---

RACING PROMOTION MONTHLY NEWSLETTER; ISSUE 51.8 THE PROMOTERS VOICE & FORM SINCE 1972; 49TH ANNUAL RPM@RENO WESTERN WORKSHOPS AGENDA

** ISSUE 51.8 • THE PROMOTERS VOICE & FORM SINCE 1972 WWW.PROMOTERSNEWSLETTER.COM (http://www.racingpromotionsmonthly.com/)

"RPM@RENO Western Workshops Agenda"

• Welcome to the Show...

PRI - Performance Racing Industry Trade Show "Tease"

• RPM and PRI Working together

Chapter 26 - Let Em' All Go

• More from Chris Economaki's Chapter 26 - "Promoting the Thirll of the Event, the Dean learns a lesson and teaches one..."

Trends...
A look at how business trends - in all forms of business - are rapidly changing...

#SMILESFORDOLACK
There is no secret to their survival...

RPM@Daytona Information
RPM@Reno Information

Get in the Know

• Motorsports topics across the board.

TraxPix 2021

• Random photos from our the racing landscape that help tell many stories. A picture is always worth a thousand words...

Legal Update

• A legal refresh on the topic of jurisdictions.

COVID-19 Ongoing Pandemic Document Warehouse

Directory of Services
Ralph Sheheen, a West Coast native, will once again lead off at the RPM@Reno Western Workshops and bring his high level of experience to help attendees with their business.
RALPH SHEHEEN AND BILL MCNALLY TO LEAD MANY SPEAKERS AND DISCUSSIONS AT RPM

The 49th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops held at the Eldorado at the Row in downtown Reno, Nevada are set to take place Thursday, December 2 and Friday, December 3. There will be a brief registration hour on Wednesday, December 1 for early attendees. The RPM@Reno Western Workshops will have a stellar lineup up of speakers and presenters set for promoters who attend the annual workshops to garner ideas and continue developing and growing their businesses while having the opportunity to connect with a variety of colleagues and exhibitors that touch every corner of the short track racing industry.

The speaking lineup is headlined by television and media personality Ralph Sheheen. Noted NASCAR car owner, Bill McAnally, who also promotes All American Speedway in Roseville, California and several other racing events on the West Coast, is also a NAPA AutoCare owner will assist in delivering the “keynote” message which he was slated to do in Reno, Nevada.

This lineup is just the tip of the iceberg in the RPM@Reno Western Workshop schedule. Traditional sessions, include the legal update and "Pro Bono" hour will be expounded upon and delivered in breakout sessions as well as many other sessions that assist and impact the short track motorsports industry.

Registration for the 49^th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops are now open. Registration online can be completed here; 2021 RPM @ Reno - Formstack (https://firethornmarketing.formstack.com/forms/2021_rpm_at_reno) or the form located here may be filled out and returned to RPM via fax (716.685.0923) or e-mail: info@racingpromomonthly.com (info@racingpromomonthly.com) . These documents and more information may be found at www.promotersnewsletter.com (http://www.promotersnewsletter.com/) – the official “MyRacePass” website of the RPM Workshops.

If you are looking to make reservations, make them now; the 49th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops take place, Thursday December 2nd and Friday, December 3rd at the Eldorado at the Row, in Reno, Nevada. Rooms can be booked here; https://book.passkey.com/go/RPM4921 (King rooms can be booked for an average of $71.25 per night for a four-night stay; while rooms with two Queen beds can be booked for an average of $81.25 for a four-night stay.)

The 49th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops stand as a "can't miss" event for track promoters throughout North America.

The Racing Promotion Monthly (RPM) Newsletter and RPM Workshops provide an educational and networking program to the motorsports industry. The program provides media and meeting platforms which offer promoters, motorsports management, tracks, sanctions and companies a forum to share, educate and network within. The newsletter and workshops are services of Hoosier Racing Tire and K&K Insurance, with supporting sponsorship coming from Chevrolet Performance Products, RACEceiver, Moffet Productions, IMCA Racing, Eldorado Hotel and Casino, Simes Graphic Design, MyRacePass and Firethorn Marketing.

Further information regarding the RPM e-newsletters and workshops may be found at the company’s website, www.promotersnewsletter.com

RPM@RENO WESTERN WORKSHOP SCHEDULE – Subject to change, additional topics and presenters

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021;

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. RPM@RENO Western Workshop Credentials - "Novi"

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021;

8:00 a.m. WORKSHOPS GUEST SERVICES DESK OPENS, Convention Area at the Eldorado Advanced and late-entry credentials available.
8:45 a.m. WORKSHOPS TRADE SHOW OPENS, products and services for promoters and short tracks.
9:45 a.m. PROMOTERS’ WELCOME, The Eldorado Resort & Casino
9:45 a.m. 49^th Annual RPM@RENO Western Workshops Opening
10:00 a.m. RALPH SHEHEEN, SPEED SPORT; Opening comments and Introduction.
10:30 a.m. BILL MCANALLY; Sponsorship relations, the value of marketing and leveraging your brand with your partner’s brand to increase exposure and capital.
11:15 a.m. BILL MARTENS, Chevrolet Performance, “State of the Crate” direct from one of the top executives at Chevrolet Performance.
11:45-1:15 p.m. LUNCH BREAK
1:15 p.m. WORKSHOP RECONVENES, announcements and introduction of special guests;
1:45 p.m. TOM DEERY, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) update and RPM Partnership
2:15 p.m. BREAK OUT ROOM TURN OVER
2:30-5:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions: Five topics, two rooms.
THE K&K INSURANCE ROOM
2:45-3:30 p.m. THE LIVE STREAM… Media and Social Media Management seminar, led by Industry Leaders including.
3:30-4:15 p.m. SFI TRAINING PROGRAM / SAFETY DISCUSSION
THE HOOSIER TIRE ROOM
2:45-3:30 p.m. PANDEMIC DISCUSSION, WHERE WE STARTED, HOW IT’S GOING AND WHAT’S NEXT?
3:30-4:15 p.m. TRENDING MARKET PLACE DISCUSSION with guidance from Race Track Wholesale’s Dennis Paul.
4:15-5:00 AFTERNOON AMBIANCE JOIN 43RD ARPY… “Sometimes it Rains, Sometimes it’s a Pandemic” 43^rd ARPY Gregg McKarns and his wife, Angie McKarns discuss the trials and tribulations of their season, along with open candor and a look into how this has deeply affected our industry.
5:00 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS, ADJOURNMENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021

8:15 a.m. WORKSHOPS GUEST SERVICES DESK OPENS, Convention Area at the Eldorado Advanced and late-entry credentials available.
8:30 a.m. WORKSHOPS TRADE SHOW OPENS, Continental breakfast, products and services for promoters and short tracks.
9:30 a.m. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS, 2022 Date Introduction and to the 50^th RPM RENO WESTERN WORKSHOPS change venues for 2021.
9:45 a.m. JOE TRIPP; Managing Partner and CEO at Speed Sport to talk about all things Media – Streaming, Electronic, Print and Publicity.
10:15 a.m. STEVE BEITLER, An overview of the industry from an ARPY, track owner, promoter, racer, world traveler, fisherman, award winner and overall great guy.
10:45 a.m. ANNUAL CASE LAW SUMMARY: Paul Tetreault, Agajanian, McFall, Weiss, Tetreault, & Crist, LLP review the the year’s case law decisions.
11:15 a.m. PANDEMIC LAW: Tetreault updates attendees on the circumstances that surround our environment.
12:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK
1:30 p.m. WORKSHOP RECONVENES, followed by Concurrent Sessions: with influential topics presented in two rooms.
THE K&K INSURANCE ROOM
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – PRO-BONO HOUR, Tetreault takes an hour to discuss topics individually.
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. – HOW DID WE SURVIVE WITHOUT FANS? DID THE FANS RETURN? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DRAW THEM BACK?
3:00-3:45 p.m. – ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING AND THE PRODUCTION OF CONSUMABLES AND HOW IT AFFECTS US…
3:45-4:30 p.m. – STREAMING BREAKDOWN: Who is watching? Who is buying packages? What sells and how do we know? Compare notes and find out what we know?
THE HOOSIER TIRE ROOM
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. – WEBSITES & E-COMMERCE: Where are we now? Have we evolved? What’s next?
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. – HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED INSURANCE? DIRECTION? WHAT’S NEXT? A look at insurance, the effects the pandemic has had and the direction we are going.
3:00-3:45 p.m. – COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT? What does it mean? How does it help?
3:45-4:30 p.m. – RPM WORKSHOPS DISCUSSION What is next? What needs to be discussed? Where do we go from here?
5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: Enjoy, please remain safe, with a safe journey home and a wonderful Holiday Season!

