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CATCH THEm YOUNG AND THEY’LL STAY FOR LIFE

Jeff, your comments are right on the mark. But I think there are also other factors at work. I believe that drag racing's demographic is very broad but any more a lot of the 18 to 34 crowd are hanging out at Starbuck's and other similar haunts. They have been taught about radical environmentalism. Cars to them are looked at as transportation and not sport. They don't care and never did if there is someone in racing they can relate to their age or not.

My team does a lot of outreach at all kinds of events every year and I'm noticing that the people who grew up around hot cars and racing still enjoy it today and are motorsport's biggest demographic. Most of them are over 40 as kids today never got a taste of the Mongoose and the Snake, Revell models, cruising, drive-ins or working on their own car. It all seems to be a thing of the past that is no longer an option. 

The good news is that a lot of young families tend to show interest when a dragster is on display and equate it to what they have seen on ESPN flipping through the channels. But sadly these same families never have a chance to go to a major drag race as they don't have enough disposable income to go and racing promotions tend to get lost in the fray of more electronic choices than ever before when it comes to media.

Promoters and the NHRA must recognize this and find a way to package a spectacular, but short and sweet day at the races at an affordable price. Racers themselves must get involved and sell their sport to the public. They must get out there and share their passions at public events with track schedules and coupons good at an upcoming race.

Otherwise, we will continue to see more empty seats and the loss of another generation of potential fans.

Rich Bailey
Salem, Oregon

LEARN FROM THE MASTER

Re: Your commentary from 7/29

Burk, in your words, "It is my opinion that today’s drag fans want an affordable and entertaining show."

You nailed it. And unfortunately NHRA doesn't offer it these days. They should take a page out of Bill Bader's book and do some very humble reading.

Eddie Ray
Michigan

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