"...NITRO could care less how many TX's you win."
I let a LOT of silly things posted here slide, but I got to take a second to clear the air on this one.
NITRO cares if you win tournaments. They care how you place overall. Fishing is important, but promoting the sport is almost equally as important as promoting the product(s). The tourney fishing and finishes are part of the criteria that keeps you on a team at whatever the level. (State, National, Pro) Working with your dealer and providing on hand, first hand knowledge of the boats, their handling and features are important to your dealer. That is why you cannot, "just go to Bass Pro and ask for application and mail it to the coorporate office with a pic and resume...etc." Your dealer is the beginning and the end of all Nitro associations. Only with their recomendation can you get any level of sponsorship through Tracker/Nitro. You're kidding yourself if you believe it otherwise. I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers, just trying to help. After all, what do I know?