Some track owners/managers/promoters are getting it down. Some do it right; advertise the show, get a hell of a crowd, make all that back gate money and a pile of front gate money. Kudos to those tracks. I’m going to credit the Texas Motorplex, but it may have been done before, with an interesting concept. I think all the national event tracks that host a divisional should take heed of this new strategy. A few years back the Motorplex started partnering with local radio stations, auto parts stores, etc., and giving away somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 tickets. I believe their best success was making a Dallas area radio station the title sponsor in return for help promoting the event. The event, which before this was notorious for not promoting their divisionals, was a huge hit. I was pleasantly shocked to see the pit side grand stand at nearly 75 percent capacity on Saturday and Sunday. Houston Raceway Park, Route 66 Raceway and maybe a few others have followed suit and now bring in a good crowd at their national events.
No, these tracks aren’t making a dime at the front gate, but those spectators on their way to the back gate’are stopping at the concession stand and buying those $4.50 cheeseburgers and a $4 drink. They’re probably selling a few of those $5 cold beers as well. They are also bringing new fans to the track and giving them a preview of the big show at national events. If the NHRA still released attendance numbers, I’d be willing to
bet Houston and Dallas have some of the strongest crowds. Some of these national markets have a hard time getting a crowd at anything but their national (that’s not a blanket statement). Some just don’t have good promoters. However, they’re making money that they weren’t before. Those crowds also have a ton of value to an alcohol team, and just make the event more fun as a whole.
Well, it’s real easy to point out problems, but what’s the solution? The current situation the alcohol cars are in is like looking at a car that’s been in a pretty bad wreck. Is it fixable or is it totaled?
I think it’s totaled. It’s not that the damage is so bad it can’t be fixed, it’s just that the car you’re trying to fix is a late 1970’s model (not a classic). It’s just not worth the effort and the time. It’s time to move forward.
There’s a couple of different ways that this forward progress could transition. A system of nationals and REGIONALS needs to be developed. So, now we’ll create a fictional scenario where Glendora calls me up, says, “Will, we’re putting you in charge of fixing the problem, take action.”
Effective 2007, the Lucas Oil National and Divisional points will be totally separate. The national championship will be determined by claiming your best eight out of the first 12 nationals you attend. Divisional champions will still be determined by the same standard of five out of the first eight you attend. To accommodate racers trying to win division championships within their home division, events claimed out of division will not only lose "bonus" round points, but will be worth 10 less points per round. With the series being separate, it will promote racing within your own division. This will also be the last year Top Alcohol will be competed at divisionals.
Memo to Division Directors and Track Owners/Operators: Effective immediately, an initiative by the DD’s, owners, and NHRA Field Marketing department will begin to create an NHRA Regional Series featuring TAD, TAFC and Pro Mod as headliners. Comp, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman will be included in these events. Two events per division at tracks that have adequate facilities, with full-length concrete guard walls required. Series sponsorship budget should be adequate enough to televise these events.
A track promotion seminar will be held in 2007 for Regional Series participants. Track promoters that have been successful in drawing crowds will share what has worked for them. A new “In a Box” program will be developed to give tracks hosting Regional events a turn-key marketing plan. NHRA Field Marketing’s efforts will be focused on this new Regional Series.
Effective 2008, TAD andTAFC will no longer be contested at NHRA Divisional events. Racers in TAD/TAFC will compete for the National Championship through a combination of National and Regional events, which will all have the same points. A racer can claim their best 10 out of the first 14 events they attend.
What you have just read has been a reenactment of a fictional situation. Any resemblance of any real characters was purely coincidental…er something.
Part II of the New Deal for Sportsman racing will give more details on how this regional series should be structured. Part III we’ll shake up the rest of the sportsman ranks.
I’d like to thank Jeff Burk for giving me an opportunity to get on my soapbox in front of a new audience. It’s a fun new experience. Now that you’re ON THE TIRE, go forth and spread the good word. Send a letter to the editor at response@dragracingonline.com and tell us what you think, or feel free to comment on InsideTopAlcohol.com or InsideCompRacing.com. 
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