Pro classes sold?

Harry 6674 · 02-19-2015, 11:17 PM

DRO claims its a done deal and NHRA sold the three pro classes to an entertainment company. Haven't we heard that before?

Dave Noll · 02-20-2015, 03:41 AM

The article:

Rumor! NHRA sells three pro classes

DRO has verified as fact that Tom Compton and the NHRA board hired a financial company in the Los Angeles area more than two months ago to package and sell the top three pro classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock) to an entertainment company. The Agent has the name of the company but has been unable to contact them yet. DRO’s source said today that there is an entertainment company that has agreed to terms. We have been unable to verify that rumor as of 6 p.m. (Central) Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Selling off their top three pro classes was one of the options that was discussed when Tom Compton tried to sell the NHRA to Direct TV majordomo Eddy Hartenstein and his HD Partners group back in 2007. Our source says the deal that NHRA made was essentially the same one they had in 2007 when an attempted sale fell through at the last minute. In the original deal NHRA would sell the pro classes and as part of the sale a large chunk of the buyout money would go to the NHRA to ensure that the sportsman part of the NHRA would continue on. As we understand it that is the same type of deal the new sale would be.

The Agent always felt that selling off the NHRA top three pro classes wasn’t a viable or smart option since none of the racers in those classes works for the NHRA; they are all independent contractors who can race where and when they wish. On the other hand, maybe a professional entertainment group can sell nitro sponsorships better than the NHRA can.

Stay tuned, this one could get interesting. [02/18/15]

600ci · 02-20-2015, 10:23 AM

sounds like a monster truck show. are there tax's to be paid on that ?
I think clear channel owns the monster truck show

Lyn Smith · 02-20-2015, 12:44 PM

Didnt the Clear Channel used to own the IHRA?Im thinking NHRA got out of the management of the Pro classes so they could promote the Sportsmen racers more.There will be a Sportsmen TV show,more money for event wins.Contingency sponsors will be jumping back on the band wagon and who knows what else.LOL

600ci · 02-21-2015, 07:31 PM

still throwing darts

MikeMoller · 02-22-2015, 11:30 AM

I cannot believe that ANYBODY could make money in such a deal. And if there is no money to be made, it doesn't happen.

Mike Schwartz · 02-23-2015, 06:01 PM

Drag Racing Online reports that NHRA has retained Houlihan Lokey to assist them. They are a big deal company. Here's a list of some of their recent transactions:

http://www.hlhz.com/us/transactions.aspx

Mike Gray · 02-23-2015, 08:17 PM

Rumor has it instead of a points championship the entertainment company will create a top 10 list in each category and travel around to different tracks to see who can move up or crack the list with plenty of posturing and off track antics. Of course there will be no track prep, only safety tech and run-what-ya-brung.

Hey wait ..... I might watch that!

Dick Butler · 02-24-2015, 11:15 AM

First, it would be kind of unbelievable that NHRA would sell the only parts of the show which supposedly bring the crowd but....
Maybe they have looked at the ages of the people attending with cars and want their cash and escape the business.

Randall Klein · 02-24-2015, 11:27 AM

My not-so-cyrstal-ball says, cash out of existing Pros, concentrate on Sportsman with the FS upper class cars morfing into Pro Stock, add in Pro Mod and 2- 8 car nitro fields consisting of AA/FA and nostalga FC....there's your noise shock & awe for seats in the stands

Run on Sat-Sun, maybe Friday night

Just musing

02-19-2015, 11:17 PM	#1
Harry 6674 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 589 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pro classes sold? DRO claims its a done deal and NHRA sold the three pro classes to an entertainment company. Haven't we heard that before? __________________ Harry6674

02-20-2015, 03:41 AM	#2
Dave Noll Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Div. 6, Eastern, WA Posts: 707 Likes: 2,603 Liked 236 Times in 109 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? The article: Rumor! NHRA sells three pro classes DRO has verified as fact that Tom Compton and the NHRA board hired a financial company in the Los Angeles area more than two months ago to package and sell the top three pro classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock) to an entertainment company. The Agent has the name of the company but has been unable to contact them yet. DRO’s source said today that there is an entertainment company that has agreed to terms. We have been unable to verify that rumor as of 6 p.m. (Central) Wednesday, Feb. 18. Selling off their top three pro classes was one of the options that was discussed when Tom Compton tried to sell the NHRA to Direct TV majordomo Eddy Hartenstein and his HD Partners group back in 2007. Our source says the deal that NHRA made was essentially the same one they had in 2007 when an attempted sale fell through at the last minute. In the original deal NHRA would sell the pro classes and as part of the sale a large chunk of the buyout money would go to the NHRA to ensure that the sportsman part of the NHRA would continue on. As we understand it that is the same type of deal the new sale would be. The Agent always felt that selling off the NHRA top three pro classes wasn’t a viable or smart option since none of the racers in those classes works for the NHRA; they are all independent contractors who can race where and when they wish. On the other hand, maybe a professional entertainment group can sell nitro sponsorships better than the NHRA can. Stay tuned, this one could get interesting. [02/18/15] __________________ Dave Noll, EF/S ,?/SA 6526

02-20-2015, 10:23 AM	#3
600ci Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 163 Likes: 5 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Pro classes sold? sounds like a monster truck show. are there tax's to be paid on that ? I think clear channel owns the monster truck show

02-20-2015, 12:44 PM	#4
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,183 Likes: 267 Liked 935 Times in 185 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? Didnt the Clear Channel used to own the IHRA?Im thinking NHRA got out of the management of the Pro classes so they could promote the Sportsmen racers more.There will be a Sportsmen TV show,more money for event wins.Contingency sponsors will be jumping back on the band wagon and who knows what else.LOL

02-21-2015, 07:31 PM	#5
600ci Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 163 Likes: 5 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Pro classes sold? still throwing darts

02-22-2015, 11:30 AM	#6
MikeMoller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 635 Likes: 27 Liked 254 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? I cannot believe that ANYBODY could make money in such a deal. And if there is no money to be made, it doesn't happen. __________________ Mike Moller NHRA 203 Q-R-T/SA

02-23-2015, 06:01 PM	#7
Mike Schwartz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 526 Likes: 122 Liked 238 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? Drag Racing Online reports that NHRA has retained Houlihan Lokey to assist them. They are a big deal company. Here's a list of some of their recent transactions: http://www.hlhz.com/us/transactions.aspx Last edited by Mike Schwartz; 02-23-2015 at 06:02 PM. Reason: Removed duplicated text

02-23-2015, 08:17 PM	#8
Mike Gray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 610 Likes: 304 Liked 679 Times in 193 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? Rumor has it instead of a points championship the entertainment company will create a top 10 list in each category and travel around to different tracks to see who can move up or crack the list with plenty of posturing and off track antics. Of course there will be no track prep, only safety tech and run-what-ya-brung. Hey wait ..... I might watch that!

02-24-2015, 11:15 AM	#9
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? First, it would be kind of unbelievable that NHRA would sell the only parts of the show which supposedly bring the crowd but.... Maybe they have looked at the ages of the people attending with cars and want their cash and escape the business.

02-24-2015, 11:27 AM	#10
Randall Klein Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 785 Likes: 45 Liked 316 Times in 67 Posts	Re: Pro classes sold? My not-so-cyrstal-ball says, cash out of existing Pros, concentrate on Sportsman with the FS upper class cars morfing into Pro Stock, add in Pro Mod and 2- 8 car nitro fields consisting of AA/FA and nostalga FC....there's your noise shock & awe for seats in the stands Run on Sat-Sun, maybe Friday night Just musing