Wind Tunnel

Kevin Miller · 6/30/08, 11:38 AM

The opportunity for USAC to have a presence on Wind Tunnel last night was great. The program is viewed by many race fans from F1 to Motocross. To have our stars and cars discussed and featured was good for our sport.

Honestly, I had about two hours of conversation and the format for the show is, they ask and you answer. I would love to have the opportunity to discuss, after being at USAC for six months, my teams view of the directions we need to take for our future, as well as many of your open concerns (CRA, Costs, Purses, Competition, Direction).

Sure, the real stories and discussions many of you seek were not asked by Dave or Robin. However, I have stated that our organization will be open and transparent. I personally have been on numerous radio call in shows, post here when needed to address facts, answer all emails from competitors and fans, answer private IOW posts, have an open office door, and make myself available for discussion at the track. Many of the topics you are looking for answers on have been addressed during these times. Please feel free to come by and chat at any time if you have questions. My next race is the opening Indiana Sprint week race. Stop and say hello.

We are working hard to fix the sport. We have launched programs to protect our competitors such as the first Substance Abuse Policy in grassroots motorsports, as well as the launch of the Delphi Safety Squad which will be phased in throughout 2008.

Our mission is to transition from a Sanctioning Body to a Sports Marketing & Merchandising Enterprise. That does not happen overnight. We are investing in technology, video and web infrastructure to take our sport to a new demographic of fans. That's not age, it's demographic. Meaning....we need more fans. This is a transition during 2008, not an overnight sensation.

The root of many concerns is financial. Purses are weak, competitors struggle with costs in the sport. I have worked close to many promoters...these are the guys paying our teams to put a show on at their track. And honestly, at many races, the paid attendance does not support the payout. This is not isolated to USAC, as it is happening to many sprint car associations across the country. This is our business plan...to increase profits in the sport which lead to increased payouts.

The solution is increasing the number of paying fans. That is our focus. We must market and promote our sport and build a new fan base. How? We need to reinvent ourselves and the USAC role in promoting. We are installing a marketing foundation at USAC. An early example is the new USACRACING.com, which features many elements that much larger racing groups feature. Video's, event photos, driver profiles, blogs, and live streaming video with live timing and scoring. And that is just phase 1 of a a planned three phase web infrastructure.

We are also working on the race event itself. We need to ensure that we are putting on "events". Not just races. Indiana Sprint week is an event. The Eldora 4 Crown is an event. An event is something our fans feel they can't miss. They travel from afar, plan vacations around it.

For those with true, vested concerns and interest, I will be holding a open forum and chat in the near future. This will allow for an open interchange so we can ensure your voice is heard.

Thanks for your support.

D.O. · 6/30/08, 12:56 PM

Thanks for posting Kevin, I hope many take advantage of your open forum and ask you the questions personally that they keep beating like a dead horse.
:dologob:

LEADERS EDGE · 6/30/08, 1:04 PM

Kevin,

My name is Scott Baue. My family has been involved in racing since the 50's. (Like many of the people on here). Without boring anyone with details, I have been able to see the sport from the eyes of a fan,fan with a rooting interest,crew member(go-fer), car owner and manufacturer/parts supplier. From the midgets to the Indy Cars and everything in between I have been around it.

Am I an expert? Absolutely not. There are a ton of people that have done more and seen much more than I have or ever will, but I do have an idea of what people are going through and how they feel. I hear and see it everyday.

The eternal struggle that all of racing has is the haves and have-nots. Just like general society. While many people think that the have-nots in racing are mad because they feel like the rules are for the haves, I believe that the have-nots are more upset at what they see as a lack of respect for them.

An example is that I had a car owner tell me that he was pitted next to one of the "big" teams at a track and that you walked by his team to talk with the big team without stopping and introducing yourself to them. Was it arrogance or an oversight? Doesn't matter, it was taken as arrogance and a lack of respect for him and his effort.

I don't know you, but you come across as earnest and seemingly as honest as you can be. Honestly, I don't really have any dog in this fight on any level but the bottom as I don't have cars anymore, but I know for a fact that a handshake and general interaction with the teams goes a long way in building a relationship that if nurtured will help you get to many of the goals you want to achieve. The teams have to believe that you are actually there for THEM, not just to bring money into USAC using them as the vehical to do so. You have to get them to believe that Kevin Miller and USAC is working FOR AND WITH them to help the sport grow and thrive.

Every car owner or team who leaves a track that has had the promotor come by and thank them for being there remembers that and will go back to their track when there is a choice between that track and one that runs them through like cattle. Even if the money at the other track is a little more, but roughly the same.(Money does have a say in it though. The greenback does speek loudly at times)

In many ways Auto Racing is on the cutting edge competition wise and the dark ages business wise. There are many policies and proceedures that are just inept for today, but people still hold on to them because that is what they have always done. I know you have a huge challange and balancing act to achieve, but this is what you have inherited. Good Luck.

Kevin Miller · 6/30/08, 1:24 PM

Scott

Thanks for introducing yourself. You are absolutely right. In the few months of being in this sport I have not had the pleasure to meet all. I have asked my team to help introduce all of the car owners at the races, and perhaps a few were overlooked. I will admit that I have naturally had more discussions with competitors I have come to know over the years of my involvement with the sport.

I have preached to my staff the thankfulness that our competitors deserve. USAC opened the season at Manzanita by hosting a free BBQ for all competitors during the first night practice. We are going to be announcing a new event in a few days built around our competitors that take into play everything we are saying (event, promotion, increasing purses, recognizing competitors and mostly having fun).

I will take your note in mind at the upcoming races.

sceckert · 6/30/08, 1:25 PM

I have one and only one suggestion, Mr. Miller: Get the drivers in front of the public eye. There was no reason for you to decline the invitation by Wind Tunnel to speak, but try to insist that the next presence of USAC on such a national forum is one of the drivers who are the lifeblood of the sport. No real gravity is going to be placed on the words of a management person when speaking of racing by the "new demographic" you are hoping to lure. Let the performers of the heroics speak for themselves. The very best message expressed last evening was Brad Sweet's quote that he just wants to make a living, whether by USAC racing, WoO, IRL or Nascar. That is real. That is persuasive. And that is from the source that youngsters watching can relate to. Young kids getting into a Ford Focus seat is alright...young kids getting into watching older kids race is even better.

Hanna23 · 6/30/08, 1:26 PM

Mr. Miller the post from Leaders Edge is 100 percent correct. It would go along way if you would try to stop by each car at the races you attend. Just not the "TOP" teams. You need to listen to all of your competitors, not just the ones that are doing all the complaining. There are plenty of drivers with alot of talent out there, some just are fortunate enough to have the dollars behind them.
I would also like to thank you for the live feed from Richmond this past weekend.
I was unable to attend this event, but it was nice not to miss out on it.

Charles Nungester · 6/30/08, 1:27 PM

Thanks for posting Kevin and doing interviews.

Chuck

Pat O'Connor Fan · 6/30/08, 2:42 PM

Scott and D.O. have "been there, done that" much more than the vast majority of the posters and lurkers on this board. Their posts on this topic are far more meaningful than the thoughts of Steve Turner (old, impatient, cynical race fan), so I'm going to make my keyboard shut up on the subject of USAC for a while. It is time for me to be optimistic or at least hopeful.
BTW, I want to thank Kevin Miller for his posts on this board, particularly in the face of the potshots we so frequently take at USAC, etc.

6/30/08, 2:47 PM

Kevin, save your breath. These people do not want to hear what you have to say. The only thing they're interested in is bashing you just to bash you.

Scott Baue wants you to go to every car and and introduce yourself and let them ***** you out to your face? GIVE ME A BREAK! Kevin Miller is not some lapdog, people. If a team has a problem, PICK UP A PHONE AND CALL KEVIN MILLER. He's shown he's more than willing to answer emails and phone calls. Why is it Kevin's job to treat you like a bunch of 7 year olds and drag it out of you? You sure don't have a problem of ripping him on this message board. I'd like to see a few of you rip him to his face.

Bubzilla · 6/30/08, 2:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAC Fan

Kevin, save your breath. These people do not want to hear what you have to say. The only thing they're interested in is bashing you just to bash you.

Scott Baue wants you to go to every car and and introduce yourself and let them ***** you out to your face? GIVE ME A BREAK! Kevin Miller is not some lapdog, people. If a team has a problem, PICK UP A PHONE AND CALL KEVIN MILLER. He's shown he's more than willing to answer emails and phone calls. Why is it Kevin's job to treat you like a bunch of 7 year olds and drag it out of you? You sure don't have a problem of ripping him on this message board. I'd like to see a few of you rip him to his face.