Photos: California resident, NASCAR car and truck owner, race and track Bill McAnally (top); Tom Deery from the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show (middle); West Coast, Pacific Northwest racer and Promoter, Steve Beitler (above) will join RPM@Reno Western Workshops emcee, Dennis Gage (below) on behind the podium throughout the 49th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops.
PLEASE NOTE; AS A MATTER OF RECORD, THE ELDORADO AND THE ROW "MASK POLICY" IS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A MASK ON UNLESS THEY ARE ACTIVELY EATING OR DRINKING.
We will be working with the Performance Industry Trade Show during the shows return to Indianapolis. Details are currently be finalized. PRI & RPM will be working together. On Thursday,, December 9 from 1:30pm until 3:00pm RPM will present an oval dirt track roundtable. On Friday, December 10 from 9:30am until 11:00am RPM will present an oval asphalt track roundtable. On Friday, December 10 from 4:00pm until 6:00pm, we along with PRI to present a time where Promoters and Sanctioning representatives may wind down from their day with "BS and Brews". The Performance Racing Industry takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, December 9-11, 2021.
A young almost pensive looking Chris Economaki "thinks about it" before he talks about it. The "Thrill of the Event" was something Economaki was always great at promoting, no matter what genre of the sport he was focused on at the time.
Chapter 26 in the book "Let Em' All Go! The Story of Auto Racing by the Man that was there - Chris Economaki" is titled; "Promotion: Where did it go?", beginning on page 270 we continue an in-depth look into the chapter.

On page 275 of Chapter 26, Economaki ccontinues his discussion about "publicity" but turns his focus to "hype" through the "thrill of the event".

Economaki was directly involved in the promotion of a Demolition Derby at Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey. Economaki states that Edgar Otto was typically the promoter on these type of events but he was able to get in on this one.

Economaki wrote the copy for the advertising of the event and took it to Edgar (Otto), "Visit Hinchcliffe Stadium on the night off... and hear grinding gears, windshields shattering and see gas tanks exploding!"

Edgar said, "You know Chris, maybe you ought to lay off of the gas tanks 'exploding' business."

Economaki was quick to note, "God, the people turned out for that demolition derby. It was incredible."

Whether or not the copy ran with the "gas tanks exploding" verbiage was never referenced, but obviously, Hinchliffe Stadium was crowded for that demolition derby, that night, sometime in the 1950's.

Could you imagine a promotion at your track today, run in the local media, any type of local media that somehow made reference to "gas tanks exploding"? You would have plenty of explaining to do and that would be to the activist groups and the media, long before you got to the local authorities.

It has become increasingly difficult to promote events based on the "Thrill of the Event" now. It makes us wonder if that is why "Crash-A-Rama" type events earn the crowds they do, based off one simple phrase, the word "crash". Ticket buying folks still have that mindset, they want to see the crash. As great as our product is without the big crash, it is still a tough sell, because only the purist see the beauty of the perfectly execute clean pass. It's also challenging to write about that pass on social media without being positive.

Economaki states, "sometimes the hype feeds on itself..." He's right.

He does cite an example you can read, however, the "hype" is a critical element to great promotion. People are not going to go buy tickets to an event to sit at the event to be bored.

While society has changed and some publicity rules have changed, the art of promotion and publicity has not. While in today's world we won't be able to use "Wanted, 40 men who are not afraid to die..." (that statement is referenced in this section of the book), we have to be creative and come up with ways to promote how exciting our products are.

Some are getting stronger at, while Economaki cites another challenge the promotional industry of aut-racing has faced over the years as he talks about those who tell you the tried and true "old methods" no longer work. "Most people who give you that argument have never once tried those methods. How do they know old-fashioned promotional methods don't work when they've never tired them? The truth is they are either ashamed to be a promoter or too lazy to work at it. Or, they allow themselves to be so busy with the operational side of the business - ordering food, organizing help, preparing the track and more - they don't have time to work on the promotion. That's just not very effective because you can hire all of the other stuff done but rarely does anyone hire out the promotional work."

Economaki continued, "So the end result is that much of the racing languishes in terms of growing the audience and everyone wonders why."

There aren't minced wods there, however, we have all witnessed these situations ourselves. We have often heard the joke, "that was the greatest race nobody saw..."

It's our job, our responsibilty to "sell, sell, sell", build the "hype" and bring people out to enjoy these events so the racing doesn't languish in terms of growing the audience.

We just need to get our creative juices flowing all over again. Is "Come see the crazy compacts lose the body parts where you put your groceries this Saturday at the Speedway.... we'll sell you the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge!" too much?

Once again, RPM agrees with Economaki.
Three "Traditional" Event Posters that have been preserved to give some ideas on how to build the "Hype", the "The Thrill of the Event" and the creativity it takes to promote an auto-racing event.
“FIND YOUR EDGE IN THE CHALLENGING BUSINESS OF PROMOTION WITH SIMES GRAHPIC DESIGN"

“WE WILL BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL TO CREATE YOUR MARKETING MATERIAL SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO!”
For OVER 25 years Simes Graphic Designs has been providing the edge that the auto-racing industry has sought by producing high-quality printed products for track operators, drivers and racing-related businesses. Located in North Dakota, Simes Graphic Designs thrills customers across the United States with easily accessible services.

Understanding that racing is a highly specialized business which needs products that express the excitement and high power action of the sport in a clear, concise message that informs and sells the customer on the next ticket sale.

As a small full-service graphic arts studio and agency, we offer personalized service to our clients and a one-on-one experience with NO-NONSENSE pricing policies that specializes in advertising materials. We make it easy for the race promoter to get ad agency quality work at prices they can afford.

Our experience allows us to create eye-catching concepts for the web or printed piece, creating the excitement of short track racing with powerful graphic images, buzz words and catch phrases that gain the customers attention.

Whether you need a poster, pocket schedules, programs, or event logo and web content, we can create advertising marketing material that absolutely conveys the excitement and the fun of short track racing.

A small studio that treats every client with the utmost importance. We have worked with small and large short tracks from coast-to-coast and almost every track in-between.

With a unique pricing concept, we include all artwork, design, printing and shipping costs in the final price.

** Consumer and Customer Experience Trends in 2022

For the typical RPM reader, you may ask why this is here and the answer is simple; our world is changing rapidly and we need to keep up. Consumers have changing expectations that are affected by a variety of factors. Therefore, if your business wants to continue to add real value and solve customers’ problems, you will have to rethink your products and services to take account of the huge shifts taking place.

Broadly speaking, these shifts can be grouped into eight transformative consumer trends.

Trend 1: Channel digitization and expansion

No doubt your business has already embraced digital routes to connect with customers (even through social media). Most have. But in the past, this digitization journey has generally treated digital channels – websites, social media, etc. – as add-ons. Now, the gear has shifted completely, and customers increasingly come to a business via a digital channel. Digital comes first, in other words.

One McKinsey global survey found that the COVID-19 crisis drastically accelerated the digitization of customer and supply chain interactions by three-to-four years – in the space of just a few months. This means businesses must focus their efforts on building better digital-first interactions with customers. For me, this means focusing on three specific areas:

PROMOTED

Apps

A smooth omnichannel experience (where customers can move seamlessly between different channels and still get a cohesive customer experience)

New, digital-only products

Trend 2: The cognification of products and services

There’s no escaping artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things. Both are inextricably part of our everyday lives now, as demonstrated by the increasing number of everyday products that are labeled “smart.” (Televisions, Refrigerators, Appliances, etc...)

This “cognifying” of products – a phrase coined by Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired magazine – is being applied to a wide range of products, from fridges and cars to huge industrial machines in factories. In fact, given the shrinking size and cost of sensors, pretty much anything can be made smart. But it’s not just products that are becoming more intelligent – services are also being beefed up with AI capabilities.

Trend 3: Micro-moments and personalization

In this age of hyper individualization, people want to feel special. They expect brands to understand and respond to their individual needs. They want something that’s unique to them, not the mass marketing strategies of the past. To put it another way, your customers are craving a more meaningful connection with your brand.

