MY TAKE WITH STAN CREEKMORE
After twenty six years as a journalist covering the NASCAR circuit I have spent the better part of this year splitting time between NASCAR and NHRA events. It has been the best year. There is excitement at an NHRA event which doesn't exist in the NASCAR world, at this time, at least for me.
What does exist at both events are fans, rabid fans who love their sport but also love to complain about their sport. Complaining can be good, when there is something to complain about.
For example, some fans like to complain that John Force and his teams get too much attention. Yes, they get a lot of attention, at least John and Ashley always seem to be in the spotlight. What do you expect? One is a 14-time National champion with over 1000 round wins while the other is, at least when in a race car, a chip off the old block.
This is 'My Take'. My feelings, my observations and most importantly my opinions which are being shared with you, the reader.
After twenty six years as a journalist covering the NASCAR circuit I have spent the better part of this year splitting time between NASCAR and NHRA events. It has been the best year. There is excitement at an NHRA event which doesn't exist in the NASCAR world, at this time, at least for me.
What does exist at both events are fans, rabid fans who love their sport but also love to complain about their sport. Complaining can be good, when there is something to complain about.
For example, some fans like to complain that John Force and his teams get too much attention. Yes, they get a lot of attention, at least John and Ashley always seem to be in the spotlight. What do you expect? One is a 14-time National champion with over 1000 round wins while the other is, at least when in a race car, a chip off the old block.
Force puts himself out there in a way the high beams hit him. He understands the power of the media, print, electronic or otherwise. Just like he understands the power of the race fans as he wades in the throng to sign, shake and smile with as many as possible.
Force does it because he understands, he gets it and because he knows racing is about a lot more than showing up, making runs and heading home. For Force, the fans are as much a part of the “team” as any of the guys and gals wearing the team uniform.
If a race fan wishes to complain about the coverage of Force and his family, they should complain to the dozens of other drivers on the circuit who for whatever reason aren't out there “getting it”.
Tell your favorite driver you want to know more about him or her. Writers/reporters can only do so much at a racetrack. If a driver isn't promoting himself or herself then they better have a publicist doing it.
Truthfully, some publicists don't get it. There have been times when a publicist simply has said, “I got nothing.” Wrong! A publicist should always have something.
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To be fair there are some great publicists on the NHRA circuit and they go above and beyond the call of duty. They represent drivers with stories to tell and the desire to tell those stories. Drivers who “get it”.
Bob Tasca, III is getting it. Tony Pedregon has got it. Mike Edwards is a great story, but he hasn't quite got it, yet. Jeg Coughlin definitely gets it. Karen Stoffer is getting it, quickly.
Those are just a few drivers. There are so many more, if they would just take the time to understand the racing doesn't stop at the finish line – it's just beginning.
If it’s not the coverage which is being drilled, the echoes often carry the words of people saying, “NASCAR does this, NASCAR does that, why can't the NHRA do it?”
Be thankful they don't. Drag racing is not stock car racing anymore than stock car racing is anything close to open wheel racing. They are all different animals.
By the nature of their competition, NASCAR and open wheel racing is more television friendly. Yet, they are not without their issues. Fans complain constantly about missing the action because of commercials. At least when fans watch an NHRA program the commercials don't disrupt the action. However, they shouldn't because the program is not live.
The outcry by NHRA fans should be for live coverage of events. To be fair, there is some live coverage of NHRA events, just not enough. Until the live coverage becomes the standard and not the “special” fans might consider expressing their feelings about Paul Page. Page is boring, even in tape delay. He was boring on ABC covering the largest, most prestigious event in motorsports history, the Indianapolis 500 and he is boring in his role with the NHRA. His excitement appears to be reserved for something other than the NHRA.
To be fair, in order for the live coverage of NHRA events to be enjoyable and not boring, it would take a major revamp of how the show is run today. It would take the cooperation of drivers, crew chiefs and crews to make it entertaining.
Finally, and no less important than the two previous subjects is my take on a comment made by Susan Wade in her recent piece about promoters. Susan suggested the NHRA might need an ambassador at the track whose sole mission to is to make sure the fans, competitors and media feel welcome. Susan is right, on that count and on the count that Tom Compton, NHRA President, is not that man. Compton, in my opinion, is a solid leader who is less than fully confident in front of the media. That is not a negative. There are many people who are great leaders, but they are shy people.
Several months ago, Tim Charlet, in one of his columns, suggested the fans should somehow be represented on the NHRA board. The board is not the place for fans. However, their voice should be able to find the way to the boardroom. That path could easily be through an ambassador whose sole task is to reach out, listen and report.
My take is the NHRA does far more right than it does wrong and the presence of such an individual would tip the scales even further to the good side.
There are other issues which need addressing, but those concern issues between the sanctioning body and the media which do not need to be addressed here.
Hopefully, a reader of this column will “get it” and take positive steps which help the sport continue to grow in ways which benefit all of us.
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