No one posting above you trashed or bashed Kevin.

Since you have such a tremendous insight into what people ACTUALLY think, possibly you can foresee the immediate future and fix all of us up with this Wednesday's $85 million PowerBall numbers.

6/30/08, 1:27 PM	#7 Re: Wind Tunnel
Charles Nungester Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 14 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22,012	Thanks for posting Kevin and doing interviews. Chuck __________________ Charles Nungester

6/30/08, 11:38 AM	#1 Wind Tunnel
Kevin Miller Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 90	The opportunity for USAC to have a presence on Wind Tunnel last night was great. The program is viewed by many race fans from F1 to Motocross. To have our stars and cars discussed and featured was good for our sport. Honestly, I had about two hours of conversation and the format for the show is, they ask and you answer. I would love to have the opportunity to discuss, after being at USAC for six months, my teams view of the directions we need to take for our future, as well as many of your open concerns (CRA, Costs, Purses, Competition, Direction). Sure, the real stories and discussions many of you seek were not asked by Dave or Robin. However, I have stated that our organization will be open and transparent. I personally have been on numerous radio call in shows, post here when needed to address facts, answer all emails from competitors and fans, answer private IOW posts, have an open office door, and make myself available for discussion at the track. Many of the topics you are looking for answers on have been addressed during these times. Please feel free to come by and chat at any time if you have questions. My next race is the opening Indiana Sprint week race. Stop and say hello. We are working hard to fix the sport. We have launched programs to protect our competitors such as the first Substance Abuse Policy in grassroots motorsports, as well as the launch of the Delphi Safety Squad which will be phased in throughout 2008. Our mission is to transition from a Sanctioning Body to a Sports Marketing & Merchandising Enterprise. That does not happen overnight. We are investing in technology, video and web infrastructure to take our sport to a new demographic of fans. That's not age, it's demographic. Meaning....we need more fans. This is a transition during 2008, not an overnight sensation. The root of many concerns is financial. Purses are weak, competitors struggle with costs in the sport. I have worked close to many promoters...these are the guys paying our teams to put a show on at their track. And honestly, at many races, the paid attendance does not support the payout. This is not isolated to USAC, as it is happening to many sprint car associations across the country. This is our business plan...to increase profits in the sport which lead to increased payouts. The solution is increasing the number of paying fans. That is our focus. We must market and promote our sport and build a new fan base. How? We need to reinvent ourselves and the USAC role in promoting. We are installing a marketing foundation at USAC. An early example is the new USACRACING.com, which features many elements that much larger racing groups feature. Video's, event photos, driver profiles, blogs, and live streaming video with live timing and scoring. And that is just phase 1 of a a planned three phase web infrastructure. We are also working on the race event itself. We need to ensure that we are putting on "events". Not just races. Indiana Sprint week is an event. The Eldora 4 Crown is an event. An event is something our fans feel they can't miss. They travel from afar, plan vacations around it. For those with true, vested concerns and interest, I will be holding a open forum and chat in the near future. This will allow for an open interchange so we can ensure your voice is heard. Thanks for your support.

6/30/08, 12:56 PM	#2 Re: Wind Tunnel
D.O. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,915	Thanks for posting Kevin, I hope many take advantage of your open forum and ask you the questions personally that they keep beating like a dead horse. :dologob:

