Yes, I agree with many of you that are reading right now and saying, “Why should we do the track’s job?” When I’m playing poker I don’t like getting dealt 2-7 off suit in the big blind either. While I certainly think we as sportsman racers have a much better hand than that, the moral of the story is you have to play the hand that is dealt. If we can’t race in front of a big crowd of paying spectators, we can damn sure make a few potential sponsors think we are. Sponsors probably don’t give a damn either if they paid or not, just as long as they’re looking at their name on your car.
One thing is for certain. If we just do like normal, we’ll be racing in front of a bunch of empty stands again next year. Such a program would certainly open the door to help fix the problem. At some tracks, if the net gain was only an extra 100 spectators that would probably be close to a 100% increase.
As with anything, there are some details that would have to be worked out. For the few tracks that get good paying crowds, maybe they could declare that these tickets are only good for a ‘buy one-get one’ deal.
I can already hear a few track owners/managers bitching about this as well. Several short-sighted, lazy tracks will complain that this will cut into their crewmember passes sales. In the perfect world mentioned above, these tracks should lose their event on the spot. However, these types are why the series is the way it is, so it’s a bad reality. If it becomes
that much of an issue, perhaps the program could be primarily geared to racers promoting races in their home area, and if a racer wanted to promote a race outside their area, they could submit a request in writing explaining their intentions rather than having a no questions asked stack of tickets issued to them. Maybe I’m based in Houston, but my sponsor is based in Shreveport. Obviously, it’s beneficial for me to promote the race in that area. Maybe you want to do a display somewhere. That’s damn sure worth a few crew passes.
While I know several division directors and NHRA decision makers read this column, we still have to take matters into our own hands to make this work. More than likely, this won’t be an ‘official’ program in 2007. I’d love to be able to spearhead the effort on all fronts, but that’s not realistic for any individual. So here’s the following plan for action:
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We need volunteers from each division. Nobody that’s “in charge” but just motivated individuals that will help coordinate such programs within their division.
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These individuals will work with both their division office and divisional tracks to coordinate and develop programs.
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Once programs are in place, we go public. I have 3 websites that reach a good number of sportsman racers and I’m going to volunteer the Burkster’s site whether he likes it or not (it was one of his recent New Year’s Resolutions).
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Once a program and a point of contact is established, take it to the front line and get some fans to the races.
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At your next divisional, look up at the stands and smile.
If you’re interested in helping this program, email me at Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com. Further information will be on each of my websites – InsideTopAlcohol.com, InsideCompRacing.com and my newest website serving Top Sportsman, Top Dragster and Top Comp – InsideFastBrackets.com.
Now that you’re on the tire for 2007, go forth and spread the good word. Happy New Year to all, and win lights to everyone except my competitors! See ya at the track.
