rob_geiger's avatar
Author:
Rob Geiger - Go2Geiger.com
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
SPEEDtv.com Store
Grand National:America's Golden Age of Motorcycle Racing, by Joe Scalzo
Joe Scalzo’s book captures the spirit of the Golden Age of motorcycle racing.
Our Price: $39.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Man-Made Thunder
The book examines the sport of stock car racing through the eyes and ears of the men behind the wheel and the wrenches.
Our Price: $49.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Unisex Sandwich Cap
Unisex Velcro back hat with SPEED logo on front. PINKS logo embroidered on left and PAO logo on right. One size fits all.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speedway T-shirt
Men's 6 oz. 100% Cotton Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. SPEED logo imprinted on the front center chest.
Our Price: $24.99
Visit Button
Buy Button
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
100% cotton twill. Ferrari shield embroidered on front, piping on the peak and Ferrari logo embroidered on back strap adjuster.
Our Price: $30.00 ($27.00 Member)
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
GEIGER: A Simple Litmus Test
Written by: Rob Geiger - Go2Geiger.com
go2geiger.com   http://www.go2geiger.com
04/22/2009
Indianapolis, IN
 
As the NHRA continues to grow, it's time for the sanctioning body to step up and demand better facilities for the fans and sponsors to enjoy the sport. This must include racetracks owned by the NHRA itself, like Atlanta Dragway, the site of last weekend's 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.
Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, Bandimere Speedway in Denver...Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk...all deliver fans and racers the modern facilities they deserve, says Geiger. (G2G) ยป More Photos

During the countless rain delays racers, fans, and supporters suffered through over the three-day event 80 miles north of civilization (that would be Atlanta), there was lots of idle time to discuss the best and worst tracks the tour visits each year. While arguments can be made about the various pros and cons of each facility, I offer a simple yet realistic litmus test to decide if a track is up to snuff -- would you take a potential sponsor there?

Going down the list of racetracks, this simple question also offers a quick answer to whether or not a facility should continue to be a part of the series.

Sponsors are the lifeblood of the sport, both for race teams and the NHRA itself. The costs are just too high these days for teams to run out of their own pockets. The companies investing millions of dollars into the sport deserve, and probably should demand, better places to sell their goods and services. And certainly the fans, paying $50-plus a day just to get through the gates, should have an entertainment experience commensurate with an NFL, NBA, MLB, or NASCAR event. After all, that's the level where the NHRA aspires to be.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression so if you're courting a new sponsor you better blow them away the first time they come to the races. The on-track action will impress them no matter where it takes place, but the variance in facilities draws an obvious line between places where you would or would not bring a deep-pocketed newbie.

Without hesitation, I would bring a potential sponsor to any track owned by Bruton Smith's company, SMI. For drag racing, that includes zMax Dragway in Charlotte, Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Bristol Dragway.

I'd also be proud to show off Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, Bandimere Speedway in Denver, and Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are tracks you would never dream of bringing a possible backer to for any reason, at least not in their current state. Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Atlanta Dragway, Pacific Raceways in Seattle, Brainerd International Raceway, Heartland Park Topeka, Memphis Motorsports
Park, and Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, all have their own charm but when matched up against an SMI property, they simply pale in comparison.

There are others teetering on the edge.

Given a choice, there is no way you'd bring Mr. Corporate America to Atlanta over zMax. These lower level tracks simply don't pass the would-I-bring-a-potential-sponsor-there test.

I'm not trying to disparage the hard-working staffs at each of these facilities, nor belittle the racers and fans that consider these places their home tracks, I'm just stating a fact backed by years of going to every track on tour many times over. It is what it is.

In actuality, this is a good problem for the NHRA to have as it signifies growth, but at the same time they need to put their foot down and get these places step up and make some improvements. Pomona Raceway, Gainesville Raceway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and the Texas Motorplex all made big investments in the future in recent years and it shows.

It's time for some of these other places to answer the call.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.

Award-winning journalist Rob Geiger founded his go2geiger.com Web site in the spring of 2008 after eight years as senior editor of NHRA.com with a goal of providing drag racing enthusiasts an unbiased news outlet. Featuring a staff of respected and pedigreed journalists, go2geiger.com strives to deliver clear, concise, and well-researched stories on all aspects of quarter-mile racing.

A published author, Geiger became well known in the drag racing world through his daily work on NHRA.com, his meticulous stat-keeping, the Associated Press stories he supplied to the general media, the content that filled event programs, and his numerous regular appearances on radio programs across the country.

Prior to joining the NHRA circuit as a media relations specialist in 1997, Geiger covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Stars, ran the sports staff of a daily newspaper, and worked as a disc jockey for two rock-n-roll radio stations. An honor graduate at the University of Houston, Geiger resides in Porter, Texas, with his wife Lori, daughter Sara, and son Rob Jr.
View All Comments