[Chris1529]

IHRA needs to do something to help out the tracks that have pro-am's and also do something to try to get a few more to have them.

I have a few ideas:

1.)How about having a database of racers that spectators or prospective spectators could access from an app, track website, or through IHRA or motormania that has a little bio about the racers and the cars. You could give history of your car, a little about your self, what it took to get where you are at, how far you came to race at the track, etc. I am not talking about sharing any real PII, just some notes so the fans know about you and your car. Any new or prospective fans are going to be tech savy now and they need to be able to play on their phones during the race.
You can't expect announcers to know a lot about every car. They know the ones they see all the time, but not from all racers.

2.a) Let tracks still have bracket races the weekends of their points meets, but do it in a manner that doesn't make track officials and operators work from 7am to 2am to get tech and a race finished.
Consider a pre-entered and pre-paid 32 car field in box and no box. It can be locals, or pro-am guys too if they wish to commit. Tracks could also offer it to the top 16 or 32 in their local points system as sort of a bonus

2.b.) for the tracks that run the doubles, why not see if there is interest in running 1 time trial then racing the first pro-am Friday evening. Start at 3 or 4 pm. Most people are there anyway. Have the 2nd race on Saturday. Have the above bracket race from idea 2a above on Saturday too. That would leave Sunday for rain make up or a travel home day.

2.c.) If 2b is adopted, then the track could have a regular race day for them or street cars, or something like that on Sunday. This way, they are still having something for their local folks in addition to the Pro-Am racers.

3.) How about IHRA having a BBQ or something on Saturday night. There are caterers or folks with food trucks, or portable cookers most everywhere that could come in. Some folks I work with that have horses do this about once a month in the summer when they ride. They have all their horse trailers in a field, and after a day riding, they bring in a person to have a big BBQ.
If IHRA can't get any businesses to sponsor it, just ask for $5 donations from racers to help pay for it. Most racers at pro-ams either stay at the track, or wouldn't mind staying for a dinner if it was available. Offer it to any fans as well.

4.) track operators also have to put a little effort in to get at least a few people in the stands. They aren't all going to be Bill Bader types, but they at least need to make an effort to get some people in the stands. Offer free or cheap admission to local first responders and their families, car clubs, boy scouts, girl scouts, 4H, do at least minimal advertising on radio or at local "hangouts" ( McDonald's, Ice Cream shops, etc.)