Source: RacingWest / Janet Peery
Date: 03/29/2007

Aryn White and Tavo "CT Hellmund, were among those picked as top promoters on the RacingWest.com 2006 Top-Ten list. Why? Because together they take a NASCAR Grand National West race and turn it into a mini NASCAR Cup event. And each year they seem to come up with ways to do something exciting and unique. Something you have to be at the track to see in person...because TV and Near Live...just can't bring it to you....it is really that good.

So now here we go...a few questions with Ms. White.

RacingWest: Aryn, you and CT do a fantastic job of promoting the NASCAR Grand National West race at Kyle. Is it possible to answer in just a few words how you took a little track like Thunderhill and turned it into such a big event?
AW: It was honestly C.T.'s vision. My background is in large scale event production/management and marketing. With a great product like short track racing and the vision of what's possible in that realm, well, it definitely makes the planning and execution more doable. The passion and drive that come with a partner like C.T. are truly what keep things moving forward.

RW: What brings you the biggest frustration as a promoter?
AW: You want an honest answer, right...? I'd say it's a combination of things, the most significant of which is the amount of time and energy it takes to find and keep sponsors. The business of sponsorship is complex and often very challenging. We have been fortunate to have a fantastic partners like Allstate, Budweiser and Suzuki Motorcycles. We are really pleased to add Toyota as a presenting sponsor. Coupling it with local dealer support from Champion Toyota is something we could have only hoped for!

RW: What makes it all worth it?
AW: Seeing and hearing the fans in the stands. Their excitement is contagious and the satisfaction that comes with a happy customer, there is definitely something to be said for that.

RW: What did you learn about NASCAR that you never knew before entering the world of race car promotion?
AW: Are you kidding! I was completely green two years ago. About NASCAR and racing. I would call practice a test and test practice. I had no idea the complexities of dealing with sponsors and NASCAR and race tracks and teams and race fans. There are just a lot of dynamics to it that I would have never ever guessed. Again, thank goodness that C.T. has been in it or around it his entire life!

RW: What is your biggest hope for the fans of the Allstate Texas Thunder 150?
AW: That they get to experience a fantastic race. One of the biggest advantages of seeing a NASCAR race at a short track is getting up close so that you can really hear and see and smell and feel it. I wish more people knew that.

RW: What would you hope for the teams competing in the Allstate Texas Thunder 150?
AW: For an exciting start to the 2007 season.

RW: What will you do to recover from the promotion of the Texas Thunder and Texas Lightening (USAC) races?
AW: There is no such thing - we are busy working on the next event the minute this one wraps.

RW: Have you ever considered taking what you have done at Kyle and working with other promoters to help them apply some of your successful campaigns at their track?
AW: We have thought about it. I would love to see other short tracks find success where they haven't in the past.

RW: OK. Know you are busy…what is left to be done before the start of the race….oh yes…and how much sleep have you been averaging this past month?
AW: There is more to be done than either of us even want to think about! Seriously. And as for sleep, our entire team has given up on it. We've been trying to convince ourselves and each other that sleep is overrated. ;)

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend