how did it all start for these guys, how did they get noticed by all of these sponsors, why did gm choose to build racecars for these guys

 

hard work. all those guys put in time as sportsmen racers or privateer pros before their GM deals.
-Roger

 

how did they get their gm deals ? what about guys like ron lummas, townsend, kenny tran ?
and how come guys who are known and put their time in as well. ex: like ralphy (drt) and chuck Seitsinger, paul (splitfire canada), eggum and many more. how come these guys never got noticed by gm or any big sponsors ?

 

Nhra sport compact folded, nopi cancelled the series

Turnouts were poor

No return on manufacture support

The sponsored cars no longer resembled what the public could buy

But

Local event organizations are still throwing successful events and the scene is far from dead!

Do it for yourself and not to get sponsored.

You have to enjoy it before you try to make a living out of it

 

Some of the names you mentioned were also their own worst enemies. You have to remember that performance on the track is only part of securing a sponsorship deal. If you can't talk to fans like human beings and interview well, you're not going to get, or keep a sponsor.

 

Gary Gardella - Raced on a serious level for years as a sportsman, has a successful business.

Jason Hunt - Raced on a serious level for several years as a sportsman, and partnered with Charlie who
was already established with Lisa and Gary Kubo and Saturn of So Cal (a private company, not GM)

Marty Ladwig - Raced on a serious level for several years, and also had connections with Motorcycle racing before that.


When I say "Raced on a serious level" - I am talking about these guys were at EVERY single event.
Jason and Brian went to EVERY race on the NOPI series, north and south, maxxed out credit cards
and working full-time jobs all the while to pay them off.

Also, you have to network and make connections.
There is little money in Drag racing in general, you have to excel at these things.

When people ask how to get into NHRA Pro Racing - the advice given is to:

1) be young, and have a marketing Degree
and/or
2) be rich already and just buy your way in-which is easy.


In regards to Sport Compact Racing, there are no "Pro's" anymore.

If you want to drive a PRO-FWD car, I'm sure there are several for sale that you could pick up. Marty's car was for sale not long ago.

 

thanks guys i was just trying to find out the back story behind all of these guys. i still have one more question where is everyone now ?

 

nobody really answered this one either "how come guys who are known and put their time in as well. ex: like ralphy (drt) and chuck Seitsinger, paul (splitfire canada), eggum and many more. how come these guys never got noticed by gm or any big sponsors ?"

 

did you not read what lugnuts wrote? he answers that question there. some people might be fast but dont market well or are just plain dicks in person hate to **** in anyones cheerios.

 

A fast race car is only half or even less of a factor of what Sponsorships involve. Like someone said, the person itself has to represent the sponsors well in personality and image. In most cases, no one wants to help out a jerk or someone that doesnt have the image that you want your company to be attached to.

People have a misconception that Sponsorships only involve a fast car. There's more to a sponsor relationship that just fast times. Sad to hear that alot of people think they deserve a sponsorship because theyre known as having a fast car.

 

3) be a female.

edited it for ya

 

lol, I wasn't going to go there, but yes.


p.s. 2005 called, they want their thread title back haha.