And they want it fast. Today’s customers are time-poor and constantly bombarded with content, so they expect quick solutions. The challenge (and opportunity) for businesses is to pinpoint those exact moments when customers are looking for a specific thing (be it a product, information, or whatever) and then quickly give it to them. In fact, the window to give customers what they're looking for maybe just a few seconds – and this is what Google refers to as “micro-moments.”

Trend 4: Subscription and servitization

This is one of the most important future trends. Driven by the increasing cognification of products and services, organizations of all kinds can now delight their customers with thoughtful subscription-based services and products.

This trend is all about moving from a traditional business model, where the customer buys a product or service as and when they need it, to one where they sign up to receive that product or service on a regular basis. The customer benefits from convenient auto-renewals and builds a deeper connection with the brands they love. Meanwhile, the business generates predictable revenue – because, so long as you continue to provide value for the customer, they will continue to pay for it.

Trend 5: Cutting out the middleman

Also known as disintermediation, the direct-to-consumer trend essentially means bypassing traditional intermediaries in the supply chain – such as retailers, wholesalers, distributors, advertisers – to connect directly with the end consumer. Brands across all sectors are now finding new, direct routes to customers via online channels.

There is a belief that all businesses must consider how they can build new ways to connect directly with their customers. And for intermediary organizations, such as banks and retailers, this trend obviously represents a significant challenge. These intermediaries – who have been quite powerful in the past – are being pushed out of the equation and will have to rethink their businesses accordingly.

Trend 6: From B2C to “all to all”

The customer-to-customer (C2C) economy – where customers connect with other customers to communicate or trade goods/services – has given rise to massive platform businesses, like Uber, Facebook, and Etsy. There is value in facilitating these interactions and transactions, and those platforms that can create a safe, easy way for customers to connect have seen enormous growth.

Even if your business isn't a platform business, it's worth paying attention to this trend. There may be an opportunity to pivot to a platform model or introduce a new business built around a value-adding platform.

Trend 7: More immersive experiences

Thanks to extended reality (XR) technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), brands can now impress their customers with engaging, immersive experiences. (In fact, I’ve written a whole book, called Extended Reality in Practice, about the use of XR across a wide range of industries.)

Today’s consumers increasingly prioritize experiences over material goods (particularly among millennials, where 75 percent say they value experiences over things). And this means brands that want to stay relevant must turn the customer journey – whether it is online or offline – into a thoughtful, memorable experience. XR can help you do this.

Trend 8: Conscious consumption

Driven in part by movements such as the Extinction Rebellion and the work of environmental activist Greta Thunberg, we've reached a tipping point in environmental awareness. And with this growing awareness comes a desire for more eco-friendly and sustainable products. People are trying to be conscious consumers, in other words, seeking to understand the wider impact of our purchases and, wherever possible, choosing more responsible alternatives.

According to this trend, we’re not alone. Take “flygskam” or “flight shame” as an example. After the term was coined in Sweden in 2017, plane ticket sales began to fall in 2018 and train ticket sales began to climb. So, rather than gaining status for opting into conscious consumerism, there is now shame around opting out of it. That’s a clear sign that conscious consumption is going mainstream.

Reimagining your business to take account of these trends takes courage, especially as it may involve cannibalizing your existing business model. (Think of how Apple’s focus on iPhones and Apple Music essentially made iPods obsolete.) And it requires humility, too – the humility to look at other industries and organizations and identify what they’re doing better.
A friend of RPM recently submitted another video in regard to the supply chain issues affecting businesses worldwide. The video explains things in understandable terms, giving even more perspective to the situation; https://youtu.be/sV0CPDxYLr8

In addition to the supply chain video, Roger Slack found the included link in regard to a unique event that former Auto Racing Promoter of the Year, JC Agajanian promoted at the fabled Ascot Park. A "Celebrity" Demolition Derby hosted by none other than "Keith Jackson"; https://twitter.com/Super70sSports/status/1439040122515775488?t=UpGXmFc9aC1OM6HbF1WiGQ&s=19 (https://twitter.com/Super70sSports/status/1439040122515775488?t=UpGXmFc9aC1OM6HbF1WiGQ&s=19)
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 46TH ANNUAL AUTO-RACING PROMOTER OF THE YEAR AND REGIONAL AUTO-RACING PROMOTER OF THE YEAR WINNERS

The nomination ballot for the 46^th Annual Auto Racing Promoter of the Year has been released.

Ray Marler, who promoters I-55 Speedway in Pevely, Missouri,was introduced as the 45^th Auto-Racing Promoter of the Year last February at the 48^th Annual RPM@Daytona Workshops presented at the Daytona Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, Florida, representing Region Five, the Great Plains region of RPM balloting.

The 46th Auto-Racing Promoter of the Year Award will be presented at the 49th Annual RPM@Daytona Workshops at the Daytona Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, Florida, February 13-15, 2022.

Lyle DeVore of Albany-Saratoga won the first ever "pandemic" based award, ARPY “without Fans” Award, based on promoting his track, Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Eastern New York without the ability to host fans.

Last season also the following win regional awards; Region One, Eastern Region; Steve O’Neal from Port Royal (PA) Speedway; Region Six; Southwest and Western Region; Steve Beitler from Skagit (WA) Speedway; Region Two, Southeast Region, Al Vardanore from East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla.; Region Three, Central Region, Tom Helfrich from Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.; Region Four, Northern Region, The Kaufman Family, Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisc.

Todd and Elizabeth Thelen, promoters of Slinger (WI) Super Speedway accepted the award for the RPM Outstanding Event of the Year.

Industry representatives wishing to nominate promoters may do so at the link included within the release. All six regions (Eastern, South Eastern, Central, Northern, Great Plains, West) are eligible and once again will have representatives that will be recognized at the 49^th Annual RPM Workshops in Daytona Beach, Florida at the Plaza Resort, February 13, 14 and 15, 2022.

The link for balloting is as follows: https://forms.gle/9fRA7t18AjnsT9E46

Nominations will close at midnight, Friday, December 31, 2021, with voting for the 45^th Annual Auto-Racing Promoter of the Year to commence on Monday, January 3, 2022, once all nominees have been announced. All polling will be tracked digitally

#SmilesforDolack

If you don't know Chris Dolack, you may want to try and meet him, or at least try to get him in your rolodex if you are in this business.

Chris Dolack is a cross between Mike Brady (Brady Bunch Father) and Chris Economaki. He may very well be the greatest racing publicist of this generation and one of the nicest men you'll ever meet.

Personally, I have never met a man that works harder at his craft than Chris Dolack.

Just over a year ago, beginning in August of 2020, Dolack faced the greatest battle of his life and survived. He is doing remarkably well. Dolack went to battle with a form of "non hodgkin's lymphoma" that nearly took him from his family and the sport he's so passionate about.

Dolack, had a long path to recovery, but the entire dirt racing community was behind him.

During his career, Dolack has worked for a variety of news outlets including the Tribune-Review near Pittsburgh, where he coordinated coverage of the Olympics and the Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was so impressed by this, they gave him an opportunity. He also has magazine experience with Inside Sports and editing positions with Auto Racing and Hockey Digest.

Dolack left World Racing Group after making a tremendous mark on his job to go to work for Speed Sport News, then found his way back to World Racing Group before the cancer reared its ugly head.

In a little less than a year Dolack was back hiking and doing things with his family. When we saw him at Super DIRT Week at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway, it was a relief. Chris has given a lot of himself to this business and to see his smile back in his happy place - the race track - was emotionally charging.

While Dolack was fighting, some of the folks he works with created the hashtag #SmilesforDolack, it took off and many people, racers, crew members, officials, media members and others posted it, in hopes of helping to contribute to Dolack's battle to return.

It certainly had a positive impact, something social media is not always known for.

At the 2021 version of the World Finals, Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series driver, perhaps the best-ever to driver a "center steer" type Modified, 63-year old Brett Hearn of Sussex, New Jersey pulled into victory lane, there was a #SmilesforDolack decal on Hearn's 20H roof.

It was a great photo opportunity but it also defined Dolack's efforts in the business. It was Hearn's 920th feature victory, there could have been any decal on the roof. The photograph above doesn't do the emotion of the moment justice.

For Dolack, it was just another day at the office. For the rest of us, it was a moment of being thankful for his passion to the industry, will to fight an incredible challenge and a salute to a new chapter in Dolack's career as he has put "the worst" behind him.

