Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com
02-14-2007, 04:46 PM
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Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com
http://www.bet.com/ForMen/mone...s.htm
MONEY, POWER, RESPECT: Jerrold Rhodes
By Tonya Pendleton
Age: 29
Occupation: Professional Drag Racer, NHRA (National Hot Rod Association)
Status: Married with one daughter
Net Worth: $8.9 million
Backstory: As one of the few African-American drivers ever on the NHRA circuit, Rhodes is a pioneer in the fast-growing world of motor sports. Not to be confused with NASCAR, which uses stock cars or IRL (Indy Racing League), which uses open-wheel vehicles like the ones driven in the Indianapolis 500, NHRA is the side-by-side quarter mile racing you may have seen on ESPN or the Speed channel. Basically, it’s street racing at a higher level.
Rhodes has used his marketing skills, as well as his driving skills, to help reach more fans; he even has a MySpace page. But he says his UCLA degree in mechanical engineering has come in handy. He’s a one-man show and runs his own racing team, Limitless Ikon. Currently sponsored by Honda North America, (He races in a Honda Accord) Idemitsu (an oil company) and Denso (a spark plug company), Rhodes says that while the drag-racing audience is the most diverse of the motor sports, marketing himself is still a struggle.
Five Things On Jerrold Rhodes’ Mind:
1. Street racing and drag-racing go hand in hand. Drag racing has been around about 50 years. Drag racing started on the street. They used to set up at old airstrips and would mark from one point to the other to race on. There’s a guy named Wally Parks who set up the NHRA because people were getting killed, and it started to become illegal. Basically, drag-racing went from the street to the track. In drag racing, you race side by side for 1,320 feet, a quarter of a mile. Drag racing itself came before NASCAR.
2. To do what I’m doing you can just drive. You can go to Maryland International Raceway [or other raceways around the country]. You can go there and race your car on an open night when basically anyone can go. Your car can slow down in ample enough time without a parachute. I went to this school called Frank Holley Drag-Racing in Pomona, Calif. It’s a couple thousand dollars. You go to school so you don’t exceed the trap. The trap is the space where you have to slow down. You deploy your chute while you’re in your acceleration. Your car probably makes 140 horsepower. These cars are making over 1,000 almost 2,000 hp, so you have to keep these cars under control. You have to understand the general mechanics.
3. I’m originally from Alexandria, Va., but I got started street racing in California. In the greater-L.A. area, places like Compton, the Valley, Ontario, Valencia; they street race here ’til this day. “Fast and the Furious” is a bad movie. It’s not how street racing really was. Some of the stuff was true; some of it wasn’t. In real street racing, you race for money or for pinks. Pinks is a slang term for pink slip – you know if you buy your car, you get a pink slip. You ain’t got no paper to put up, you put up your car, your pink slip. That’s how drag racing started – racing for cars and racing for money.
4. I worked my *** off. I’m the first African-American in NHRA compact sports racing. I really took it upon myself to understand motor sports marketing. Marketing is important to this business because you have to have sponsorships. The UCLA degree helped me later on because it helped me understand the mechanical aspects of automotive motor sport marketing. Everything is mechanics and economics. A lot of the older racers have blue-collar jobs and don’t have enough money to stop what they’re doing and do this. I’m able to do it full time because I own my own team.
5. When it comes to marketing in this business, I feel like I’m working in the 1800s. They don’t want to see fried chicken and watermelon and a BBQ pit at the events and that’s what they think would happen if more Black folks were there. They don’t want to see Black people drag racing or racing at all. That’s the last stronghold. I don’t really care about that, but I don’t like it that we aren’t trying to extend our market in that direction. What I always hear is that “you don’t sound like you look.” There are a lot of things in this business that I don’t understand. I have my own rig. I have my own car. I have my own crew. I don’t need anyone to buy anything.
