The ROD origin story

One year ago, I sent Chris a text that simply said, "Remind me to tell you about my idea for racer merch." A minute later, I shot off another one: "Nope, never mind. My idea is getting too big—I can’t wait. Please hold while I type." 

And just like that, everything changed. 

Just days earlier, we’d been hit with the news that Mid-America Outdoors was scrapping their plans for a national short-course off-road series. The announcement stunned us. While everyone else was excited about the bigger footprint and larger payouts this new series promised, I was holding on tight to the marketing resources for racers it had promised. And then—poof—just like that, it was gone. 

I was at my desk when the idea hit. For context, I work in corporate HR, and luckily, most of my coworkers were out for Thanksgiving. So, when the idea smacked me in the face, the audible gasp I let out was met with a few curious stares. Without wasting a second, I grabbed my phone and started texting Chris. 

By the time I got home, I had an entire page of notes. I was already sketching out how a merch marketplace could work, who we should talk to about racer resources, how we could make money and put money directly into the pockets of racers and partners... it was all taking shape. 

I dove deep into research—reading, watching, and listening to everything I could about launching an online marketplace, registering a business, and vetting a startup. I spoke to race fans, racers, and businesses, asking them about their merch habits, their pain points, and the “why” behind everything they do. As we packed for PRI, I started sharing my idea, getting feedback, and brainstorming new directions. 

I’ll never forget listening to a podcast about side hustles just before we left. It featured a guy who scours domain auctions for business ideas. He told the story of how he found the domain “vidaliaonions.com,” bought it, and built an online marketplace for Vidalia onion farmers. He stressed how important it is to secure a domain before you name your business. 

So, I did exactly that. I hit up domain auctions, typed in "race," and started sifting through the results. When I saw “Racer on Demand,” it was like a lightbulb went off. But there was a catch—the auction ended while we were at PRI. I placed a bid on both racerondemand.com and racerondemand.us, figuring one of them had to stick. I never expected the drama that followed. Picture this: me, standing in the Vision Wheel booth at PRI, watching the bid for racerondemand.com climb—$300... $400... $500... until I stopped, sweating. Spoiler: I didn’t get the .com (someone else is now asking for $13k for it 😅). But I did get the .us domain, and that’s the one I’m sticking with. 

The past year has been a blur—buying a domain, building a website, creating a marketplace, recruiting racers, curating discounts, and forging partnerships with Champ Off-Road to bring real value to fans and racers alike. But through all of it, the heart of Racer on Demand has remained the same: helping racers grow through authentic connections with fans and sponsors. 

So, what’s next for ROD? I have more ideas than I know what to do with, and I’m working tirelessly to make even half of them a reality. In the six months since we officially launched, we’ve partnered exclusively with Champ Off-Road, and the results speak for themselves—nearly $3,000 in the pockets of our racers in just six months. 

My goal for the next year? Expand to other race series, build relationships with more affiliate partners, and create a comprehensive racer resource page. I envision a one-stop shop with marketing tools, exclusive discounts on parts and safety gear, sponsorship materials, track-side marketing gear, and more. Plus, I want to continue providing free guidance for racers through webinars, helping them navigate the complex world of racing and marketing. 

So, I’ll ask you—what do you want to see from Racer on Demand next?