MERRILL, Wisconsin — Two prominent NASCAR racing personalities who also own short tracks will lead the session lineup for the 39th Annual RPM Promoters Workshops, presented by Racing Promotion Monthly. Former Sprint Cup team owner, crew chief, now a consultant with Hendrick Motorsports, Ray Evernham will keynote the December Western Workshop at Reno, NV, and Sprint Cup, short track driver, and television commentator Kenny Wallace will open the February Speedweek Workshop at Daytona Beach, FL. Evernham owns East Lincoln (NC) Speedway and Wallace, Macon (IL) Speedway.
"The docket will include five popular “Fast Fifteen” idea-a-minute sessions covering subjects pertinent to tracks of any surface, size, or market area. "
At both Workshops, attendees’ registrations automatically enter them to win tickets and ticket/hotel packages to 2012 NASCAR Cup weekends and short track events. The first 150 promoters to register for the Reno Workshop receive complimentary admission to the National Automobile Museum, home to the Harrah collection of antique and collectible cars.
The preliminary session lineup for each of the three-day Workshops will be similar. Speakers and expert panels will address topics of current interest and offer discussions covering practical aspects of track operation. Networking is again a big part of the meetings with plentiful time to mingle and exchange ideas.
Sessions planned include a discussion of the challenges facing location-based entertainment venues such as speedways in a digital virtual world and the introduction of RPM-developed licensing that enables promoters to control the intellectual property related to their events and venues. Experts will revisit the topic of web-based social media with the emphasis on understanding the buying and decision-making habits of digitally sophisticated teen and young adult consumers. Sessions will also offer strategies to help promoters match expenses to revenue in a recessionary economy. With particular emphasis on so-called “small tracks,” sessions will discuss financial management, car count improvement, sponsorship, and guerrilla marketing strategies with low or no capital cost.
The docket will include five popular “Fast Fifteen” idea-a-minute sessions covering subjects pertinent to tracks of any surface, size, or market area. The Workshops will address current recession-driven high turnover among promoters with expanded sessions affording new and sophomore promoters the opportunity to network and learn from seasoned veterans.
Prominent motorsports attorney Cary Agajanian returns to give promoters his overview of case law and precedent from the past twelve months, and he will join other motorsports legal experts in a follow up open forum session.
Speakers, panelists, and the hour-by-hour session lineup will be announced soon.
Exhibitors from 50 companies will showcase products and services valuable to promoters during the concurrent trade show that accompanies the Workshops at both locations.
The Workshops of the Thirty-Ninth Annual Series are scheduled for 5-7 December, 2011 at Reno, NV, and 20-22 February, 2012 at Daytona Beach, FL. The RPM Promoters Workshops, are produced by Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter of auto racing promoters. The Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. The Workshops are produced with additional sponsorship support from: the Eldorado Hotel Casino, INEX, GM Performance parts, Lucas Oil Products, RACEceiver Race Communications, Moffett Productions, Simes Graphic Designs, Advertising Edge, and Sunoco Race Fuels. Promoters looking for more information on the 39th Annual Series and the promoters’ newsletter may contact Racing Promotion Monthly editorial offices, P.O. Box 406, Merrill, WI 54452, 715-536-1067, FAX 715-536-3616.