MONEY, POWER, RESPECT: Jerrold Rhodes
By Tonya Pendleton
Age: 29
Occupation: Professional Drag Racer, NHRA (National Hot Rod Association)
Status: Married with one daughter
Net Worth: $8.9 million
Backstory: As one of the few African-American drivers ever on the NHRA circuit, Rhodes is a pioneer in the fast-growing world of motor sports. Not to be confused with NASCAR, which uses stock cars or IRL (Indy Racing League), which uses open-wheel vehicles like the ones driven in the Indianapolis 500, NHRA is the side-by-side quarter mile racing you may have seen on ESPN or the Speed channel. Basically, it’s street racing at a higher level.
Rhodes has used his marketing skills, as well as his driving skills, to help reach more fans; he even has a MySpace page. But he says his UCLA degree in mechanical engineering has come in handy. He’s a one-man show and runs his own racing team, Limitless Ikon. Currently sponsored by Honda North America, (He races in a Honda Accord) Idemitsu (an oil company) and Denso (a spark plug company), Rhodes says that while the drag-racing audience is the most diverse of the motor sports, marketing himself is still a struggle.
Five Things On Jerrold Rhodes’ Mind:
1. Street racing and drag-racing go hand in hand. Drag racing has been around about 50 years. Drag racing started on the street. They used to set up at old airstrips and would mark from one point to the other to race on. There’s a guy named Wally Parks who set up the NHRA because people were getting killed, and it started to become illegal. Basically, drag-racing went from the street to the track. In drag racing, you race side by side for 1,320 feet, a quarter of a mile. Drag racing itself came before NASCAR.
2. To do what I’m doing you can just drive. You can go to Maryland International Raceway [or other raceways around the country]. You can go there and race your car on an open night when basically anyone can go. Your car can slow down in ample enough time without a parachute. I went to this school called Frank Holley Drag-Racing in Pomona, Calif. It’s a couple thousand dollars. You go to school so you don’t exceed the trap. The trap is the space where you have to slow down. You deploy your chute while you’re in your acceleration. Your car probably makes 140 horsepower. These cars are making over 1,000 almost 2,000 hp, so you have to keep these cars under control. You have to understand the general mechanics.
3. I’m originally from Alexandria, Va., but I got started street racing in California. In the greater-L.A. area, places like Compton, the Valley, Ontario, Valencia; they street race here ’til this day. “Fast and the Furious” is a bad movie. It’s not how street racing really was. Some of the stuff was true; some of it wasn’t. In real street racing, you race for money or for pinks. Pinks is a slang term for pink slip – you know if you buy your car, you get a pink slip. You ain’t got no paper to put up, you put up your car, your pink slip. That’s how drag racing started – racing for cars and racing for money.
4. I worked my *** off. I’m the first African-American in NHRA compact sports racing. I really took it upon myself to understand motor sports marketing. Marketing is important to this business because you have to have sponsorships. The UCLA degree helped me later on because it helped me understand the mechanical aspects of automotive motor sport marketing. Everything is mechanics and economics. A lot of the older racers have blue-collar jobs and don’t have enough money to stop what they’re doing and do this. I’m able to do it full time because I own my own team.
5. When it comes to marketing in this business, I feel like I’m working in the 1800s. They don’t want to see fried chicken and watermelon and a BBQ pit at the events and that’s what they think would happen if more Black folks were there. They don’t want to see Black people drag racing or racing at all. That’s the last stronghold. I don’t really care about that, but I don’t like it that we aren’t trying to extend our market in that direction. What I always hear is that “you don’t sound like you look.” There are a lot of things in this business that I don’t understand. I have my own rig. I have my own car. I have my own crew. I don’t need anyone to buy anything.
02-14-2007, 04:50 PM
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How did you find out about that article Ricky? 
I don't know Jerrold, have no beef. I was really perplexed when I saw #5 on that article? WTF?
Sport Compact Racing is the MOST DIVERSE out there, you have Puerto Ricans, Caucasians, African/Americans, Asians, Dominicans etc etc etc
I don't know Jerrold, have no beef. I was really perplexed when I saw #5 on that article? WTF?
