Newly appointed IHRA President Scott Gardner spoke about the future of IHRA Drag Racing at this year’s Industry Round Table at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.

Growing topics of concern among the sport of drag racing took center stage as sanctioning body leaders met to discuss their plans for the 2014 season at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.

The line-up of sanctioning bodies included IHRA, NMCA, WCSCA and special guest Peter Biondo, after Kenny Nowling (President of ADRL) didn’t participate.  For IHRA’s newly appointed President Scott Gardner this was his first opportunity to speak among other industry leaders.

One of the major topics up for discussion was the health of the sport. The cost of owning and operating a race track has become more expensive than ever.

“It’s very important that our whole industry do whatever it can to help protect the challenges that the race tracks have.” stated Steve Wilcott.

Today’s common challenges seem to revolve around racer support and race track profitability. IHRA currently has over 115 member tracks spanning three different countries.  Scott Gardner formerly owned and operated one of the sanctioning body’s member tracks, giving him a distinct advantage over other sanctioning body presidents.

 “I think it gives me a unique look at everything from both sides of the coin. From the track operators stand point expenses keep going up but the entry fee and spectator fee remain stagnant,” Gardner explained.

Drag racing growth has been tough in recent years, according to Alan Reinhart due to “uneducated media”, who blame deaths on the street on unprofessional drag racing. Even the recent Paul Walker (Actor), tragedy was blamed on “drag racing” even though it was a single vehicle accident.

The incident presented a challenge to promote “good publicity” for many race tracks and the sport in general. Experiencing the incident first hand as a track owner, Gardner believes educating the media is vital, “As a sanctioning body we must ensure that the media is educated about what we do and how that is different from what people may think.”

The growing age of the average spectator and racer is another issue the sport is dealing with today.

Attracting the younger generation is a new marketing strategy among race tracks, who are converting from the traditional print advertisement, and social media outlets.  Many of the sanctioning bodies have capitalized on generating new classes.  IHRA’s plan to include the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class will offer fans additional racing new at all Nitro Jam events.

As a final thought Gardner stated, “I see things that we have to be concerned about, and we can talk with the track owners to make our sanctioning body better.”

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