Perhaps we can entice Dolack to join us on the stage at the 49th Annual RPM@Daytona Workshops and share some of his insight and ideas with us.

Photo Below; Dolack presenting Steve Kinser, the King of the Outlaws with another award.
If you have ever listened to "Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story", you'll appreciate this. The first year that the Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series took part in the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chris Dolack came up with the idea of three (3) division four wide. He rolled it out in the "ready meeting" prior to the day's racing activities. It wasn't met with the greatest enthusiasm, but a few folks in Dolack's corner, knew the impact a moment like this could have and helped push it through. The smile on his face on the roof was as incredible as the moment that has become one of the most anticipated race traditions for many each season, "and now, you know the rest of the story... good day."
Make Your Plans Now to Join us In Daytona Beach; the 49th Annual RPM@Daytona Workshops will once again take place on the World's Most Famous Beach returning the to Plaza Spa & Resort on Monday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Please be advised that the SuperBowl will take place on Sunday, February 13, 2022, the evening before the Workshops open. This occurred last year, but as the National Football League has extended their season by one game, it forces their marquee event to take place one week before the Daytona 500 once again. Room rates will be as follows; Studios/Suites $169.00; Ocean View (Coastal/Ocean Front) $139.00; Standard Room $129.00. www.plazaresortandspa.com
Take Note - ONLY RPM@RENO Western Workshop Credentials are Available at this time - Make your Reservations Now; the 49th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops take place, Thursday December 2nd and Friday, December 3rd at the Eldorado at the Row, in Reno, Nevada. Rooms can be booked here; https://book.passkey.com/go/RPM4921 (King rooms can be booked for an average of $71.25 per night for a four-night stay; while rooms with two Queen beds can be booked for an average of $81.25 for a four-night stay.)

RPM@RENO WESTERN WORKSHOPS SET TO GO DECEMBER 2^ND & 3^RD AT THE ELDORADO - RPM@RENO WESTERN WORKSHOPS “ATTENDEE” REGISTRATION OPEN

• Discounted Rooms Available at the Eldorado Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada -

Reno, Nevada (September 17, 2021) – After being absent from the familiar confines of the The Eldorado Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada due to the pandemic, the RPM@Reno Western Workshops will return December 2^nd and 3^rd, 2021 for the 49^th Annual RPM Workshops at the Eldorado.

Registration for the 49^th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops are now open. Registration online can be completed here; 2021 RPM @ Reno - Formstack (https://firethornmarketing.formstack.com/forms/2021_rpm_at_reno) or the form located here may be filled out and returned to RPM via fax (716.685.0923) or e-mail: info@racingpromomonthly.com (info@racingpromomonthly.com) . This and more information can be found at www.promotersnewsletter.com.

The Eldorado, a familiar destination for RPM attendees and exhibitors will once again place a gracious host to the compelling sessions that will assemble the 49^th Annual Workshop sessions.

If you are looking to make reservations, make them now; the 49th Annual RPM@Reno Western Workshops take place, Thursday December 2nd and Friday, December 3rd at the Eldorado at the Row, in Reno, Nevada. Rooms can be booked here; https://book.passkey.com/go/RPM4921 (King rooms can be booked for an average of $71.25 per night for a four-night stay; while rooms with two Queen beds can be booked for an average of $81.25 for a four-night stay.)

The Workshops convene with a registration gathering on Wednesday, December 1, with a morning start on Thursday, December 2 with informative sessions running straight through the day and ultimately concluding in the afternoon Friday, December 3.

Detailed information in regard to sessions, speakers and other highlights will be released in the coming weeks.

The 49th Annual RPM Workshops in Reno or Daytona stand as a "can't miss" event for track promoters nationwide.
MyRacePass is proud to be a part of the RPM Workshops. The RPM Workshops are a great opportunity for promoters to get together, gather insight and learn new items that may help their racing program. MyRacePass would also like to offer discounts to current and potential MyRacePass customers for attending the upcoming RPM Workshops, held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2021, at the Eldorado Resort Casino in Reno, NV.

The MyRacePass offer for RPM@Reno:

Any current track or series that uses MyRacePass will be offered a $100 credit to their Race Management for the following billing cycle. Any track or series promoters who sign up within 1 week following the RPM Workshops will receive a $100 credit to their MyRacePass account. Other website discounts will be available as a “RPM Show Only” discount. As a promoter, this is an event you do not want to miss. You must stop at the booth and talk to Kris or Josh to get signed up for the discount.

EVENTSPROUT RETIURNS TO 49TH ANNUAL RPM@RENO WESTERN WORKSHOPS AS PRESENTING SPONSOR

• EventSprout Ticketing Platform to be Part of RPM Workshops -

EventSprout, an online ticketing platform, is joining the RPM Newsletter and Workshops as a presenting sponsor for the 48^th Annual RPM@Daytona Workshops and the RPM@Reno Western Workshops in December 2021.

EventSprout is a ticketing platform created by event experts that provides the user with an online mobile design site and platform for an easy presentation and access to ticket sales for all of your events.

“We are proud to join RPM,” stated John Haak, EventSprout executive. “Our platform provides an ideal fit for racetracks to sell tickets to their fans throughout North America. RPM gives us access to an excellent opportunity for us to expand our brand with outreach to tracks throughout North America. We are looking for to a long-term relationships that benefits both brands.

EventSprout is a staple ticketing platform in the airshow and other entertainment segments including food shows and stadium type events. Fo more information visit; www.eventsprout.com

Big West Coast News;

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Larson and multi-time World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series champion, Brad Sweet will be promoting Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, beginning in 2022.

Both driver's are from California and have had their share of success at the track, with 14 wins between the two of them at the speedway.

The track will be officially operated by Sweet Larson Copeland Promotions (SLC). Sweet will oversee day-to-day operations at Silver Dollar Speedway. Colby Copeland, a regional driver will also work at the track. Copeland recently promoted karting events.

“Our goal is to continue to provide entertaining, exciting auto racing and introduce new ideas to enhance the fan and driver experiences,” offered partner Brad Sweet.

“I’ve always loved Silver Dollar Speedway. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the Gold Cup (Race of Champions). I’ve learned a lot about the racing business the last eight years on the Outlaw tour and I have promoted some races along the way.”

Dennis Gage, RPM believer and emcee, is now the former promoter of the track.

“Dennis has been very gracious in making this transition smooth,” said Sweet. “As he retires from Silver Dollar Speedway, he leaves the place in solid shape for us to continue and grow all of our events.”

Plans are already in the works to revamp the midway and set a 2022 schedule.

“Our plan is to keep the grassroots divisions alive and well going forward. All divisions are an important part of the legacy and future of Silver Dollar Speedway, a local community fixture since 1962.”

Gage has served as the promoter of the track since 2010.

“I am proud of what we’ve done at Chico, and also extremely excited to see how SLC Promotions takes the track into the future with all of their connections,” offered Gage, who earned a regional Auto Racing Promoter Year Award in regard to his efforts at Marysville and Silver Dollar.

** Driver Age Requirements Update for 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals

Officials with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire have adjusted the age requirement that has long governed participation in the world’s largest indoor Midgetracing event.

Starting with the 2022 event, the requirement of a driver being 16 years old will no longer be enforced but will instead be modified to accommodate the increasingly youthful field.

All entries received by drivers under 16 years of age will go before an advisory committee. Only after being approved by the committee will a driver under 16 years of age be allowed to compete. Copy of a Birth Certificate will still be required to confirm a driver's age.

“The landscape of Midget racing has changed drastically over the last 20 years, and it’s changed even faster over the past five years,” stated Chili Bowl Director, Matt Ward. “Just looking back over the past season with ASCS and the shows we ran where Midgets were also racing, the winners were all under 16-years old. The Chili Bowl is all about having the greatest talent under one roof, and after talking with Emmett [Hahn], he absolutely agrees, and we were able to make the changes needed to allow it to happen this January instead of 2023.”

An interesting move in regard to age requirements, which were once very prohibitive for youthful participants. Just another example of how the industry continues to evolve. We will all being paying attention to see how this develops.
It won't be long and things will be "happening" at the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Always an exciting event to kick off the new year, the event already has 121 entries released.

“The Sponsorship Collective";
Motorsports Sponsorship Study

Motorsports companies such as Formula One and NASCAR garner millions of television viewers and often attract tens of thousands of people to attend at tracks around the country and the world. The sponsorship opportunities in motorsports remain viable, which is why companies from car and oil brands to insurance providers and food giants have slotted themselves into available spots.