Sport Compact Racing is the MOST DIVERSE out there, you have Puerto Ricans, Caucasians, African/Americans, Asians, Dominicans etc etc etc
02-14-2007, 04:55 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (E Town DSM)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E Town DSM »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
MONEY, POWER, RESPECT: Jerrold Rhodes
Net Worth: $8.9 million
</TD></TR></TABLE>
How the heck does that happen? lol
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E Town DSM »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
4. I worked my *** off. I’m the first African-American in NHRA compact sports racing.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Im not trying to start a racial war here, but how are you the first African American to participate in NHRA?
MONEY, POWER, RESPECT: Jerrold Rhodes
Net Worth: $8.9 million
</TD></TR></TABLE>
How the heck does that happen? lol
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E Town DSM »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
4. I worked my *** off. I’m the first African-American in NHRA compact sports racing.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Im not trying to start a racial war here, but how are you the first African American to participate in NHRA?
02-14-2007, 04:59 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (GrinderGuy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GrinderGuy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
How the heck does that happen? lol
Im not trying to start a racial war here, but how are you the first African American to participate in NHRA?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I dunno if it was in this article or another one I found online BUT I think he states it differently as the first African/American in NHRA Sport Compact Pro FWD which I guess would be true?
How the heck does that happen? lol
Im not trying to start a racial war here, but how are you the first African American to participate in NHRA?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I dunno if it was in this article or another one I found online BUT I think he states it differently as the first African/American in NHRA Sport Compact Pro FWD which I guess would be true?
02-14-2007, 05:00 PM
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Re: (E Town DSM)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E Town DSM »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just browsing around on BET.com and came across this.</TD></TR></TABLE>
You gonna post the article I found on Brian Ballard too? That one is REALLY FUNNY!!!!! Especially with the PIC lol
You gonna post the article I found on Brian Ballard too? That one is REALLY FUNNY!!!!! Especially with the PIC lol
Trending Topics
02-14-2007, 05:02 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (Boostfed.com)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boostfed.com »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I dunno if it was in this article or another one I found online BUT I think he states it differently as the first African/American in NHRA Sport Compact Pro FWD which I guess would be true?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, Yeah.. that would be an entirely different story.. i didnt read it as that, i just copied it right off of what was posted above
EDIT. i went and looked, and it doesnt say that in the article.. Just says the first to compete in NHRA..
What about Co'Torres Gee from Hocus Pocus in Texas, he ran a full schedule in All-Motor in 2001.
I dunno if it was in this article or another one I found online BUT I think he states it differently as the first African/American in NHRA Sport Compact Pro FWD which I guess would be true?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, Yeah.. that would be an entirely different story.. i didnt read it as that, i just copied it right off of what was posted above
EDIT. i went and looked, and it doesnt say that in the article.. Just says the first to compete in NHRA..
What about Co'Torres Gee from Hocus Pocus in Texas, he ran a full schedule in All-Motor in 2001.
02-14-2007, 05:03 PM
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Re: (Boostfed.com)
I have a huge problem with almost everything in that article above. So he races professionally? When has his car ever even ******* gone down the track at an NHRA event? And last time I checked there were plenty of african-americans in drag racing. I'm not sure about anyone else, but that story bothers me very much.
Thats just my .02
Thats just my .02
02-14-2007, 05:07 PM
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Interesting things you can find just by doing a search on someone's name!
Again, Ron I saw something on another article on some Ezine I think where he state ProFwd. I will see if I can find it again.
I dunno maybe the person who wrote the article just screwed up alot of facts , she stated Compact Sports Racing a couple of times so.............
Edit: Found it
Quoted from Pimpjuice's Website last paragraph
http://www.letitloose.com/inde..._News
"Pimpjuice NOPI race car, driven by Jarrod Rhodes, wins inaugural race in St. Louis
Published Thursday, July 28, 2005
Jerrold Rhodes, the pilot of the Pimpjuice PRO FWD Honda earned his first win for his new sponsor in their home town. The weekend kicked off with a party put on by Pimpjuice at Al Hrabosky's Ball Park saloon and continued at the track as an entourage of Pimpjuice vehicles supported Rhode's trackside. Rhode's qualified in the number 2 position and won the event over current NDRA point's leader Jason Hunt. This was the first time Rhodes had ever competed at a NOPI event and is looking forward to continuing the season.
