Quote:
Originally Posted by james schaechter
Remember the comments from NHRA as stated in Dragzine. I hope they really meant this. I fear that they had no intentions to preserve racing in the area. We know that the upper echelon at NHRA has zero interest or understanding of sportsman racers. Follow the money,
Remember the laughable statement NHRA made when they changed the Atlanta date? They said it was done to consider the loyal fan base in the Atlanta area. None of this adds up.
This appears to be a sale with an accountant’s view and not one of an organization that has a responsibility to be stewards for the community and the sport.
“We are a sanctioning body, and we have a responsibility to preserve and protect the sport, and so our intention is to sell the property as a drag racing facility and to keep the Southern Nationals there, as well,” states NHRA VP of Marketing and Communications Jeffrey Young. “We need to invest in the Lucas Oil Raceway, in Gainesville Raceway, and in Pomona (which the NHRA leases) — drainage updates and upgrades to the facilities that we want to do on those three tracks. So we will use some of the proceeds of this sale to re-invest back into those tracks.”
As part of its initiative to ensure a continuation of drag racing operations at the facility, Young says the NHRA and its real estate partner fully intend to vet interested parties; at this time Young says it has not fielded any offers. A 2021 event schedule has already been released, and until a buyer can be found, Young says the Atlanta Dragway will continue to operate business as usual — including the Southern Nationals — until a transition to new ownership can take place.
“We want to keep racing in that area,” Young says matter-of-factly.
The NHRA likewise intends to maintain Atlanta Dragway staff in other positions within the sanctioning body and its properties upon its sale, or help facilitate a transition of that staff to the new ownership.
Atlanta Dragway was the home track for Coca-Cola, which served as the NHRA’s title marketing partner for 19 years before parting in late 2020.
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Yes, Glen Cromwell told us this months ago on a conference call. But think about it like this: If someone offered you $2m for your entire Stock or SS operation, I can only assume 99.99% of you would take the offer immediately. Why? Because money talks.
Sure, you might ask the buyer, "What are you plans with my operation?" To which they buyer may say, "I plan to blow it up and get a bunch of hits
on YouTube." Sure, that would suck seeing your hard work go up in flames ......... but what do you care? You just got $2m right?
My point is NHRA was hoping to sell the track to someone who would keep it a racetrack ......... it isn't going to happen. Capitalism wins every time. If this racetrack was that important then you'd see about 1,000 local racers pool their money together and buy it themselves. Anybody think that'll happen? Nope.
At least you boys and girls still have pleny of tracks you can race your cars at. We're a little more limited on where we get to run ours.
Oh well. It is what it is. And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if there's 1 or 2 new places we're racing at in 2022 or 2023.
Years ago we stopped running at Memphis. Then Joliet. Now it'll be Atlanta. Eventually it'll be another track. It's OK. NHRA will be fine.
Matt Hanley
Car Chief
Leverich Racing Top Fuel