Pro Sportsman Association Update

Pro Sportsman Association update

It's been a few weeks since our last update, so I just wanted to touch base with everyone to let you know where we are at.

Things are continuing to progress for the PSA. We continue to get a steady flow of members, it seems like we add one or two each week.

I am happy to say the alcohol classes are getting more coverage in the racing media than they ever have since the inception of internet drag racing media coverage. Todd's stories and features have been featured on CompetitionPlus.com, DragRacingOnline.com, DragStory.com, DragCoverage.com and we are also getting print coverage in Drag Illustrated. This is a huge success and is a direct result of our efforts.

We continue to try to spotlight our members, the big and little guys. We not only do stories on the Demke's, Whiteley's, etc., but the Brian Mans and Geno Tumbarrello's.

The reason why we focus so much attention on media coverage is to get more people following Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car. The more fans make personal connections with our drivers and our classes, the more of a following we will have. The bigger the following, the better chance we have at drawing crowds to races.

With the summer rapidly approaching, I think we are going to see some good crowds at some of the upcoming regionals. Route 66 Raceway and Tulsa Raceway Park have both been active in working with the PSA. The Indy Regional had a crowd of about 700-800 on Saturday despite weather that was so nasty most of the teams didn't want to walk outside of their trailer, much less go sit in metal stands. That's clearly not what we hope our events bring, but it is a move in the right direction versus many of the races that don't promote us at all. We also look forward to working with Woodburn Dragstrip and Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, both of which have joined the PSA as members.

We are working on several initiatives to promote ourselves better at the race track by doing things like autograph sessions, hand out cards for the classes, driver boards, etc.

Races like Norwalk's upcoming regional and Denver's regional have kind of become the gold standard for getting big crowds to regional/divisional races. They built those events up over the years by not only promoting them, but delivering a good show and product to the customer/fan. The crowds they get are the result of years of building an event up.

In that same light, what we are doing with the PSA is not going to be an overnight battle. In a number of areas we have been under promoted for years. We have to promote the alcohol classes, and we have to deliver a good show to the fans. Our media efforts are to build our value up to promoters/track operators. We are trying to build relationships with the track operators to work hand in hand with them to promote and build our regional events.

We will be actively seeking feedback from our membership in the next month or so to collectively present our concerns to the NHRA before Indy. One of the obvious issues is scheduling. Another is how we are "packaged" at some events. So many of the regional events have become a bracket race. Start with Super Street and run each class until you get to Top Alcohol, then start over with Super Street. In many cases, with a Saturday crowd, if we run at noon and 4/5, it's just not much of a show.

Our hope is if we can increase our value as a product to race tracks, we won't lose any more events, and hopefully pick a few back up, especially in the areas of the country hardest hit. To get back in some of these tracks and to stay at some of the venues we are currently at, we are going to have to be seen as a profitable investment.

While we have a solid membership base, we really need more of you to get on board. Many of you have expressed interest to join, but have not for whatever reason. I know we all have busy schedules, and we are that bill you really don't 'have' to pay, but I encourage you to get on board with what we are doing. We are all in this together.

I also want to address some of you who may take issue with me. I am very, very passionate about the Top Alcohol classes. Racing Top Alcohol is all I have ever wanted to do in life. I am very, very blessed to be able to make a living doing this.

I often speak my mind. I'm often blunt or brutally honest. I'm pretty opinionated. That's just who I am.

I know there are some people out there that don't like me, maybe I have pissed you off at one point or another. The Pro Sportsman Association is not an extension of Will Hanna or InsideTopAlcohol.com. Yes, I started the organization and am the acting President, but the PSA is run by a board of directors. I make no money off of the PSA, in fact, I have invested quite a bit of my money and time to get this off the ground. I get my fair share of the 'limelight' from my racing exploits and InsideTopAlcohol.com. I didn't form the PSA to get more attention.

I just ask regardless if you like me or not, look at the big picture of what we are trying to accomplish. The big picture isn't just trying to get a few more regionals added to the schedule. The big picture isn't increased media coverage. THE BIG PICTURE is ensuring our viability as a class. We are making sure that the Top Alcohol classes are marketed to the best of our abilities. We need to right the ship and make Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes on the rise, not decline.

What we are trying to do is really unprecedented in our sport. We are still learning as we go. I think we are definitely heading in the right direction, but I think next year we will be even more successful as we see what works and what doesn't. With another year under our belt and build up our reputation as a tool to help tracks make money, I think we will have even more tracks work with us, along with NHRA.

I am sorry we have not given everyone an update sooner, and one of our resolutions at our last meeting was to get back to more frequent updates. We sent out letters to our membership along with our new decals. We hope to see more of you on board with us in the near future!

Best regards,
Will Hanna
President
Pro Sportsman Association
www.ProSportsmanAssociation.com
979.415.4959
Will.Hanna@insidetopalcohol.com

Marty Thacker
Vice President - Racer/Fan Membership
mlthacker@marathonpetroleum.com
310tad@gmail.com

Justin Jacobsen
Vice President - Business Membership
jjacobsen@ace-mfg.com

Ray Drew
Treasurer/Track Liaison
rdrew@wi.rr.com

Mark Billington
Secretary/Racer Liaison
mark.billington@pepsico.com