Tom Compton (background)
 

Is there anybody out there that has some drag racing background on Tom Compton?
Like how many Stock/Super Stock car the guy has built or how many points/nationals he has run?
How many teardowns he has gone through? How many crappy pit spots he had. Gone through the crap of buying updated helmets/seatbelts and that new pair of driving pants/jacket. you know all the B.S. that we go through all the time. any imfo would be helpful.

Hammer

P.S. WILL HE HAVE ENOUGH GUTS TO REBUT WJ.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

FROM NHRA COMMUNICATIONS.......
TAKE "WITH A GRAIN OF SALT"....

Tom Compton is only the third president in NHRA's 51-year history. Compton took the reigns of the company in January 2000 and has taken the sport of drag racing to a new level. Compton has led the way in securing landmark agreements in television and sponsorship for NHRA. The 2003 season will mark the third year in a five-year, exclusive agreement with ESPN and its networks that will bring more than 200 hours of quarter-mile action to fans everywhere. It is also the second year with POWERade as the series sponsor. Coca-Cola's sport drink became just the second series sponsor in NHRA history prior to the 2002 season. In this Q&A session, Compton talks about what the NHRA has done well, what needs to be done and why the NHRA continues to grow.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Compton couldn't remain sober long enough to rebut WJ ! Jim

http://dragracingonline.com/analysis/v8_compton-1.html

"NHRA drag racing is poised for a bright future. We are committed to deliver an even more exciting, interactive fan experience on and off the track. We are confident that our future programs and strategic initiatives will reach out and attract new fans, sponsors and racers. Further, I want to emphasize that our grassroots participants and programs will continue to be NHRA's foundation and strength, which distinguishes us from all other sanctioning organizations"
Tom Compton- Nov. 2, 1999

He seems to have changed his mind since then about the "grass roots participants".
"strategic initiatives" read: ENHANCMENTS that make me more money!

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Oh man i just looovvvveeee staying up till 3pm. So i can watch the dog and pony show.. After the llws,tennis,sportscenter,womens sofeball, you name it they follow it... And this is what we got....thank you mister tom compton for all you do to earn a pay check ...but lets not forget about the other board members.

W.j. Was 75% right he left out the part about the small time racer..with raising cost on all safty equipment the amount we all have to pay to race our cars at nhra sanctioned tracks whos getting the kick back??????? S.f.i.who????

..wally parks was a great man, a visonary man, he never would have envisioned his sport becomeing what it is today after his death, so fast. Its sad that money makes men greedy to the point they cant see there hand in front of there face.

Im just a racer, thats my opinion, i dont care how much they make if the job is done right, bottom line...if the job was done right we would not be looking at these men, questioning there motives.. And there character. End of story....

LOOK OUT THE S---S GOING TO HIT THE FAN

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

HEY! that's an insult to dogs and ponys everywhere!

well, maybe not so much about ponys....
but if i was a dog, i'd pee on your foot...

seriously, i can't stay awake thru 1st round anymore.
too much hype and ***-kissing....

and the points system is about enough to make ya puke..

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Did not Tom come from a dog food company or do I have him confused with some one else !?

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

No, you are correct, he worked for a dog food company before coming to the NHRA. I forget which one. Maybe someone here will be able to tell us. Jim

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Cal Can???

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

I think it was Ralston-Purina.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

I thought he came from Frito Lay.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Wally thought he WALKED ON WATER........SAD

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...3/ai_57151434/

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

How do you qualify from running a dog food company. To running a automotive racing org...
who did he now. was he getting fired??? i mean its hard to sell dog food, when every one is eatting cat food, hahahahaha......... i though it was funny!!!!!!

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

I am pretty sure he worked for Kal Kan. I have friend who just refers to him as the dog food salesman.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

do they sell cat food???

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

I think they did, I don't even know if they are still around.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Sounds just like most other CEO's etc, they are at the top running things 'Into the ground'

....corporate America, you got to love it.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

From Drag Racing Online, circa' 2000:
*********************************************


DRO: Tom, could you give us a little background on yourself?

Tom Compton: I'm married with two beautiful girls, Rachel, 5, and Nicole, 7. I've been living in the L.A. area for the last 20 years since I graduated from UCLA. I went to college at UCLA and USC and I have a Master's degree in International Finance.

Before coming to NHRA I worked for Heron Communications. They are a video entertainment company with four video divisions, which include sports programming, theatrical, movies in Spanish language, and a children's company. My first job there was to help start up the sports programming company and the children's company. I worked my way up there from business manager on the start-ups to director of strategic planning for the whole company.

DRO: How did you end up at NHRA?

TC: Through an unlikely chain of events I found out about this "accounting" job at NHRA. At first I didn't apply because I'm not an accountant; then I heard that there were people at NHRA who were disappointed I hadn't sent my resume. I found out through some conversations that the position they wanted filled would be as the first Chief Financial Officer in NHRA history and it was a position that involved just about every business and operation aspect of the NHRA. That got my interest and I applied for and got the job.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

from Street & Smiths Sports Business Journal, July, 2004
(out of context of interview with Tom Compton)
************************************************** ******

You previously worked at Mars. What’s your favorite candy bar?
Compton: Well, Mars is both confectionery and pet food. I worked in the pet food.

I assume you don’t have a favorite brand of pet food.
Compton: No. Snickers is my favorite.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Now, this is suspect??

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

National Hosed Racers Association

just like most big corporations... turn them upside down and they might succeed...
take hands on track owners & managers like pat / tech like wesley & travis and put them in charge then hire a marketing companie and shazaam... maybe, just maybe, we could get back RACING not the dog & pony shows.

just one (soon to be ex racers) opinion
captain jack

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

Maybe he meant the PLANET MARS ????

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

"Otis Sistrunk (1972-79) was the man from the University of Mars"

Man, that was a cheap shot against my man Otis and the Oakland Raiders of old.

Re: Tom Compton (background)
 

From 2/2/2001 LA Times Article by Shav Glick:
Compton, as is the case with many in his administration, does not come from a drag-racing background. He joined the NHRA in 1993 as vice president and chief financial officer after working at Kal Kan Foods and Heron Communications Inc., both in the L.A. area.