The most popular form of motorsport in this country involves "family sedans" painted and postered up as rolling billboards. NASCAR actively promotes the idea of Fords racing Chevys, but makes no pretense about the fact that they are racecars first and foremost.

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Sponsors are allowed to identify themselves with particular drivers or teams and even the announcers have taken to often calling the cars by their sponsor name instead of by driver or number. And even at the lowest levels of stock car racing, the Bomber classes or Street Stock, the local drug store or plumber is always welcomed for whatever aid they may offer a strapped-for-cash racer.

Why can’t Outlaw 10.5 racing be like that? If the fans aren’t confused or turned off by it on the roundy-round tracks, why are the straight-line 10.5 guys handcuffed when it comes to securing sponsorship? Sure, they may pick up a small deal here or there in exchange for a sticker or two on the sides of their race haulers, but the fans don’t watch trailers, and photos of the trailers never make it into magazines like Drag Racing Online or our more-traditional print competitors. There is just no real value offered to potential sponsors if their name can’t be seen on the flanks of the racecar.

Allowing sponsorship might also help address the lack of promotion that currently plagues the Outlaw 10.5 class. If a sponsor sinks money into a team, doesn’t it make sense that sponsor will also want to help get its name out there in front of a greater audience through the aforementioned press kits, photo cards, and press releases? And if the sponsor gets its own message out, even those who shun the practice would benefit from the residual effect of more fans and media outlets paying attention to the class as a whole.

There’s always a lot of talk about "taking Outlaw 10.5 to the next level," but without sponsorship—real sponsorship—I just don’t see that happening. It’ll remain what it is, a great series with great cars, great drivers, and great action, but no one beyond the rabid fan base will ever know about it.

Of course, if anyone actually takes my comments to heart and the floodgates of sponsor dollars suddenly wash over the Outlaw 10.5 field, there’s probably going to be glossy folders full of sponsored driver stats and photos handed out at the next event I attend. And I’ll feel obligated to take those press kits home, adding them to my previously pared-down piles. But that’s a burden I’m willing to risk if it helps the class to advance and prosper.

Race safe,

tocher@dragracingonline.com

PS. What do you consider to be among the most pressing
issues in Outlaw 10.5 racing? Send an e-mail to tocher@dragracingonline.com and let me know what’s on your mind.