6/30/08, 1:04 PM	#3 Re: Wind Tunnel
LEADERS EDGE Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 980	Kevin, My name is Scott Baue. My family has been involved in racing since the 50's. (Like many of the people on here). Without boring anyone with details, I have been able to see the sport from the eyes of a fan,fan with a rooting interest,crew member(go-fer), car owner and manufacturer/parts supplier. From the midgets to the Indy Cars and everything in between I have been around it. Am I an expert? Absolutely not. There are a ton of people that have done more and seen much more than I have or ever will, but I do have an idea of what people are going through and how they feel. I hear and see it everyday. The eternal struggle that all of racing has is the haves and have-nots. Just like general society. While many people think that the have-nots in racing are mad because they feel like the rules are for the haves, I believe that the have-nots are more upset at what they see as a lack of respect for them. An example is that I had a car owner tell me that he was pitted next to one of the "big" teams at a track and that you walked by his team to talk with the big team without stopping and introducing yourself to them. Was it arrogance or an oversight? Doesn't matter, it was taken as arrogance and a lack of respect for him and his effort. I don't know you, but you come across as earnest and seemingly as honest as you can be. Honestly, I don't really have any dog in this fight on any level but the bottom as I don't have cars anymore, but I know for a fact that a handshake and general interaction with the teams goes a long way in building a relationship that if nurtured will help you get to many of the goals you want to achieve. The teams have to believe that you are actually there for THEM, not just to bring money into USAC using them as the vehical to do so. You have to get them to believe that Kevin Miller and USAC is working FOR AND WITH them to help the sport grow and thrive. Every car owner or team who leaves a track that has had the promotor come by and thank them for being there remembers that and will go back to their track when there is a choice between that track and one that runs them through like cattle. Even if the money at the other track is a little more, but roughly the same.(Money does have a say in it though. The greenback does speek loudly at times) In many ways Auto Racing is on the cutting edge competition wise and the dark ages business wise. There are many policies and proceedures that are just inept for today, but people still hold on to them because that is what they have always done. I know you have a huge challange and balancing act to achieve, but this is what you have inherited. Good Luck.

6/30/08, 1:24 PM	#4 Re: Wind Tunnel
Kevin Miller Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 90	Scott Thanks for introducing yourself. You are absolutely right. In the few months of being in this sport I have not had the pleasure to meet all. I have asked my team to help introduce all of the car owners at the races, and perhaps a few were overlooked. I will admit that I have naturally had more discussions with competitors I have come to know over the years of my involvement with the sport. I have preached to my staff the thankfulness that our competitors deserve. USAC opened the season at Manzanita by hosting a free BBQ for all competitors during the first night practice. We are going to be announcing a new event in a few days built around our competitors that take into play everything we are saying (event, promotion, increasing purses, recognizing competitors and mostly having fun). I will take your note in mind at the upcoming races.

6/30/08, 1:25 PM	#5 Re: Wind Tunnel
sceckert Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 162	I have one and only one suggestion, Mr. Miller: Get the drivers in front of the public eye. There was no reason for you to decline the invitation by Wind Tunnel to speak, but try to insist that the next presence of USAC on such a national forum is one of the drivers who are the lifeblood of the sport. No real gravity is going to be placed on the words of a management person when speaking of racing by the "new demographic" you are hoping to lure. Let the performers of the heroics speak for themselves. The very best message expressed last evening was Brad Sweet's quote that he just wants to make a living, whether by USAC racing, WoO, IRL or Nascar. That is real. That is persuasive. And that is from the source that youngsters watching can relate to. Young kids getting into a Ford Focus seat is alright...young kids getting into watching older kids race is even better.

6/30/08, 1:26 PM	#6 Re: Wind Tunnel
Hanna23 Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 25	Mr. Miller the post from Leaders Edge is 100 percent correct. It would go along way if you would try to stop by each car at the races you attend. Just not the "TOP" teams. You need to listen to all of your competitors, not just the ones that are doing all the complaining. There are plenty of drivers with alot of talent out there, some just are fortunate enough to have the dollars behind them. I would also like to thank you for the live feed from Richmond this past weekend. I was unable to attend this event, but it was nice not to miss out on it.

6/30/08, 2:42 PM	#8 Re: Wind Tunnel
Pat O'Connor Fan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,029	Scott and D.O. have "been there, done that" much more than the vast majority of the posters and lurkers on this board. Their posts on this topic are far more meaningful than the thoughts of Steve Turner (old, impatient, cynical race fan), so I'm going to make my keyboard shut up on the subject of USAC for a while. It is time for me to be optimistic or at least hopeful. BTW, I want to thank Kevin Miller for his posts on this board, particularly in the face of the potshots we so frequently take at USAC, etc.

6/30/08, 2:47 PM	#9 Re: Wind Tunnel
USAC Fan Posts: n/a	Kevin, save your breath. These people do not want to hear what you have to say. The only thing they're interested in is bashing you just to bash you. Scott Baue wants you to go to every car and and introduce yourself and let them ***** you out to your face? GIVE ME A BREAK! Kevin Miller is not some lapdog, people. If a team has a problem, PICK UP A PHONE AND CALL KEVIN MILLER. He's shown he's more than willing to answer emails and phone calls. Why is it Kevin's job to treat you like a bunch of 7 year olds and drag it out of you? You sure don't have a problem of ripping him on this message board. I'd like to see a few of you rip him to his face.