"We had a terrific outing. Rob, my crewchief, did an amazing job of having the car ready every round. We also had help from Patrick and Tatum from Pimpjuice that were honorary crew members for the weekend and towed us on and off the track. This weekend is a dream come true, to introduce a new sponsor to the fans right here in St. Louis then win the race, it's awesome" stated Rhodes.
The team is looking to repeat their efforts at this weekend at the NDRA X-Box Racing Series in Memphis, TN. Television Speed Channel NOPI TV Wednesday 8:00 pm, 11:00 pm, 2:00 am EST Saturday 6:00 pm EST.
Pimp Juice is owned by Nelly a native of St. Louis who is known for his unique hip-hop style. Nelly created Pimp Juice – his own non-carbonated energy drink, and in its first quarter sold over 1,000,000 units and was recognized by BevNet as the "People’s Choice" for best energy drink, as well as being touted by VIBE Magazine as "the best energy drink".
IKON Group is professional sport compact drag racing team owned and operated by Jerrold Rhodes. Jerrold has enjoyed several successes as a professional driver including being the First African American PRO FWD race car driver to be licensed by NHRA, the proud owner of the Fastest PRO FWD Honda on the planet and is a 2 time NHRA Extreme Rush Runner Up. Motorsports Marketing & Licensing Julie Wildgoose Media In Motion 240-315-2797 jwildgoose@dragracer.com"
Again, Ron I saw something on another article on some Ezine I think where he state ProFwd. I will see if I can find it again.
I dunno maybe the person who wrote the article just screwed up alot of facts , she stated Compact Sports Racing a couple of times so.............
Edit: Found it
Quoted from Pimpjuice's Website last paragraph
http://www.letitloose.com/inde..._News
"Pimpjuice NOPI race car, driven by Jarrod Rhodes, wins inaugural race in St. Louis
Published Thursday, July 28, 2005
Jerrold Rhodes, the pilot of the Pimpjuice PRO FWD Honda earned his first win for his new sponsor in their home town. The weekend kicked off with a party put on by Pimpjuice at Al Hrabosky's Ball Park saloon and continued at the track as an entourage of Pimpjuice vehicles supported Rhode's trackside. Rhode's qualified in the number 2 position and won the event over current NDRA point's leader Jason Hunt. This was the first time Rhodes had ever competed at a NOPI event and is looking forward to continuing the season.
"We had a terrific outing. Rob, my crewchief, did an amazing job of having the car ready every round. We also had help from Patrick and Tatum from Pimpjuice that were honorary crew members for the weekend and towed us on and off the track. This weekend is a dream come true, to introduce a new sponsor to the fans right here in St. Louis then win the race, it's awesome" stated Rhodes.
The team is looking to repeat their efforts at this weekend at the NDRA X-Box Racing Series in Memphis, TN. Television Speed Channel NOPI TV Wednesday 8:00 pm, 11:00 pm, 2:00 am EST Saturday 6:00 pm EST.
Pimp Juice is owned by Nelly a native of St. Louis who is known for his unique hip-hop style. Nelly created Pimp Juice – his own non-carbonated energy drink, and in its first quarter sold over 1,000,000 units and was recognized by BevNet as the "People’s Choice" for best energy drink, as well as being touted by VIBE Magazine as "the best energy drink".
IKON Group is professional sport compact drag racing team owned and operated by Jerrold Rhodes. Jerrold has enjoyed several successes as a professional driver including being the First African American PRO FWD race car driver to be licensed by NHRA, the proud owner of the Fastest PRO FWD Honda on the planet and is a 2 time NHRA Extreme Rush Runner Up. Motorsports Marketing & Licensing Julie Wildgoose Media In Motion 240-315-2797 jwildgoose@dragracer.com"
02-14-2007, 05:15 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (GrinderGuy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GrinderGuy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
How the heck does that happen? lol
Im not trying to start a racial war here, but how are you the first African American to participate in NHRA?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I think he meant that he was the first A.A. compete in NHRA SPORTCOMPACT. Which isn't true.(at least too my knowledge) I know that we were out there for a long time.
