When you talk about Marketing Motorsports to the public, the first objective is to simply get people to come through the entry gates of a race track. Usually the atmosphere, competition and cool cars sell themselves. If you are reading this, most likely step one has already been accomplished.
Now for step two, the challenge is for you to have more fun here than anywhere else, make this entertainment worth your time, so you want to come back. I want to make you become invested, I'm not taking about money, invested in the outcome of a race.
Go and find yourself a favorite driver and you instantly become invested. Maybe it's as simple as their race car is your favorite color or favorite number, or maybe they have the personality you like.
I encourage each and every one of you to spent some time in the pits after the races.
In the pits you will find drivers who are: Young, Old, Grumpy, Happy, Sassy, Cute, Sarcastic, Quiet, Humble or Loud. As a race fan you have the power, the power to cheer for any driver you want, it's your choice.
Talk to drivers and crew about how they saw the races unfold and get to know their personalities. Don't do it for them, do it for yourself, because when you get to know the person behind the wheel, you will have more fun watching the races.
Just recently at Elko Speedway we had the ultimate in real life drama. Four time Thunder Car Champion #99 Brent Kane proposed to his girlfriend in front of the crowd, on microphone, immediately after a feature event.
If you are looking to cheer for a driver who is a life-long racer and has tons of experience, how about #26 Mark Lamoreaux. He won a Championship at Elko in 1976 and he is still very competitive, he won a Super Late Model feature event earlier this season.
If you are looking for season-long drama, then start paying attention to the point races. In the Super Late Models #15 Joey Miller is putting a lot of pressure on #72 Jacob Goede as he tries to win a third consecutive title.
The Big 8 division point race is destined to go down to the final night as #54 Dylan Moore, #14 Doug Brown and #17 Jon Lemke are all battling for the top spot. The feature race where #18 Michael Ostdiek and Jon Lemke swapped the lead over and over was great entertainment, much better than anything you will see on TV.
If you like the young guys, check out #37 Bryce Blohm, he is a rookie driver who had never raced before in any division. Blohm has four wins and is leading points in the highly competitive Power Stock division. Brandon Petersen #7 has three wins and #62 Tom Doten has been top 5 nearly every week. All three of them are striving for their first ever Championship at Elko Speedway. This point race in the Power Stocks is destined to come down to Championship night during Thunderstruck93.
If you are still having a tough time picking a favorite driver, look where they are from, they might live in your neighborhood, that is why tracks print drivers lists and publish their home towns in the race recap.
Did you know #22 Great North Legend driver Shon Jacobsen owns a working 1914 Steam Powered tractor?
Super Late Model driver #28 Matt Goede and his brother Jacob are both Eagle River Vintage Snowmobile World Champions.
Thunder Car driver #55 Jack Larson has Aspergers, a social anxiety disorder, but he feels quite comfortable behind the wheel of a race car.
Power Stock #8 Taylor Goldman got her nick-name "Roller Girl" because early in her career she rolled her car at Raceway Park, it has nothing to do with roller skates.
Jon Lemke the #17 and Dylan Warner the #11 in the Big 8 division both run a Dodge body and motor, there are very few of that make in local racing.
Paul Hamilton #56 Power Stock invites all kids to take a marker and autograph his race car after every race night.
Joey Prusak #6 Power Stock once appeared on the Queen Latifah TV show and was recognized for an act of kindness that he displayed while working at Dairy Queen.
Bailey Sernett #17 in the Super Late Models is a Golden Gopher hockey Cheerleader.
The Hornet car #82 driven by Jack Barclay was built in his school shop class, he won a raffle to be the lucky owner of this race car.
Every race track has numerous examples of a great back story to be told, this is just a small sample of that at Elko Speedway.
Racing is more fun to watch if you get to know these drivers.
Don't do it for them, do it for yourself, because when you get to know the person behind the wheel, you will have more fun watching the races and that is one investment that I guarantee will pay off big time.
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