brand salsa is pleased to feature some of our finest … each week we’ll randomly select an inVentiv employee to showcase on the blog. Wanna get your mug online? Just shoot me an email and I’ll tell you how much … I mean, how.
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Your Name: Elizabeth McGaha 
Job Title and Company: Senior Market Research Analyst for Addison Whitney
Fill in the blank:

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If you love stock car racing, surely you’ve been in a souvenir shop and pondered purchasing yourself a NASCAR mug or hat. And if you’re a big fan, maybe you’ve visited the online NASCAR superstore and ordered a checkered flag dog collar for your poodle, a Dale Earnhardt Jr. denim shirt for that special someone, or a Jeff Gordon pacifier for your kid.

But for those uber-fans out there, the NASCAR name stretches far beyond what you can buy at the official store. Dozens of companies use the name under license, making it possible for race junkies to literally eat, sleep, and breathe NASCAR. Check out just a few of the items I found online:

NASCAR bandages
NASCAR burger patties
NASCAR caskets (yes, you read that right)
NASCAR chainsaws
NASCAR cologne
NASCAR couches
NASCAR grills
NASCAR high heels
NASCAR hot dogs
NASCAR mangoes
NASCAR salami
NASCAR sunscreen
NASCAR underwear
NASCAR vacuums

And my personal favorite, NASCAR romance novels (through a partnership with Harlequin).

Happy shopping racecar fans!

Contributed by: Maghan Cook

Charlotte is home to numerous race fans and the Food Lion Speed Street Festival has attracted thousands of these enthusiasts from not only North Carolina but also from states across the country. Celebrating its 14th year, the family-oriented event will take place on the 22nd through the 24th of May in Uptown Charlotte. Commemorating motor sports, Speed Street offers guest appearances by top Sprint Cup and NASCAR drivers, along with motor sport exhibits like race cars and burn out bikes to name a few. Speed Street is scheduled to entertain guests with artists like Kellie Pickler, Jagged Edge and Tara Allison on three different stages located across Uptown Charlotte. Admission is free. Whether you are a hard encore race addict or just simply looking for something to do over the weekend, the Food Lion Speed Street Festival is a great event to let loose, immerse yourself in the racing world, indulge in a mouth-watering hot dog and enjoy a refreshing cold beer.

By: Nishani Premaratne

Most people, when they first come to Charlotte, are confused by the use of “uptown” and “downtown” to refer to the center city. Typically, cities refer to their center business district as “downtown.” Is “uptown” different than “downtown”? Not in Charlotte.
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