In business, as in life, timing is everything.

For Roger Burgess and the rest of the Pro Modified contingent, a depressed economy and troubles back in Detroit, proved to be just the right time to push for professional status with the NHRA.

The exodus of factory support for Pro Stock teams and the sanctioning body turned out to be the foundation Burgess, founder of Get Screened America, the title sponsor of the NHRA Pro Modified division, needed to further the interest of the Pro Modified car owners and drivers.

“I viewed that as the perfect time to go directly to Tom and bypass all the intermediaries and so I did,” Burgess revealed. “I went straight to Tom. I sent him an email and said, 'Tom, I think now is the best opportunity we've ever had to make Pro Mod a class.”

In business, as in life, timing is everything.

For Roger Burgess and the rest of the Pro Modified contingent, a depressed economy and troubles back in Detroit, proved to be just the right time to push for professional status with the NHRA.

The exodus of factory support for Pro Stock teams and the sanctioning body turned out to be the foundation Burgess, founder of Get Screened America, the title sponsor of the NHRA Pro Modified division, needed to further the interest of the Pro Modified car owners and drivers.

“I viewed that as the perfect time to go directly to Tom and bypass all the intermediaries and so I did,” Burgess revealed. “I went straight to Tom. I sent him an email and said, 'Tom, I think now is the best opportunity we've ever had to make Pro Mod a class.”

Those intuitions were right and Burgess confirmed that as early as July he received an email from Compton stating, “'we've all met internally and you're right, it's time for us to get serious’.”

With the dialogue open, Burgess found welcomed interest at all levels withing the NHRA. He found respect from high-ranking NHRA executives, and acknowledgement that the changing economy, could lead the sanctioning body to the decision to bestow professional status to the Pro Modified division.

“Tom Compton has always been our biggest fan,” said Burgess, who plans to field three cars in the series during 2010. “Everyone I've ever spoken to about Pro Mod in NHRA, particularly during the negotiating process were pretty high on Pro Mod. Their difficulty has always been the watering down of Pro Stock and getting sideways with car manufacturers.”
 
When Burgess first stepped up to the plate with his company Get Screened America as the title sponsor of the Pro Mods, he made it clear his ultimate goal was to achieve professional status for the class. He signed a three-year deal to back the exhibition class. After that, it was professional status or he was done as series sponsor.

“[In] one of our conversations relatively early on when I went to Tom,” Burgess said was when he made his intentions clear to the NHRA.  “First of all, when I stepped in at the first of this year I only agreed to do the exhibition class if they would be willing during this period of time, during this three year period, to try to make this a professional class. Tom is an honorable man, he said then, 'Roger, I will work to the best of my ability, however here are the things I am working against.”

Outside of resistance from the manufacturers who saw Pro Modified as a threat to their Pro Stock playground, there was still a fair amount of residue left over from the failed Pro Stock Truck class and the subsequent lawsuit that resulted from its abrupt discontinuation.

While Burgess could be considered an icon for pushing the professional status through, he quickly credits Compton and VP of Public Relations Jerry Archambeault for putting together all the necessary pieces of the puzzle. It's his money behind the deal, but it took the belief and effort of Compton and Archambeault to define the rules and put together a television package.

“They're the guys who actually did it,” said Burgess. “I don't take any credit for that at all. Matter of fact, I don't take any credit for this deal other than the financial commitment that we made. The deal was really put together by the guys at NHRA because they truly thought it was time.”

Adding professional status was one thing, getting the class on television was another. Burgess added that it was approval by ESPN that made it possible for Pro Modified to be aired on a tape-delay basis. There has been no television coverage of Pro Modified in the NHRA since 2007.

For now, Burgess and the NHRA are preparing for what he believes will be a bright 2010. In the past, Burgess’ group has been responsible for securing the talent for the 24-car shows but that aspect has been assumed by the sanctioning body.

The NHRA will select the minimum of 24 participants for each of the ten events based on a grading point system. However, at the Gatornationals [Gainesville, Fla.] the number will be increased to 26 and 28 at the Carolinas Nationals [Concord, NC] and Las Vegas Nationals. The U.S. Nationals will accept 30 entries.

The grading points only go back for two seasons, leaving many of those who supported the series under the AMS banner with no grade points to draw from. Burgess doesn’t fear that the NHRA’s grading system will keep the best racers out of the show this season.

“The grade point system right now says if you finished in the top ten you get more points than if you didn't race at all,” Burgess said. “I think the grading system they have come up with is very fair and equitable. It allows the people supporting the class for several years to register early if they want to, but if they don't it opens up to everyone. Once the quota is full, it's full.”

Entrants will have until the Monday prior to an event to withdraw, for whatever reason. In the case of a withdrawal, the NHRA will, from noon to one-o'clock, on Monday, re-open the entry site. All entries to an event occur online.

The NHRA GSA Pro Modified Series might have its critics from the other professional divisions; however Burgess believes the sanctioning body’s recognition paints a clear big picture. He believes in the grand scheme of things, Pro Modified provides a style of racing that cannot be ignored.

“NHRA recognizes a few things. Number one, Pro Modified is a very exciting class to the fans. We run over 240 miles per hour. We're loud. A little squirrelly at times. It's a fun class,” Burgess explained. “We look like real cars, so people can identify with them. It's the fastest  growing class out there right now.”

Advertisement