HMMMM-Another NON Traditional Sponsor Leaves

#16 11-13-2007, 06:44 PM

Never said NHRA is responsible for bringing the dough........the question is whether they are proactive in working with the sponsors to maximize their involvement or are they out for their own greed. I have my thought.
No question that they provide the playing field, but for the short dollar or the long? Without sponsored racers, the NHRA has no players. There are only so many wealthy indy racers, and with increases across the board it seems clear to me where their attention is. Now they have every right to charge or increase where they see fit, its their non profit biz right?
By the way what did Tony win for the championship? And how much did it cost to get that?

#17 11-13-2007, 07:18 PM

"I think for a sport that was created -- and is still maintained -- as a place to go out and do something that you like to do, anybody who puts that kind of money into it and expects to get it back out is crazy. We've always felt that way.

"There's no way we can put a leash on how much money an individual can spend on his car, of course. In the last few years, it appears as if some of the racers are having a big contest to see who can spend the most money and come up with the most pretentious rig and equipment. We have increased purses probably on a scale of 10 percent a year, and we never pretended that the purses were going to be a source of professional, ensured income.

Interview Of Wally Parks with Hot Rod Mag, Feb. 1981[/i]

d'kid[/quote]

Do you mean to say that 'ole Wally never intended for the racers to make any money? Say it ain't so!!!!

#18 11-13-2007, 07:36 PM

I think NHRA's biggest problem is the TV ratings are Poor at best! How do you sell a corporation on a motorsport that garners cable ratings in the 1.0 Ratings share level? Bill, you or Max must have done something right to bring Jagermeister on in the first place. I can't remember the last time a major Non-Automotive sponsor hooked up with a Pro stock team. Everyone knows the Fuel cars generate most of the Drag racing ink, I bet a lot of Fuel teams wonder how Max landed Jagermeister...

I know a lot of folks get tired of the term ROI, but I bet these sponsors felt they weren't getting the return they expected! You think Castrol would still be around if John Force hadn't won all those Trophy's? I seriously doubt it.

#19 11-13-2007, 07:40 PM

The NHRA will ALWAYS have players in the blown alcohol/fuel classes as those car owners love drag racing...Some would fund the operation on their own (like most already do) and others would seek out sponsor support..The NHRA has no obligation to be proactive or to even interact w/ anyones support group...
The fuel/alcohol classes will always be top shelf has those individuals that participate are 'selfish freaks' who are addicted to their hobby...Too which I am grateful...
If someone wants to spend $$$$$$$$, that is their business and they should quit whining...And w/ blown alcohol/fuel you should never ask the cost of doing business...
Blown alcohol/fuel as always been a rich man's hobby from the very beginning.

#20 11-13-2007, 08:49 PM

thanks Joe, we do things alittle differently over here as you can see from our pit. Jager was right on all levels and all activation programs, problem was, after we got the race fans drinking it, they wanted to down grade their monetary involvement but wanted everything image wise to stay the same. Well anyone who knows Max, knew that wasnt gonna fly. They are now going into rodeo...cowboys drinking Jager? I dont think so, trying to get the Jack Daniels market.
Heres my quote, LOL
"If your sponsor is solid, it doesnt matter what class in the NHRA they go to"

I believe we've proven that point.
(I'm now partial to Pro Stock)

#21 11-13-2007, 09:23 PM

Drag racing is what it is. It's never been an attractive market to wallstreet or Madison Ave, so once agian here's what I believe:

A. We're probably lucky to have the sponsors we have.

B. Very few companies are willing to spend what is required these days to field a car. So that's our problem.

C. NHRA is likely doing the best they can. I ask for demographics I get them quick. I know they will go where ever they are asked to go to pitch for a pro team.

At Pomona I looked through all these press kits and I couldn't believe all the sponsors this sport has had over the years. LOTS! Remember nothing in any racing venue lasts forever and when you count up all the pro teams, the ratio probably isn't much different then CART or IRL. We just happen to be in the low rent district.

It can be done but you have to work at it. I spend more time in promoting my team and sponsors than racing. This has it's disadvantages but I rarely ever spend time looking for new sponsors.