The following information showcases the breadth of motorsports sponsorships over the years, including NASCAR, IMSA, Formula 1, etc... Through the sponsorships information, you’ll find it easier to identify valuable motorsport sponsorship opportunities of your own.

** The History of NASCAR Sponsors

NASCAR championship races continue to have an impressive amount of viewers. Although Formula One has a bigger worldwide following, for many people, NASCAR is synonymous with motorsports. That’s why it is easiest to begin by talking about the history of NASCAR sponsors.

** Winston Cigarettes – 1971 to 2003

The NASCAR Premier Series, which started in the 1940s, saw opportunities begin ramping up in the 1970s. Winston, a cigarette brand, had its name as part of the Premier Series from 1971 until well into the early 2000s.

The company that owns Winston is called the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and they approached NASCAR for sponsorship, not the other way around. Sounds like NASCAR hit the jackpot, right?

Not entirely, as R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company certainly had some ulterior motives. You see, in 1971, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act was enforced. No cigarette brands were allowed to advertise with television commercials.

Of course, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act mentioned nothing about televised sponsorship, so R. J. Reynolds found a loophole.

By 2003, with public awareness about the dangers of cigarettes much better than it was back in the ‘70s, NASCAR and RJ Reynolds agreed to conclude one of the largest, most comprehensive and most recognizable sponsorships in all of sports.

** Nextel – 2004 to 2007

To start the 2004 NASCAR season off on the right foot , the racing giant decided to pair up with a communication company, Nextel Communications. As a result, that year, the NASCAR Premier Series was called the Nextel Cup Series.

Nextel is since defunct, but the company–which was founded in 1987–was still going strong by the early-to-mid 2000s.

Sprint – 2008 to 2016

As the 2008 season got underway, NASCAR didn’t necessarily find a new sponsor. It’s just that Sprint absorbed Nextel Communications in a merger, and so the Nextel Cup Series was renamed the Sprint Cup Series.

For the next 12 years, Sprint was associated with NASCAR as its series sponsor.

** Monster Energy – 2017 to 2019

By 2014, Sprint had announced that it would work with NASCAR only through the 2016 race season. NASCAR knew it would need a new sponsor for the Premier Series starting with the 2017 season, but replacing Sprint wasn’t an overnight process. It took NASCAR quite a while to find a new sponsor.

The racing giant finally settled on Monster Energy. Now the Premier Series was called the Monster Energy Series.

Monster is no stranger to motorsports, having supported the AMA Supercross Championship in the past as well. Monster, as an energy drink, has the high-octane vibes that go well with motorsports.

Plus, NASCAR knew that its primary audience continued to get older, so the company hoped that partnering with a hip brand like Monster would bring in younger viewers.

The Monster partnership was a short-lived one concluding in 2019.

Coca-Cola, Xfinity, Geico, and Busch – 2020 to Present

Before 2019 ended, NASCAR revealed its sponsorship plans for the 2020 season. The company decided that rather than have one sponsor for the Premier Series as they have since the 1970s that that they’d begin working with four sponsors at a time. These sponsors are known as premier partners.

The first group of sponsors is Coca-Cola, Xfinity, Geico, and Busch.

These aren’t surprising choices. Coca-Cola is a major name in sports sponsorship and has a history with NASCAR, having had naming rights associated with yearly NASCAR races such as the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR’s second tier division is today called the NASCAR Xfinity Series, so NASCAR was already working with Xfinity before 2020 as well. Past sponsors of this area of stockcar racing include Busch and Budweiser.

That explains also why Busch beer is one of NASCAR’s four premier partners, but what about Geico? Geico has sponsored motorsports since 2008, including NASCAR drivers like Casey Mears and Max Papis during the NASCAR Cup Series and Mike Wallace during the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Why the move to four sponsors with no official naming rights rather than one? Most likely this is a financial decision. Rather than have one company pay for a season of racing, footing the bill among four companies reduces the financial burden. That’s appealing to sponsors.

** The Biggest Motocross Sponsors

The excitement associated with off-road motorcycling or motocross is irresistible to companies that want to jazz up their own image. Monster Energy is a long-time motorcross sponsorship partner.

Motocross also has a worldwide presence with such competitions as the FIM Motocross World Championship, the British Motocross Championship, the AMA Motocross Championship, and the Motocross des Nations.

Here are some of the biggest names for the above competitions and other motocross events.

** Harley-Davidson

Sponsorships don’t always have to be complicated. Motocross requires racing on a motorcycle and Harley-Davidson is one of the biggest names in motorcycle manufacturing. Like peanut butter and jelly, this is a perfect match.

However, all good things must come to end. It has been published that in 2020, Harley-Davidson will stop sponsoring factory race series and teams. The reason is in part due to a CEO shift.

Also, time has not been friendly to the motorcycle brand, as the company had to close more than 70 dealerships in 2020. Between layoffs and profit losses, Harley-Davidson has had to majorly re-prioritize, and so that means stopping with motocross sponsorships…at least for now.

By the way, the fall of Harley-Davidson was not unique to that brand only. Many industries got slammed hard by COVID-19, and they were just one of them.

** Rockstar

NASCAR had Monster, but Rockstar prefers other types of racing, including motocross. The energy drink brand has had a long-time association with all things loud and wild, such as the rock and metal music festival Mayhem and the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (which is not motocross, FYI).

Rockstar has supported individual motocross racers as a sponsor as well.

Oakley

Although Oakley is best known for its sunglasses, the brand also manufactures sports goggles and visors and other types of swag along with the former including motocross goggles.

The Team Oakley website shows the far reach of this brand into the realm of sports. The number of sponsored drivers Oakley has supported and continues to support is immense, with some of the biggest motocross stars on that list.

** What Companies Sponsor Formula One?

According to an NBC News piece that was published in June 2021, 87.4 million people tuned into Formula One races in 2020. The viewership of Formula One makes it the top dog in motorsports, even more so than NASCAR (as mentioned).

Speaking of NASCAR, sponsorship arrangements in Formula One work in a similar fashion. A sponsored partner might receive their badge on a race vehicle or gain access to naming rights.

Sponsorship in some form didn’t appear in Formula One until sometime in the 1960s. Team Lotus, a now-defunct motorsport company related to Lotus Cars, was considered an early sponsor, although not by pure definition.

Why’s that? Formula One banned commercial sponsorship until 1968. Once sponsors were allowed though, the floodgates opened. More than 50 years later, those floodgates remain wide open still. Per the F1 website, here are the current sponsors and providers of Formula One:

• Fanatec, a professional car simulation hardware producer
• DHL, a delivery service that has been associated with motorsports for nearly 40 years
• Aramco, a chemical and energy company
• Herjavec Group, which specializes in cybersecurity
• Drive Coffee, a sustainable coffee roasting brand
• Workday, which produces enterprise cloud applications
• 188BET, an online bookmaker
• Zoom Video Communications, which needs no introduction after 2020
• LIQUI MOLY, which produces car care sprays, pastes, greases, sealants, glues, additives, and motor oils
• Ferrari, which is an Italian winery, not the car brand
• Amazon Web Services, which worked with F1 to produce race analytics and statistics
• Rolex, the luxury watch brand
• Pirelli, a tire brand
• Heineken, the well-known alcohol manufacturer
• Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency app

** Major IMSA Sponsors

From the biggest motorsports company to one of the smallest, we can show you the breadth of motorsports sponsorship examples so you can see what’s possible for your own motorsport sponsorship program.

The International Motor Sports Association or IMSA, which races in Daytona Beach. Founded by former Sports Club Car of America director John Bishop in 1969, IMSA is owned by NASCAR but isn’t nearly as well known.

Most of their sponsors are associated with racing. Per the IMSA website, here’s their current list of sponsors:

• USA Today Sports, a sports news resource
• Aston Martin Racing
• BMW Motorsport
• Chevrolet
• Ferrari, this time the car company
• Ford
• Honda Racing
• Hyundai Motorsports
• Lexus Racing
• Mazda
• McLaren
• AMG
• Porsche
• Toyota,
• Austin Hatcher Foundation, a pediatric cancer foundation
• WeatherTech
• Michelin
• Axalta

** What Are the Best Motorsport Sponsorship Opportunities?

By this point, it should be clearer to you what kinds of opportunities sponsors value most when pairing with motorsport organizations.

