Make Divisionals Great Again

[Ok stocker]

The best divisional races I have ever attended was a long time ago when they had TF Fc and pro stock at the divisional level. It was like a mini national event. The stands stayed packed.
Even if you could get some of the low budget teams close the the event to come match race at those races it would help. Advertise it and the spectators will come. Concession stand money would sky rocket. Most races don’t go to the track for food they bring theirs.
There is no advertising for divisional races so no one knows they are happening.

[Mike Gray]

Originally Posted by Ok stocker

The best divisional races I have ever attended was a long time ago when they had TF Fc and pro stock at the divisional level. It was like a mini national event. The stands stayed packed.
Even if you could get some of the low budget teams close the the event to come match race at those races it would help. Advertise it and the spectators will come. Concession stand money would sky rocket. Most races don’t go to the track for food they bring theirs.
There is no advertising for divisional races so no one knows they are happening.

Maybe if the big PRO’s are too busy or too expensive for a divisional they can try to book some of the nostalgia cars and do some advertising. The March meet gets quite a few spectators.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

There seems to be a real disconnect between tracks and NHRA when it comes to these divisionals. I don't think NHRA is inclined to promote the event and may be content getting their cut and operating certain aspects of the race. Their business model might be working just fine on their end. All tracks have slightly different deals with NHRA and it is up to their negotiation skills. Some may have a bad deal in place, or maybe an old deal. It is probably safe to say that the more they take in at a divisional, the more they shell over to NHRA and they may not feel it is even worth gambling on promotions/entertainment and would rather play it safe so as not to lose any money if it flops.

^^^^This^^^^ is another issue that must be looked at if Divisionals are ever going to be "great again". I live 10 miles away from my local track. Plenty of racers over there every weekend. When I go to a Divisional, the following week I get asked by dozens of them where I was last week. In the case of the 'Grove, we're talking about less than a 2 hour drive and nobody knows about it. Even worse, they don't even know when the Keystones are. Back in the good-old-days, the old track owner would close for the Keystones. Now? Nobody even knows when these races are.
It's almost as if the NHRA just assumes that they're the only show in town and every Racer should just "know".

[Steve Stickel]

"Back in the good-old-days, the old track owner would close for the Keystones. Now? Nobody even knows when these races are."

Connecticut Dragway schedule 1983, weekend of July 17th, Closed for Summernationals at Englishtown.. Those were the days, Going to the "Summers" was like being at the East Coast "Indy"