Ryan, president and CEO of the Edenton, N.C.-based company.

“Based on our research and analytics, it’s easier for consumers to recognize ‘TireMonkey.com’ than ‘MyTireMonkey.com,’” Ryan said. “We’re devoted to streamlining shoppers’ online tire buying experience, so switching to something simple just makes sense.”



The official name change will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the company’s Web site domain becomes www.TireMonkey.com. Afterward, all visits to www.MyTireMonkey.com will automatically redirect to the new site. The switch coincides with a new tagline – “Navigating the Tire Jungle”-- and various Web site functionality improvements making the Internet’s best tire buying experience even better.

Two days later, on Friday, Feb. 12, the TireMonkey.com NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team will compete in the first race of the 2010 season, the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Driver Mario Gosselin’s No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado will showcase the new TireMonkey.com logo and tagline as he navigates his way toward the finish line and NASCAR glory.

Labels: Daytona International Speedway, Edenton, Mario Gosselin, MyTireMonkey.com, North Carolina, TireMonkey.com, Tully Ryan

While the Internet offers access to virtually every type of merchandise, some products’ distant origins translate into high shipping rates and late delivery dates for consumers as well as lost revenue for consumers’ communities.

But what if the Internet functioned as an e-sourcing tool to locate desired items within a consumer’s own neighborhood and thus supported local businesses?

With the help of MyTireMonkey.com, it actually does.

The leading online tire wholesaler has developed a revolutionary business model harnessing the power of the World Wide Web to connect shoppers with tire distributors and retail dealers local to them. For consumers, the resulting network means even cheaper online tire prices, abbreviated delivery dates and absolutely no shipping fees. For distributors and dealers, it means a steady supply of Internet business they wouldn’t normally have.

“From the start, we knew we had to focus on improving the tire buying experience if we wanted to have a long-term sustainable advantage over our competitors,” said Tully Ryan, president and CEO of Edenton, North Carolina-based MyTireMonkey.com. “So we built our model to complement and support local tire distribution companies and local retail installation centers.”

Competing Internet wholesalers miss the mark by ignoring existing distributor-dealer relationships and established shipping routes. Instead, they rely on distribution warehouses located well outside a consumer’s community and haphazardly ship tires across the country, making delivery slow and expensive. Often, the order arrives on the consumer’s doorstep instead of a neighborhood retail shop already commissioned to perform the installation. The consumer then faces the awkward situation of arranging installation through a shop they didn’t order the tires from.

But when a consumer uses MyTireMonkey.com to select tires from a distribution company near them, virtual “monkeys” identify partnerships between that distributor and area dealers. The monkeys then help the consumer select a compatible retail shop where the tires will be promptly delivered and installed. Not only does the consumer benefit from a streamlined tire buying experience but they can feel good about boosting local businesses.

“It makes sense to buy locally for several reasons including convenience and supporting the local economy,” said Tom Fisher, special projects coordinator at Delphos, Ohio-based K&M Tire. “Everybody goes to the Web for everything now whether it be for information, whether it be for purchases – you name it. Their first reference now is the Web. So MyTireMonkey.com is a great way for us and our retail dealer customers to reach the end user: the Internet consumer.”

K&M Tire is just one of nearly 90 distribution centers to join MyTireMonkey.com since the network’s December 2008 launch. MyTireMonkey.com currently encompasses more than 1,600 retail dealers, and enthusiastic members like K&M Tire are encouraging additional retail dealers to sign up as well.

“Partnering with MyTireMonkey.com has added dollars to our already existing sales footprint in the area we deliver to,” Fisher said. “It’s tires we most likely would not have delivered to these installers (but for) the MyTireMonkey.com orders that have come in.”

In addition to tire installation fees from consumers, retail dealers receive a delivery fee from MyTireMonkey.com. More importantly, however, the dealers earn an opportunity to attract a long-term customer.

“Once MyTireMonkey.com gets the customer in the shop, it’s the retail dealer’s responsibility to keep the customer for life for other services they provide like brakes and alignment work,” Fisher said.

A dedication to customer relations and customer service also sets MyTireMonkey.com apart from competitors, said Brooks Harris, wholesale marketing manager for S&S Tire. The Lexington, Kentucky-based distribution company joined the monkey network in the fall.

“We honestly feel that through this channel and MyTireMonkey.com’s network we can get tires to consumers quicker than competing online wholesalers while offering a level of service after the sale that’s totally different from those competitors,” Harris said. “The competitors really have no level of service past the sale, in my opinion.”

Ryan believes the secret to the monkey empire’s success is easily identifiable.

“A lot of people ask us how we’ve grown so quickly, and the answer is really simple: We’ve taken advantage of the natural value propositions the local supply chain has to offer while simultaneously providing the best customer service possible,” he said.

Labels: Brooks Harris, Edenton, KM Tire, MyTireMonkey.com, North Carolina, SS Tire, Tom Fisher, Tully Ryan, World Wide Web, WWW

With the help of Worcester, Massachusetts-based C & R Tire, MyTireMonkey.com is now reaching out to Boston area drivers in a whole new way.

Last week, C & R Tire launched the first of several Worcester billboards directing customers to the company’s Web site, www.crtire.com. Starting today, customers visiting the site may select a “Buy Tires Now” button and link to C & R Tire’s private label Web site through MyTireMonkey.com. Now, for the first time, C & R Tire can directly connect an online tire sale to its own installation shops.



"We’re a preferred installer for Tire Rack, and we’re seeing, this time of year, with the winter season upon us, a couple sets of tires a day coming in from consumers who are shopping online,” said Jim Chew, C & R Tire president. “They buy them from Tire Rack and then have them shipped here for us to install. Now we can cut Tire Rack out of the picture and be competitive with Tire Rack and capture the customer right through our Web site.”

For Chew, 2010 is the year of billboard-driven Internet shopping. Previously, his company invested in radio ads, but he realized the advertising medium had become outdated. And money spent on direct mail advertising was wasted because about 70 percent of coupons redeemed in C & R Tire shops originate on the Web site.

“So I decided to go with billboards because people are driving past billboards in what we service: the car, the automobile,” Chew said. “I want to drive people to my Web site, so the Web address is prominent on the billboard.”

C & R Tire may have joined the monkey network merely two weeks ago, but Chew is already excited about how the partnership can help his company reach new customers.

“I think that it’s just another step we can go with because more and more people are shopping online,” he said.

Labels: billboard, C and R Tire, Jim Chew, MyTireMonkey.com, private label Web site, Tire Rack, Worcester