Naming Rights to Races or Championships

As you’ll recall from the start of this guide, NASCAR frequently offers its sponsors naming rights for its Premier Series. That only stopped in 2020 when NASCAR changed its sponsorship formula.

Many sponsors had years of exposure from having a NASCAR racing event named after them. The benefits of sponsorship naming rights are multiple, which is why this asset is so sought-after by sponsors.

Each time your motorsports commentators read off the name of the event, or whenever the logo pops up on TV or on social media or anywhere, that’s free promotion for the sponsor. If the naming rights appear on merchandise such as t-shirts, posters, or replica vehicles, the free promotion runs even deeper.

What’s nice about naming rights in motorsports–especially when it comes to races or championships–is that they go into the history books and remain immortalized. For example, even though Nextel is long since defunct, the Nextel Cup Series is a part of NASCAR history and it’s mentioned when appropriate.

Now, if there was some track in Daytona called the Nextel Racing Arena, that name could change two dozen times in as many years. The name wouldn’t be erased from the history books, but it wouldn’t be esteemed in the same way.

** Branded Logo on Race Vehicle

Another high-value motorsport sponsorship opportunity is a company’s name and branding on a race car.

Most races last for hours, and each time a car zips around on the track, there the sponsor’s name would be, further lending the sponsor free promotion.

The merchandizing opportunities are huge here. I mentioned replica cars before, which will feature the sponsor’s name and logo on them. If a sponsor gets a logo in a prominent spot on the vehicle, photos of the race car with the logo could appear on t-shirts, blankets, mugs, you name it.

Plus, the sponsor’s name and logo could even appear in video games if the car is accurately replicated.

** Branded Logo on Race Uniforms

At the very least, a sponsor might attain to get their name and logo on the uniform of a race driver.

Most drivers are hidden out of view except for pre-race and post-race interviews. Still, if a sponsor supports a rookie driver and that driver surprises everyone and takes home the win, that’s a lot of positive attention the sponsor now receives.

** Commercials

Do you ever notice that when a company sponsors a sport that you see that company’s commercials a lot more during breaks? That’s no coincidence.

The sponsor might pay the motorsports organization X amount to get their ad aired Y times per race. The commercial might not be different than the ads the sponsor usually shows, but it can be. Some sponsors might even feature drivers in the ad.

Through audience data, you know the sponsor’s target audience is watching the race, so hopefully, airing the ad will result in more sales and conversions.

Branded Logo on Track or Other Signage

Among the least valuable motorsports sponsorship opportunities are branded logos outside of those on the vehicles or the drivers’ uniforms. For example, maybe a sponsor pays to get their name on the side of the track.

For the fans who attend the race, they’ll see your logo all day, but it’s lost in the shuffle among all the other sponsors who paid for the same opportunity.

On television, you’re lucky if your logo gets more than a few seconds of screen time. The camera people are focusing on the drivers, not the track itself (only if there’s a wreck will that happen, usually).

** Conclusion

Motorsports is one of the top sports on the planet, so it’s attracted its fair share of big-name sponsors over the decades. In NASCAR, F1, motocross, and even small-name racing orgs like IMSA, sponsors run the gamut from automotive names to energy drinks and even cloud computing services.

We hope this information helps you begin brainstorming your own motorsports sponsorship potentials and activations.

Interesting Cocept and promotion for Cup Weekend in St. Louis;
World Wide Technology Raceway and Tri-City Speedway to host #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic to kick off St. Louis NASCAR race weekend

Officials from World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) – the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA in the St. Louis-Metro East region – today announced they will serve as promoter of a major dirt racing event at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois, on Friday, June 3, 2022. The event, named the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic, will feature dirt Late Models, winged Sprint Cars, winged Outlaw Karts and other special classes and will serve as the official kick-off to WWTR’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series weekend.

“Kevin and Tammy Gundaker at Tri-City Speedway have a beautiful venue. It’s a short drive from our facility, and we have long worked together to cross-promote the sport,” said Chris Blair, WWTR’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. “As soon as we were informed the NASCAR Cup Series was coming to the St. Louis region, we put the wheels in motion to work with the team at Tri-City to showcase the tremendous short-track racing in the area. Fans traveling from across the nation will be a part of our biggest weekend ever. In addition, it provides another convenient opportunity for many of the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series drivers and their families who compete in dirt racing events to race on an incredible track.”

Located just seven miles from WWTR, Tri-City Speedway hosts many of the top traveling Late Model, Sprint Car, Modified and Midget series. The track also boasts one of the strongest weekly racing programs in the nation. Tri-City’s loyal fan base, convenient location to major interstates and well-manicured venue are key parts of the success of racing in the St. Louis region.

“It’s a great privilege to be partners with World Wide Technology Raceway for this historic event,” said Tri-City Speedway owner and promoter Kevin Gundaker, who has operated the Granite City facility with his wife, Tammy, since 2005. “Since Curtis Francois bought the speedway, his foundation for the facility has been built on including the grassroots racing fan. His decision to promote a dirt race in conjunction with their NASCAR Cup Series weekend is spot on with his mission. It’s going to be a tremendous week of racing in our area, and we all are working together to make the show spectacular. Our fans and our racers are already excited, and the buzz around the area is incredible.”

Tickets for the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic will be sold through the WWTRaceway.com ticket office and offered in convenient packages for purchasers of the June 4 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event as well as the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event on June 5, 2022. The event is expected to sell out. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets as part of the pre-sale packages offered by WWTR or when tickets go on sale to the general public on December 1.

An interesting twist on the Cup race coming to St. Louis. Due to Chris Blair's background and not working for a corporation like International Speedway Corporation (ISC) or Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) we suspect that this opportunity has legs as opposed to the Corporations that own multiple speedways.

OSHA Releases COVID Vaccine Rule for Businesses With 100 or More Employees

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration released an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring large employers (100 employees or more) to ensure all their workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or are tested weekly by January 4, 2022. Though the rule has been temporarily suspended by a federal appeals court, the White House has urged companies to move ahead with plans for vaccine and testing requirements.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released an FAQ page (https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2/faqs) (COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS - Frequently Asked Questions | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov) (https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2/faqs) ) on the COVID Vaccination and Testing ETS.
"Miles the Monster" synomyous with racing at Dover International Speedway is now a part of the Speedway Motorsports Incorporated family.
MONSTER MILE CHANGES HANDS...

In a surprise announcement Nashville Superspeedway owner Dover Motorsports announced the company is being sold to Speedway Motorsports Inc.

The surprise blockbuster announcement was made by Dover Motorsports president and CEO Denis McGlynn and SMI president and CEO Marcus Smith.

Both Dover and SMI officials said no further comments will be made until the $131.5 million transaction is finalized.

The re-opened Superspeedway this year ran the first of four annual Cup races contracted with NASCAR. The track’s 2022 Cup races and companion Xfinity and truck races have all been finalized on the NASCAR schedules.

The sale of the track will have no immediate impact on Superspeedway’s scheduling, with three years remaining on its NASCAR contract.

This year’s revival after a 10-year shutdown was a huge success. The Cup race was a 38,000-seat sellout, and the companion Xfinity and truck races drew fairly well. The track’s seating capacity is expected to eventually be expanded, and tickets are already being sold for next season’s races.

Landing the Cup races was the deciding factor in the Superspeedway’s re-opening after a prior 10-year run. Without a premier Cup race, the lower-tier events failed to draw.

Dover International Speedway is one of NASCAR’s oldest tracks. It began running Cup races in 1969 and had run two annually until moving one to Nashville Superspeedway last year.

It is not known what impact the sale will have on SMI’s negotiations to take over Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway. The 63-year-old Metro-owned facility is not affiliated with Nashville Superspeedway.

Charlotte-based SMI was reportedly on the verge of finalizing a long-term agreement with Metro Nashville to operate the Fairgrounds track, with a plan to run local races and add some NASCAR events.

If SMI takes over Fairgrounds Speedway, it will be run by a management team from Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bristol is one of nine tracks owned by SMI. The others are Atlanta, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Sonoma (Calif.). Kentucky, North Wilkesboro (N.C), New Hampshire and Texas. And now, once the sale is finalized, Nashville Superspeedway will join that lineup.

NORTH WILKESBORO, ROCKINGHAM AND NORTH CAROLINA NEWS;

For the better part of the last 20 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Rockingham Speedway -- two great racetracks of NASCAR's past -- have sat dormant as the sport of stock car racing moved forward without them. But there has long been hope of a future for both tracks, and that future may be aided greatly thanks to a significant influx of money from the state.

