Photo by Ian Tocher
5/7/03

PAYING ATTENTION TO PROMOTIONS

spent the weekend recently at NHRA's annual visit to Atlanta Dragway and once again came away from the experience suitably impressed. The racing was fast, delays were few, clean-ups efficient, track workers and officials polite, and the rounds started and ended about when they were scheduled. As far as the show itself went, I really couldn't see much room for improvement.

The crowds were impressive, too, especially considering the Southern Nats were competing for fans against a major three-day music festival near downtown Atlanta. Even Friday afternoon's first qualifying session drew a sizable audience with no large, open spaces to be found in the main grandstands. Saturday's activities were predictably even better attended, since they offer the best chance to see everyone in action, and it was refreshing to see there were no fans disguised as aluminum bleachers on raceday, as sometimes seems the case at certain other tracks on the circuit.

I mention all this only to emphasize that Georgians clearly support NHRA drag racing.

This was the scene during Friday afternoon's Top Fuel qualifying session at Atlanta Dragway's 23rd Annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals.

So it was rather perplexing to learn of a very poor turnout for an autograph session held with last year's pro champions the Thursday before the race at a popular Atlanta eatery. Apparently, John Force, Larry Dixon, Jeg Coughlin, and Angelle Savoie were greeted by no more than 50 fans at this event, and some observers said that may even be a generous estimate.

Now, I say apparently because I wasn't at this meet-and-greet session -- but I do live in Atlanta and I would've been there had I known about it. And therein lies the problem. I heard several radio ads about the race, beginning a couple of weeks before the event, but I never heard word one about the champs being available to press members and fans. Now, maybe I missed it; maybe I was just never listening at the right time; maybe I even received e-mail notification and just didn't clue in. I can't say. But I can say I should've heard about it without even trying. After all, I pay attention to drag racing. I try to keep up to date with the sport, especially when a major event is being staged nearby.