Possible new IndyCar team
"Because of the quality of the principals behind Kingdom Racing, I have a great deal of confidence that this vision will become reality. I wholeheartedly endorse this campaign to win race fans to Christ. These are people who really want to make a difference in the world," said Patrick Morley, author and CEO, Man in the Mirror.
"It is an honor that Man in the Mirror has chosen to partner with Kingdom Racing's platform. Our mission is to win on the track, create value for sponsors and deliver a winning ministry. Patrick Morley is a proven winner who has touched millions of men's lives. His ministry will bring that reach to the track grandstands and infields," said George Del Canto, Managing Director of Kingdom Racing. Kingdom Racing
08/31/07 Longtime racing fan George Del Canto is coming off the bleachers to start up his own IndyCar Series racing team.
Del Canto, who has spent most of his career as an international banker in Houston, has quickly learned that it's not enough to just put a team together, buy a car and travel to the races. Forming a team has required budgeting skills, negotiation and a lot of sponsor schmoozing.
"Fortunately, my background is enabling me to see a team as a business from the viewpoint of sustaining it," he says.
Prior to announcing his team, Del Canto — who is a banker with GDC Trading LLC — studied other teams that have been successful over the years, including Target Chip Ganassi, Team Penske and the Andretti Green team. Andretti Green is currently the league leader, with the winnings of its driver, Dario Franchitti, standing at about $2.8 million.
Hoping to emulate those teams, Del Canto has put together Kingdom Racing, a combination IndyCar Series team and Christian ministry, and is racing to get together the $7 million needed to have his team competing in the 2008 season. The upcoming season consists of 17 races, including the coveted Indianapolis 500, beginning in March 2008 and ending in September 2008.
Del Canto is currently interviewing support staff for the team, and — assuming he has a sponsor in place — will begin courting drivers once the 2007 season ends next month. Once the driver and staff are in place, the group will purchase race cars and other required assets. Kingdom Racing
08/16/07 Kingdom Racing, announced today the formation of a new race team with the intent to compete in the 2008 IndyCar Series®. Kingdom Racing is owned by Houston businessman George Del Canto and a team of racing, financial and sports marketing professionals that have successfully built and advised multi-million dollar businesses. The team's premier focus will be to win on the race track, create value for sponsors, and to change people's lives through on-track ministry events.
"The team's vision is to deliver the word of God through Motor Sports. To reach this goal, we must field a championship caliber race team, as only front-runners earn credibility and deliver value to the sponsors' investment," said Del Canto in announcing the team. The team will be comprised of experienced race professionals with a winning history in IndyCar and other major racing series. Names of race team staff to be disclosed at a later date. "We have been meeting with key race personnel since 2006, and are now approaching potential sponsors as we gear up to run in 2008," said Del Canto.
Kingdom Racing will work with sponsors that embrace their mission, and have brought on sports marketing firm – CounterPointe Sports – to handle the marketing and implementation of all sponsorship programs. "We are extremely excited about this one-of-a-kind opportunity," said CounterPointe Sports President Steve Martin. "We have managed sponsorships with several racing clients in the past, but Kingdom Racing has the potential to be very special. We look forward to pursuing and managing the right sponsors that will help make this race team a great success."
Backing Kingdom Racing's vision is a powerful group of Directors from Texas businesses and faith-based organizations. Those advisors include: Jim Beckett – Founder & CEO of Beckett Publications; Dave Berry – President of the Corporate Division of NWYC, and former Director of First Plus Financial IndyCar Series® and NASCAR sponsorship programs; Robin Blakely – President of The Essenza Group; Jim Coté – President of Master's Men and former Corporate Chaplain of Interstate Batteries; Randy Ford – Chief Operating Officer of National Write Your Congressman Dallas; Craig Foster – Driver/Owner Rolex Series and a prominent Atlanta Business Owner; Brad Hays – McCollum Group and Founder, Bible in the Boardroom; Wallace Henley – Second Baptist Church, Houston, Assistant Pastor, Author and former White House and Congressional Aide; Bill Lawrence – Founder and President of Leader Formation International, Professor (Ret) at Dallas Theological Seminar; Roger Wernette – Executive Director, The Gathering of Men Ministry, Houston.
According to Dr. Ed Young, Pastor of Second Baptist Church, "I appreciate the vision of George Del Canto and the proposed outreach efforts of Kingdom Racing. This truly is a unique format for taking the Good News of Jesus Christ into the world." Kingdom Racing PR