According to multiple reports, the North Carolina 2021-2022 state budget signed Thursday by Governor Roy Cooper allocates $40 million to the tracks of North Wilkesboro Speedway, Rockingham Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the American Rescue Plan. North Wilkesboro would receive $18 million through Wilkes County, Rockingham would receive $9 million through Richmond County, and Charlotte Motor Speedway would receive $13 million through Concord County. The money is to be used for water, sewer, and related infrastructure projects pertaining to the speedways.

Both North Wilkesboro and Rockingham were longtime fixtures of the NASCAR schedule, but both were dropped from the schedule in an eight-year period as NASCAR sought to build tracks and hold races in bigger markets. The final NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro was held in 1996, while Rockingham has not hosted a Cup Series race since 2004.

Nestled in the heart of moonshine country where NASCAR racing began, North Wilkesboro hosted races from NASCAR's very first season onward until the mid-1990s, when the track was purchased by Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Bruton Smith following the death of track founder Enoch Staley. With the track becoming antiquated and NASCAR seeking races in larger and more glamorous markets, North Wilkesboro's two dates on the NASCAR schedule were sent to SMI's new Texas Motor Speedway and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway owned by Bob Bahre, who purchased the Staley family's share of ownership in 1996.

While North Wilkesboro has since sat largely abandoned -- save for a two-year grassroots revival in the early 2010s -- its future has become a passion project for Bruton's son and current SMI CEO Marcus Smith, who released a statement concerning the state budget's impact on the speedway.

"The allocation toward North Wilkesboro provides the starting capital needed to rebuild the infrastructure of the historic facility," read Smith's statement. "With state budget amounts now finalized, we can zero in on project priorities and determine work schedules.

"The goal will be to modernize the property so that it can host racing and special events again in the future."

Smith's partner in North Wilkesboro-related projects has been NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.,, who led an effort to clean the surface at the track in 2019 so that it could be scanned and virtually preserved by iRacing. Earnhardt had visited with North Carolina lawmakers in August to advocate for motorsports funding in the state budget.

While Rockingham Speedway has been more active than North Wilkesboro, it has seen starts and stops in the years since the NASCAR Cup Series left the track. Under new ownership, the track hosted ARCA and lower-level NASCAR events from 2007 to 2013 before it was shut down once again for financial reasons. The track has since re-opened and planned to host a CARS Tour race in 2021. the race was cancelled.

In addition to North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, and Charlotte, other motorsports venues in the state are eligible for $5 million in grants if they are either currently sanctioned by NASCAR, NHRA, or IHRA or have hosted a NASCAR Cup Series race on or after September 29, 1996.

Photographs from top-to-bottom; North Wilkesboro Speedway (top); North Carolina Speedway - Rockingham, North Carolina (middle) are both tracks receiving state budgeted money for improvements, which are intended to bring them back to life and into business. North Wilkesboro is now an SMI property. Other motorsports venues in the state are eligible for $5 million in grants provided they meet the established state criteria. Bowman-Gray Stadium (bottom) has just received work to it, but perhaps more will be done in light this news. It's a shame this didn't happen prior to other facilities like Concord Motorsports Park being closed.
Tidbits;

Good luck to RPM friend and promoter, Tim Bryant as he promotes what has become one of the most popular, if not the most poular race weeks in the nation, with the 54th Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. One of these days, perhaps Bryant and RPM can agree to change dates (we are sure it will be RPM), so we can all enjoy the sunshine on the Gulf in Pensacola. (Above photo of Five Flags Speedway, hosting the Snowball Derby),

Illinois Cordova International Raceway Sold;

IRG Sports + Entertainment, the parent company of the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), is continuing its recent purge of racing properties, as Thursday it was announced that Dan and Shelly Crownhart have reached an agreement to purchase Illinois’ Cordova International Raceway. The news comes just days after the announcement that longtime track owner/promoter Royce Miller had strick a deal to reacquire the Maryland International Raceway. This all took place after it was revealed that IRG and IHRA’s home base, the famed Palm Beach International Raceway has been sold to warehouse developers and will soon close its gates.

Said Crownhart in a prepared statement:

“Cordova has always been a special place for racers and fans. We all have fond memories of our time at the track. I am confident we can celebrate the long history of Cordova and create a bright future simultaneously.”

The Crownhart family has been involved in drag racing for generations on many levels. Dan, a native of Sterling, Illinois has experience on the track, racing both alcohol and jet Funny Cars, and will be taking over the day-to-day management of the race facility.

“In the spirit of past major events of the UDRA and IHRA being held in June, we are excited to announce that Funny Car Chaos will be a part of the return of the Summer Nationals contested June 17-18. We are expecting more than 30 supercharged nitro and alcohol Funny Cars to compete in a no-holds barred format that will surely become a premier annual event here at Cordova” Crownhart added.

The Crownharts are finalizing plans for facility upgrades, new events, and the sportsman racing series among other items. There will also be a meet-and-greet for racers and fans planned for early 2022.

Closing is expected to occur before the end of 2021.

IT'S ELECTRIC - NHRA EV

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has announced the addition of a newelectric vehicle racing class to the NHRA Summit Racing Series that will begin in 2022.

To bring automakers, racers, the safety industry, and the performance aftermarket together, the EV race car project was created. It was the result of several meetings in the last four years between the NHRA and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which addressed the technological challenges and opportunities that come with EV racing.

In that time, the Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro, an electric drag racing car, debuted, as did a race between a supercharged Ford Cobra Jet Mustang and an all-electric Cobra Jet 1400. It also featured Vance & Hines and their all electric-motorbikes, as well as an all-electric dragster setting a new 200-mph record.

The NHRA will continue to promote EV production as drag racing is the best sport for demonstrating vehicle electrification. According to NHRA Vice President of Competition Ned Walisser, the association is excited to provide a forum for OEMs to showcase their EV technology and development and racing efforts.

The Summit Series EV classes’ rules are currently being debated and will be published in the near future.

NHRA TO DEBUT FACTORY X PRESENTED BY HOLLEY DURING 2022 SEASON
NHRA has announced an exciting new Factory X (FX) exhibition racing class for the 2022 season. Known as NHRA Factory X presented by Holley, the FX category will bridge the gap between Factory Stock Showdown and Pro Stock.

NHRA has announced an exciting new Factory X (FX) exhibition racing class for the 2022 season. Known as NHRA Factory X presented by Holley, the FX category will bridge the gap between Factory Stock Showdown and Pro Stock and will be reserved for 2019 and newer manufactured automobiles, including the Chevrolet COPO Camaro, Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, and Ford Mustang Cobra Jet.

The FX class will have a minimum weight limit of 2,650 pounds, which is nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than a Factory Stock Showdown car, and a manual transmission is mandatory. FX will be included in the 2022 season with Competition eliminator across all seven NHRA Divisions and will debut as a 2022 exhibition category beginning mid-year at select NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events, with the potential to showcase big-performance numbers right off the bat in the lightweight, modified class.

Each body must be OEM dimensional as well, meaning there can be no alterations to the bodies, and each must feature steel-roof and quarter-body panels, and the chassis on the cars must meet 25.1, 25.2, 25.3 specifications.

FX cars must also race on tires at are 33 inches tall and 10.5 inches wide, which are wider than FSS cars, and open up the possibility for standout runs in the six-second range immediately during the 2022 exhibition season.

Other highlights for the FX class include:

• Doors must be functional and operable from inside and outside and must be OEM dimension.
• The cars must be a complete stock appearing car including bumper covers, (front and rear) mandatory, consistent with make, model, year claimed.
• Each car must be equipped with a stock grille of same configuration and design for specific body used.
• Complete headlight and taillight assemblies must be retained in stock original Factory location.

The full set of rules for the FX class are now available by visiting nhraracer.com.

Many Drag Racing experts believe this as a first step to a bridge back to a more stock NHRA Pro Stock car.

BACK TO THE OVALS;
TRACK ENTERPRISES TO PROMOTE SPEEDFEST AT WATERMELON CAPITAL SPEEDWAY;

Track Enterprises, led by industry veteran and RPM ARPY, Bob Sargent, has entered into an agreement with Champion Racing Association and Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA, to promote the two-day 2022 SpeedFest event.

CRA SpeedFest has been a long-standing and highly anticipated event for years, which was not held last year due to the pandemic. For 2022, Track Enterprises will lead the way in making sure that SpeedFest retains its prominence and is well attended by drivers, fans and different series.