#22 11-13-2007, 10:00 PM

Either way, it's going to be interesting to see if HD can present a better exposure package to the viewing public worthy of major sponsorship? (or just flip the whole thing to Bruton Smith once the purchase is complete and see what a business man could do?)[/color][/quote]

One of my NASCAR contacts told me that Bruton is involved with the HD group. NHRA did not want to sell out to Bruton . . . is he sneaking in the back door? He reportedly wrote a $350,000,000 check last week to purchase a NASCAR venue so he could get a second race at LVMS.
It appears that he is committed to being involved in drag racing if the whole Charlotte scenario is true. A few hundred miliion (which appears to be petty cash for Mr. Smith) would go a LONG way towards improving the NHRA.
We can only hope! - Jim

#23 11-13-2007, 10:10 PM

Bruton is not a liquid hard cash type of person...He is the Chair of many venture capitalist groups...and involved in many angel investor teams...very little of that is his $$$$..

#24 11-14-2007, 02:35 AM

I wonder about the predatory practice that NHRA demonstrates to get National Event sponsorship!

It looks like a lot of individual teams' sponsors are now event sponsors now.

What do you think?

#25 11-14-2007, 09:11 AM

I will say that a few years ago there was a sponsor being lobbied by a team only to find that NHRA convinced them to sponsor a couples of races instead! That in itself tells me that NHRA's in it for themselves and NOT the racers!

#26 11-14-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Sherwood

I will say that a few years ago there was a sponsor being lobbied by a team only to find that NHRA convinced them to sponsor a couples of races instead! That in itself tells me that NHRA's in it for themselves and NOT the racers!

I know of two separate cases like you describe.

In one, a racer had sponsorship by a very large regional distributor of a mainstream product. This distributor was respected enough by the parent company that when he recommended the brand become involved they were eager to start a discussion. However, the then-current marketing VPs at NHRA would only help if they could handle the company on a private basis, with the team's rep being told to butt out. He refused, the company decided NHRA was a very strange operation, and they never became involved.

Second, there was a team which by some very hard work brought a mainstream account in for a three race deal. The NHRA reps were overjoyed and offered to wine and dine the sponsor as thanks for getting involved. During some of the wining and dining the Glendora guys told the new sponsor that money was being wasted as the team would always be small time - there was much more benefit in spending all the promotional money with the NHRA. The sponsor was horrified and told the team why the company would not be expanding their relationship with an organization with ethics that low.

Again, as in Joe's message, both of these happened a few years back. Sadly, in the years since I've not heard anything to make me think anything has changed since then.

#27 11-14-2007, 12:25 PM

Dan and Joe win.

#28 11-14-2007, 12:54 PM

This has been, and I'm sure still is, a huge problem. Whatever happened to the supposed rule of a company having to sponsor a team before they become an event sponsor? It's no secret that NHRA has driven away many non-auto sponsors, I may be wrong but I believe Jolly Rancher and McDonald's both left because of being fed up with the NHRA.

#29 11-14-2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Stanley

I stated nearly 4 years ago that NHRA was no longer a sanctioning body but rather a motorsports entertainment promoter. And I've stood firm on that contention!

The actions and decisions NHRA has made over the last few years bears this out... especially where the Sportsman racers are concerned.

And if you look at the management of NHRA and the changes it has gone through the last few years you'd see a drastic departure from an organization run by racers for racer to one of corporate bean-counter & marketing types with no racing background who are more worried about the bottom line than the well-being of the sport.

I'm hopeful, but not confident, that the HD deal will alleviate NHRA from the burden of management the motorsports entertainment side and return the organization itself back into a sanctioning body.

It is important to remember that the HD groups management team consists of the same people that have put the NHRA in the sticky situation that they are currently in...

#30 11-14-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nunzio Valerie Jr

Paul, you are right. However, NHRA has still been missing the boat for some time. The floodgates for non-automotive sponsors has never really opened, it's always a onesey-twosey scenario. One would think by now there would be a Cheerios car, a Tide car, etc. Bob Vandergriff brought in UPS, why hasn't FedEx followed? DHL is here, but you know it's because of Connie's biz. The sky may not be falling, but things could be a lot better. Bill Nychay is in the trenches trying to put these deals together, ask him how hard it is. I'm sure Jay Rathman could give some input as well.

Hey Nunzio....hope all is well..I'm going to start an interesting new thread exactly on this, and many more topics...Its going to be long, but informative post...