THE DISTAFF VIEW

Darr: I just read your latest article and you have said exactly what I've been saying for some time now about women in motorsports. I honestly think Danica has the goods to win in her class. She is a hard core racer that just happens to be a cute girl too. I don't blame her for using it in any way to help her get her foot in the door, but I think many will soon realize that she is every bit a driver as the rest in the field.

As far as the whole Erica Enders saga goes, I'd really like the PR machine to give us all a break. I've got nothing against her, but I really don't want to hear about her until she really gets something done. All I ask is "show me the goods." If nothing else, I feel bad for the girl as I think too much was hyped up on her and has done nothing but focus too much pressure on her. I don't blame her for any of this, as I'm sure it is mostly out of her control, but I think the thing needed most for her is some breathing room.

At this stage though, if she doesn't get it done, unfortunately she'll be nothing more than a Paris Hilton in a firesuit.

Dale Smith

MARKETING TO THE MASSES

I’ve given some thought to this media coverage stuff, because my weekday gig is as a graphic designer for a Sunday weekly newspaper (Nevada Sunday, Henderson, NV).

Part of Danica Patrick’s media appeal is that she is a young, fresh-faced, good-looking woman who is relatively articulate. She is very photogenic, and camera-friendly. The fact that she also is anchoring transition segments between Spike-TV’s weekend “Power Block” car-oriented shows doesn’t hurt one bit. Have you seen her on TV?

From what I’ve seen so far, Erica Enders, while cute-looking, doesn’t have the “it – factor” going for her. She needs a little more seasoning in the age department, AND, I believe, the Disney movie may actually hold her back in the long run. She is still looked at as if she were still a child (“Jr. Dragster” = child in many people’s minds... How long was it that Tommy Ivo had to endure the "child actor" comments?). Also, Erica needs to have better publicity photos – more on the order of ‘GlamourShots’ than the mug shots that we see on NHRA.com. Her NHRA pic is a straight-on mug shot that does not do anything good for her. Yes, it may be a good likeness, but it shows no “joie d’vive.” {Gee, I hope I spelled that right.}

Shirley Muldowney. She came across as all business – even in the English Leather commercials that she did in her heyday.

Let’s face it –– sex sells to the general public. Shirley didn’t come across as sexy. Danica does. If Erica can, she has a shot.

After all, how many major tennis tournaments has Anna Kournikova won?

Dale Tuley
Las Vegas, NV

BURKSTER NOTES RESPONSE #1

Hew Jeff, I like a lot of your ideas. The thought of having a big, special event with 32-car fields in TF & FC that pays a huge purse would probably jump start a new wave of media attention. Wouldn't it be cool if that could be Indy? You wouldn't have to re-brand it, just recreate it, and make it stand out from the other events like it used to. Also, Indy already gets tons of TV time during Labor Day weekend, so re-formatting it along with big purses would serve to capitalize on the TV hours and draw in much higher ratings.

Nunzio Valerie
Webster, NY

NHRA DOES NEW MATH

Come on, Jeff! You aren't up on the "new" math? Where you count each day's "gate migration" numbers and total all the days together!?!?

NHRA would be embarrassed to report national event attendance if they counted individual ticket sales instead of counting each and every head that passes through the gates each day. Heck, I bet they count every competitor and crew member ticket sold on the those totals too.

Greg Stanley
Brentwood, CA