Slated for January 28 and 29, SpeedFest already has the ARCA/CRA Super Series and Southern Super Series Super Late Models, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance Pro Late Models, Midwest Modifieds and Modifieds of Mayem Tour Modifieds and Van Hoy Oil/CRA Street Stocks on the schedule. One other local division is also expected to be added to the schedule.

SpeedFest began in 2005 at the now defunct USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL before moving to Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway in 2009. SpeedFest then found its home at Cordele Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park in 2012 and has been held there ever since. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have won SpeedFest including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Bubba Pollard, Harrison Burton, Chandler Smith and Corey Heim.

Speed51.TV will cover all of SpeedFest for viewers that can’t make it out to the track.

Information on specific event details, sponsorship opportunities, ticket sales, camping opportunities and competitor entry forms will be made in the coming days.

WORLD FINALS EXPANDS TO FOUR DAYS;

The World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte promises to deliver the biggest show ever when the best wheelmen in dirt racing’s top three series return in 2022. Officials announced a fourth day of mud-slinging action will be added when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models and the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds converge on Charlotte Nov. 2-5, 2022, in a championship finale for the ages.

The expanded show will kick off with qualifying on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, followed by three consecutive nights of action-packed feature racing, culminating in the crowing of season champions for all three divisions.

Complete schedules and details will be announced at a later date.
RPM Market Place;

Our friends at RacingJunk.com have agreed to help us with our RPM Market Place project. Visit the included link to identify with some track materials;
Miscellaneous/Other, Tracks/Real Estate for sale on RacingJunk (https://www.racingjunk.com/category/1371/tracks-real-estate.html?page=2) - www.racingjunk.com/category/1371/tracks-real-estate.html?page=2

We will continue our quest as in past issues, that we are willing to help people find what they are looking for or place classified ads for equipment or real estate that anyone may want to sell. Please feel free to contact us in regard to publishing; info@racingpromomonthly.com
Our TraxPix in this edition starts off with a West Coast theme from "Turkey Night" at Venture Speedway in California. From the top moving to the bottom. Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California has one of the most iconic locations in the sport, with the pit area bordering the Pacific Ocean (top photo). Logan Seavey from Sutter, California places a kiss on the trophy and hat of J.C. Agajanian, the great promoter of the event. It was the 80th running of the famed Thanksgiving weekend classic (middle photo). A midget sits ready to compete in the dramatic pit area setting surrounded by palm trees, a stone's throw from the Pacific (bottom photo).
Rufus-Parnelli Jones, born in Torrance, California sitting on the motorcycle, poses with his car and driver Bobby Unser of Colorado Springs, Colorado after winning the 1970 running of the Indianapols 500 (top photo). One of the reasons were are all attending the 49th RPM@Reno Western Workshops (bottom photo).
A Legal Refresh;

Legal Jurisdictions, how do they work?

Jurisdiction is the power to exercise authority over persons and things within a territory. In a legal sense, it gives a court the power to hear and decide a case or lawsuit. Jurisdiction can also relate to a geographical area in which political authority is recognized.

The Legal Information Institute at Cornell University breaks jurisdiction down into three components:

• Jurisdiction over a person
• Jurisdiction over the subject matter
• Jurisdiction to render the particular judgment sought

** Jurisdiction Over Subject Matter and Person

One of the first questions involved in any lawsuit is where that case will be heard. The jurisdiction of a legal case depends on both personal jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction. A court must have both subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction over the matter to hear a case.

Subject matter comes first. For example, a business bankrupcy case can only be heard in a federal bankruptcy court. However, the location of the person involved in the bankruptcy determines which federal bankruptcy court hears the case. Other cases in which subject matter is important are immigration cases and patent disputes. Both are required to be heard in federal court.

Personal jurisdiction is based on where one—or both—of the involved parties live, own property, or conduct business. These are usually state court issues. Most states recognize residence and business location for personal jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction also applies in the management of event and anything happening with the event. While a track official or the race director may oversee rules on and off the race track, in inspection, an altercation may become criminal matter handing over the jurisdiction of the case to the local authorities.

Many times this can be a slippery slope for us to follow and consultation with our legal representatives and insurance company is recommended before actions are taken.
REFERENCE POINTS, DOCUMENT WAREHOUSE / DATABASE AND INFORMATION "CATCH ALL"

• These links and notes will be here as long as this remains a relevant topic providing folks with an easy location for reference -

There was a press to create the proper “toolbox” of documents to give tracks the opportunity to return to racing safely. Several individuals and organizations worked diligently to create the right “playbook” and all were successful in creating programs that could lead a track in the proper direction to follow all set requirements and provide the opportunity to reopen.

We have included links and documents to provide our readers access to as many as we could find, however, this is a constantly evolving process so new information and updated “better” documents could be edited and issued in lieu of what we have to offer, however we will do our best to keep you up to speed with the most relevant information we can. We intend to keep these documents available for as long as they will be required throughout the duration of the pandemic.

Directly from the CDC; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/Mass-Gatherings-Document_FINAL.pdf

DIRTcar has issued a COVID-19 Resource Center (https://dirtcar.com/covid-19-resources/) which provides a 10-step Return to Racing Process. Along with the 10-step process, DIRTcar offers an Executive Summary (https://worldofoutlaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GENERIC_EXEC_SUMMARY_4.23.20.pdf) ; Participant Only Operations (https://worldofoutlaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Participant_Operational_Procedure_4.27.20.pdf); Spectator Operations (https://worldofoutlaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Spectators_Operational_Procedure4.27.20.pdf); and Participant Exhibit/Template (https://worldofoutlaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Exhibits_GENERIC_4.23.20_wLINK.pdf) which is an easy to follow event template.

In addition DIRTcar issued Participant (https://worldofoutlaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Participant_Guidelines_4.23.20-1.pdf) and Spectator (https://worldofoutlaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Spectator_Guidelines_4.23.20-1.pdf) Guidelines.

DIRTcar officials have encouraged weekly tracks to utilize and customize the templates to meet the track managements local needs. In addition you can e-mail DIRTcar officials with questions in regard to the information they provided, which also opens a great channel for valuable dialogue that could create additional help for all.

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) offers an incredible resource center from the business perspective of the sport (https://performanceracing.com/corona-updates/) that covers Federal Business aid. Worldwide updates from sanctioning bodies and series as well state-by-state information from SEMA in regard to how each state defines “essential business” for the auto industry. In addition PRI took time to link each of the Governments agencies that carry pertinent information in regard to the pandemic. PRI also provides the following; http://pages.message.performanceracing.com/racetrack-info-state-list/?utm_source=ET&utm_medium=email&utm_content=451629&utm_campaign=PRI+June+3+Newsletter+V4N22 (http://pages.message.performanceracing.com/racetrack-info-state-list/?utm_source=ET&utm_medium=email&utm_content=451629&utm_campaign=PRI+June+3+Newsletter+V4N22)

Through PRI's parent company SEMA there has been a Coronavirus resources page created referencing Federal Aid for Small Business, Show Status, State-by-State breakdowns, of many different items. You can find that here; https://pages.message.sema.org/corona-virus-updates-state-list/

AMA Racing has released the Safe to Race program; https://mxs.iscdn.net/2020/05/1134_safetorace_finaltookit.pdf; https://mxs.iscdn.net/2020/05/1148_sample_preeventmessaging.pdf; https://mxs.iscdn.net/2020/05/1146_safetoracesignage.pdf and https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l452zd20ppjmm47/AABFD9_yoLT4ewJtG0Ge8fhea?dl=0 - all information is geared toward motocross and ATV type racing, but also helps to maintain a consistent message throughout the motorsports industry.

The Wynn in Las Vegas, Nevada has published their public health plan for reopening, which we thought would be an interesting document for reference; https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/23/a3/e1a1ed3e446f876aeb7707742423/wynn-health-plan.pdf

The United States Motorsports Association has offered their own version of the "toolkit" as well including a guideline for members of the media; https://www.unitedstatesmotorsports.com/toolkit-resorces-page

Additional Links that may provide helpful information and resources;
https://www.uschamber.com/article/state-by-state-business-reopening-guidance
https://www.nga.org/coronavirus-reopening-plans/
https://web.csg.org/covid19/state-reopen-plans/?location=fl
https://web.csg.org/covid19/executive-orders/

Back to News