Re: Espn
Bill,
Corvette has it right. NHRA is a “brand” that is owned by NHRA, they own the rights to anything and everything “NHRA”, that includes the “races” and what goes on at the races. You are positively right about they need the exposure but they also need/want the money as the organization is now run by businessmen for businessmen, possibly not very savvy businessmen but nonetheless...
There was a time I think when they would have welcomed the exposure with open arms but no longer. Because NHRA is now a “brand” and a for profit business they want to control how it is portrayed, how it is presented, and a piece of the pie if any money is going to be made off it i.e. their brand.
BF Goodrich got into a “spat” with them over a tire ad a few years ago because you could see NHRA and Lucas Oil logos in the background and they didn’t get a check for it, so go figure. Now, if they won’t let a tire company show a photo of a wheel standing race car to sell tires because their logo is in the “incidental background” what makes you think they are going to let a TV show anywhere near one of their races without writing them a check and probably have at least some control over the content to make sure it is “properly presented”.
Remember the scheme to split the “pro NHRA” from the “sportsman NHRA”? Their elite view of the world doesn’t allow them to see past the end of the nose, sportsman racing is not racing it is some hayseed hick sport that nobody cares about because you don’t cross the finish line upside down and on fire
NHRA is run by businessmen bean counters not racers, they have no concept of what the sport is about or what motivates racers or race fans and that includes even the Pro’s. If you want to see what happens to a business when it is taken over by bean counter businessmen and brand managers just look at GM and Chrysler. Those are the only two car company’s not run by car people and look where they are.
Jackie McCracken
Disclaimer/Guarantee:
My opinions are my opinions and are not anybody else’s opinions either living or dead. Any similarity of opinion, thought process, or idea with anyone else either living or dead is merely coincidence and should not be construed as anything else…
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