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via Imago

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Did a driver really win a race if it wasn’t recorded? Is a racer truly influential unless a million people hang on to their every word? The sporting world in the 21st century is intrinsically linked to viewership, public perception, and social media platforming. And no one is better equipped to lay down its ground rules than former UFC President and marketing maverick Dana White.

Encompassing the two popular sports is Kevin Harvick’s associate and vice president of the veteran racer’s management firm. In Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s podcast, Dana White?unveiled a crucial parameter enforced by the trendsetting millionaire.

When Dana White’s UFC MMA League switched to a 12-hour format

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When Kevin Harvick’s former racing team was acquired by Richard Childress Racing and other such corporations, Kevin Harvick Inc. took the form of a talent management agency. The firm includes sporting entities in motorsports and mixed martial arts, among others. Having considerable experience in the field, Vice President Josh Jones particularly emphasized the ’99 rule’ created by the UFC a few years ago.

One of the pioneers of social media marketing, the UFC, under the leadership of Dana White, capitalized early on the immersive fan experience provided through social media platforms. This initiative catapulted the UFC’s mainstream recognition and redefined its position as one of the most influential MMA leagues in the world. Jones recalled a specific directive about online posting.

Josh Jones said, I tell my NASCAR drivers, especially the young kids, and my young kids, their parents are still doing their social media, so it?s fine but my UFC fighters, on them, ?nothing good happens between 9:00 to 9 AM?. The ?99 rule?. The UFC came up with many years ago in a meeting I sat…Nothing good happens between 9 PM and 9 AM on social media. Nothing. Unless you have a scheduled post to go out.

When you?re posting something at 11:00 at night, you?ve been drinking or something, and you?ll probably regret it…And the UFC came up with it five or six years ago. Basically, don?t post after 9 PM or before 9 AM. And that was the ?99 rule?. That wasn’t all. Jones further elaborated on the quintessential role adopted by online marketing in promoting young talent.

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The vice president of Kevin Harvick’s company strikes the iron when it’s still hot

Undoubtedly, the digital space has opened up a plethora of possibilities for content creation and talent promotion. The social media channel has an unparalleled reach in all spheres of the globe. It also accorded an unprecedented level of accessibility to the viewers and brought them closer to their sporting favorites. However, the very medium that promulgates fame can also invite disgrace.

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Recently, Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11 driver, Denny Hamlin, summoned his own misfortune by relegating his confrontation with rival Ross Chastain at the Phoenix Raceway. Calling it an admission of guilt, NASCAR penalized Hamlin after the tale spread rapidly through his podcast, Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin. The ’99 rule’ was also brought into fruition to encourage shrewd strategy and presence of mind while employing the powerful tool.

Along the same lines, Josh Jones confessed, “I’m not a huge social media fan because sometimes I think social media can be the devil. But social media is so good for these kids if they’re young. To start building their fan base up…These kids, when they turned 16 or they turn 18, you’re going to walk into a sponsor and when you look in there, it used to be the VP of marketing, the VP of sales, and the CEO. Now when you walk in there, it’s the VP of marketing, VP of sales, and a social media person.

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It’s important. Those social media numbers have to grow because that’s the only chance you have right now. I mean, on the social media front.”??Do you think NASCAR needs to take inspiration from UFC and crank up its social media game?

Read More: Kevin Harvick Plays Puppeteer as He Controls Few of the Biggest Deals in NASCAR