The only problem i saw in the interview was it was ALL ABOUT HIM!!! No props to his crew,his wife(for support) or any potential or past sponsors. All i read was ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!
Some things he said was kinda on point and other things was either A) not worded properly or B) just about himself and how he does it alone.
I dont know... i really dont want to bash the guy like everyone else has been doing. I know he struggled and we struggled just as much so i feel his pain on that.
1 thing for sure is he is getting exposure,whether its good or indifferent. which says he's getting noticed
How the heck does that happen? lol
Im not trying to start a racial war here, but how are you the first African American to participate in NHRA?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I think he meant that he was the first A.A. compete in NHRA SPORTCOMPACT. Which isn't true.(at least too my knowledge) I know that we were out there for a long time.
The only problem i saw in the interview was it was ALL ABOUT HIM!!! No props to his crew,his wife(for support) or any potential or past sponsors. All i read was ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!
Some things he said was kinda on point and other things was either A) not worded properly or B) just about himself and how he does it alone.
I dont know... i really dont want to bash the guy like everyone else has been doing. I know he struggled and we struggled just as much so i feel his pain on that.
1 thing for sure is he is getting exposure,whether its good or indifferent. which says he's getting noticed
02-14-2007, 06:05 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (BoogieDownBrown)
If he is such a great marketing person why doesnt he have a sponsor?
I would think with a degree form UCLA he would be able to read a map and find his way to the track.
There is so much more that I could say about this, but I am not going to.
I would think with a degree form UCLA he would be able to read a map and find his way to the track.
There is so much more that I could say about this, but I am not going to.
02-14-2007, 06:12 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (N2O)
8.9 million ,I just said some nice things to ya in another thread but what the f....ck.You were complaining about money!!If you can't be the top proFWD with 8.9 million than you need to give it up!
02-14-2007, 06:24 PM
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Re: (Boostfed.com)
8.9 in food stamps maybe!!!! The lady that conducted that interview with me put different things online vs what I really told her, that was quite some time ago. I only had one child at that time.I was embarrassed when I saw this for the first time. It was not what I was trying to say at all.I spoke with people from the website and asked them to remove this information.I guess they did not..... 
For those who are offended about that write up I apollogize.Thats not what I was trying to reflect.
For those who are offended about that write up I apollogize.Thats not what I was trying to reflect.
02-14-2007, 06:25 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (adrenalinjunkie)
What car did you drive at Frank Hawleys school. What were your last 3 passes times?I graduated there in 1999 ,Jack Beckman was my instructor.Just wanted to compare notes dude.
02-14-2007, 06:33 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (adrenalinjunkie)
HA HA HA...That's funny maybe It will help out on the net worth.And maybe my Gas and electric will stay on past a month
02-14-2007, 06:42 PM
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Re: (Skeletor_1320)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Skeletor_1320 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">8.9 in food stamps maybe!!!! The lady that conducted that interview with me put different things online vs what I really told her, that was quite some time ago. I only had one child at that time.I was embarrassed when I saw this for the first time. It was not what I was trying to say at all.I spoke with people from the website and asked them to remove this information.I guess they did not.....
For those who are offended about that write up I apollogize.Thats not what I was trying to reflect. </TD></TR></TABLE>
For those who are offended about that write up I apollogize.Thats not what I was trying to reflect.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
02-14-2007, 06:43 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (Fabman)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fabman »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this post is going to go bad fast</TD></TR></TABLE>think positive
02-14-2007, 06:46 PM
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (Skeletor_1320)
i dont know jerrold but if i was him id be pissed at that article too. i know hes struggled with his car but the article makes him sound like hes a standout. then the opening part of his net worth. WTF does that have to do with anything. if jerrold wouldnt have come out and stated his side i could see some first class hatred coming his way. its so one sided.
02-14-2007, 06:51 PM
#24
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Re: Jerrold Rhodes on BET.com (1 2 NV)
The artical is not my style. Some things stated on there are correct.Some things.
But very very very very few.
But very very very very few.
