NMRAPaul
02-12-2007, 04:31 PM
Beginning in 2007, the NMRA will host class shootouts for all full-schedule heads-up classes. These shootouts are designed to offer the top eight points finishers from 2006 bonus cash at select events during the upcoming season.
“For the past five years racers have expressed their desire to have a points fund, and we’ve tried to honor that request,” said ProMedia president, Charlie Harmon. “Finding the right fit for a sponsor of such an ambitious undertaking has been difficult. While many may feel landing a sponsor for a points fund should be a simple task, it is not. We don’t want to just get somebody who says they’ll pay the fund at the end of the year, and have them go out of business before the season is over, forcing us to tell the racers we can’t pay them what we promised since our sponsor went belly-up. Therefore we’ve been searching for a five-star sponsor who would be willing to sign a multi-year agreement, who can be a solid partner for years to come. Simply put, we have plenty of business partners who fit the bill, but we need to be able to offer them more value for their investment than we can offer right now. Having them stand up at the awards ceremony for a couple of hours each year, handing out checks, is not what I would define as a great investment opportunity,” Harmon said. “Yet, we are committed to offering racers an added incentive to continue to race with us for seasons to come, and the shootout format does just that. While it’s not a points fund in the classical sense, it does reward the best efforts of those who raced with us the previous year,” Harmon added.
Harmon explained that by holding individual shootouts at different events during the year the brunt of the more than $30,000 in bonus money would be absorbed by many different companies instead of one. For those companies electing to sponsor a shootout, they’ll get plenty more exposure than standing on the stage passing out checks each December.
“These shootouts will build their own identity at the events, which in turn will build buzz and excitement not only for the participants, but for the sponsors and fans. All of this will help build the NMRA brand, which will raise the notoriety of those who choose to race with us, and the visibility of the companies who will be underwriting the shootouts, ” concluded Harmon.
Shootouts will be conducted during regularly scheduled qualifying rounds and are open to only those who finished among top eight last year. There will be one alternate spot available in the event that a top eight racer is not attending. In all shootouts except Pro Street, cars will be paired on a sportsman ladder. This means number one will race five, two against six, three versus seven and four facing the eighth place points finisher. The Pro 5.0 shootout will be contested using a pro ladder.
The 2007 Shootout schedule is as follows:
Vortech Shootout
Featuring DiabloSport Pro 5.0
March 9
Bradenton, Florida
Win: $5,000.00
Runner-up: $2,000.00
Semi: $1,000.00
Quarter: $250.00
Grand Total: $10,000.00
---
Nitto Tire Shootout
Featuring MSD Ignition Super Street Outlaw
March 30
Reynolds, Georgia
Win: $2,500.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,500.00
---
Carnivore Performance Products Shootout
Featuring ProCharger EFI Renegade
August 11
Atco, New Jersey
Win: $2,000.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,000.00
---
Edelbrock Hot Street Shootout
June 15
Milan, Michigan
Win: $2,000.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,000.00
---
TCI Shootout
Featuring BFGoodrich Tires Drag Radial
August 31
Columbus, Ohio
Win: $2,000.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,000.00
---
Nitto Tire Shootout
Featuring 5.0 Magazine Real Street
August 11
Atco, New Jersey
Win: $1,000.00
Runner-up: $500.00
Semi: $200.00
Quarter: $100.00
Grand Total: $2,300.00
---
B & M / Hurst / McLeod Shootout
Featuring Tremec Pure Street
June 15
Milan, Michigan
Win: $800.00
Runner-up: $400.00
Semi: $150.00
Quarter: $60.00
Grand Total: $1,740.00
---
BFGoodrich Tires Shootout
Featuring K&N Filters Factory Stock
March 30
Reynolds, Georgia
Win: $800.00
Runner-up: $400.00
Semi: $150.00
Quarter: $60.00
Grand Total: $1,740.00
“For the past five years racers have expressed their desire to have a points fund, and we’ve tried to honor that request,” said ProMedia president, Charlie Harmon. “Finding the right fit for a sponsor of such an ambitious undertaking has been difficult. While many may feel landing a sponsor for a points fund should be a simple task, it is not. We don’t want to just get somebody who says they’ll pay the fund at the end of the year, and have them go out of business before the season is over, forcing us to tell the racers we can’t pay them what we promised since our sponsor went belly-up. Therefore we’ve been searching for a five-star sponsor who would be willing to sign a multi-year agreement, who can be a solid partner for years to come. Simply put, we have plenty of business partners who fit the bill, but we need to be able to offer them more value for their investment than we can offer right now. Having them stand up at the awards ceremony for a couple of hours each year, handing out checks, is not what I would define as a great investment opportunity,” Harmon said. “Yet, we are committed to offering racers an added incentive to continue to race with us for seasons to come, and the shootout format does just that. While it’s not a points fund in the classical sense, it does reward the best efforts of those who raced with us the previous year,” Harmon added.
Harmon explained that by holding individual shootouts at different events during the year the brunt of the more than $30,000 in bonus money would be absorbed by many different companies instead of one. For those companies electing to sponsor a shootout, they’ll get plenty more exposure than standing on the stage passing out checks each December.
“These shootouts will build their own identity at the events, which in turn will build buzz and excitement not only for the participants, but for the sponsors and fans. All of this will help build the NMRA brand, which will raise the notoriety of those who choose to race with us, and the visibility of the companies who will be underwriting the shootouts, ” concluded Harmon.
Shootouts will be conducted during regularly scheduled qualifying rounds and are open to only those who finished among top eight last year. There will be one alternate spot available in the event that a top eight racer is not attending. In all shootouts except Pro Street, cars will be paired on a sportsman ladder. This means number one will race five, two against six, three versus seven and four facing the eighth place points finisher. The Pro 5.0 shootout will be contested using a pro ladder.
The 2007 Shootout schedule is as follows:
Vortech Shootout
Featuring DiabloSport Pro 5.0
March 9
Bradenton, Florida
Win: $5,000.00
Runner-up: $2,000.00
Semi: $1,000.00
Quarter: $250.00
Grand Total: $10,000.00
---
Nitto Tire Shootout
Featuring MSD Ignition Super Street Outlaw
March 30
Reynolds, Georgia
Win: $2,500.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,500.00
---
Carnivore Performance Products Shootout
Featuring ProCharger EFI Renegade
August 11
Atco, New Jersey
Win: $2,000.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,000.00
---
Edelbrock Hot Street Shootout
June 15
Milan, Michigan
Win: $2,000.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,000.00
---
TCI Shootout
Featuring BFGoodrich Tires Drag Radial
August 31
Columbus, Ohio
Win: $2,000.00
Runner-up: $1,000.00
Semi: $250.00
Quarter: $125.00
Grand Total: $4,000.00
---
Nitto Tire Shootout
Featuring 5.0 Magazine Real Street
August 11
Atco, New Jersey
Win: $1,000.00
Runner-up: $500.00
Semi: $200.00
Quarter: $100.00
Grand Total: $2,300.00
---
B & M / Hurst / McLeod Shootout
Featuring Tremec Pure Street
June 15
Milan, Michigan
Win: $800.00
Runner-up: $400.00
Semi: $150.00
Quarter: $60.00
Grand Total: $1,740.00
---
BFGoodrich Tires Shootout
Featuring K&N Filters Factory Stock
March 30
Reynolds, Georgia
Win: $800.00
Runner-up: $400.00
Semi: $150.00
Quarter: $60.00
Grand Total: $1,740.00