THE CHAMPIONS ISSUE |
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PHOTO : RICK BELDEN |
together between the track and the PDRA . We need to be able to access the tracks ’ local fan base . That ’ s what ’ s hard about the PDRA when you go state-to-state basically one a month , being able to dive into that local fan base . That ’ s the biggest challenge that the PDRA has had , and we ’ ve gotten much better with it . Quite honestly , the way we get better at it is aligning ourselves with facilities that are willing to be partners . That ’ s what ’ s been good about it .
From the racetrack side of it , that gives us a huge advantage because I recognize , coming from the PDRA , how important it is to have a local base and have a stream of information you can get out to people all the time . By having two PDRA races , that will just give us an upper hand on those events because we know that we ’ re both definitely looking out for the same end result .
We ’ ve had it in the past where people look at ( PDRA races ) as a track rental and they don ’ t really invest into it – that ’ s not the way it is . We really look for partnerships . To be able to go into our track and know what we know from the PDRA side , seeing the trends that are successful , we get a little bit of an insight into how and why they ’ re successful . My ears are always open . My eyes are always open . I ’ m always watching what other successful people do to try to build upon that . I think that will help the racetrack as well as it will help the PDRA .
The PDRA is going into its fifth year with a full head of steam – six professional classes
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and six sportsman categories racing at eight events held at tracks like GALOT Motorsports Park , Darlington Dragway , Maryland International Raceway , National Trail Raceway , and Virginia Motorsports Park , of course . What do you expect from the PDRA this season ?
From a car-count perspective and a fan perspective , I believe we ’ re going to have the biggest year yet . That ’ s the way I ’ m going into the season . As I ’ ve said , we spent a lot of time making sure we ’ re aligned with tracks that want to work together to promote successful events , and we have that with every track that ’ s on our schedule . I think the locations are great for the racers because we have so many racers in those regions . By expanding our sportsman classes , I think we ’ re going to have a great car count at every event . I ’ m excited for 2018 . We ’ re coming off of a really strong 2017 . Our last two races of the year just really knocked it out of the park . To go into 2018 with that momentum is huge . It all goes back to everybody knowing your brand . Sometimes I think it just takes time .
What is the PDRA ’ s brand ? For someone who ’ s never been to a PDRA race , what should they expect ?
I believe our racers are the best in the world . Hands down , bar none , it doesn ’ t matter what series you ’ re talking about , I think we have the best racers in the world . I think we have the best racing in the world . We have fast cars , side-byside
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racing , and it ’ s not like there ’ s just one guy out there doing it . There ’ s so many people out there putting up numbers and raising the bar .
To the fans , it ’ s an experience that I don ’ t think anybody should miss . This year is going to take us to another level of that . I ’ m excited for that , I really am . Every year has kind of surprised us and we ’ d take a little bit bigger step than we thought we ’ d take . I ’ d like to say that ’ s happened every year , but this year just feels different . Everybody knows what the PDRA is , and that ’ s the exciting part . That ’ s what keeps driving me toward taking it to another level . I want to see success and I want to see everybody enjoy what we ’ re putting out . I can really say that myself and all the staff at PDRA are really looking forward to 2018 .
On that note , is there anything you ’ d like to add ?
Thank you to all the family , friends , fans ; all the supporters of Tommy Franklin Motorsports , PDRA and Virginia Motorsports Park ; and my employees at Franklin Electric and SmartCom . My wife , Judy , is right there beside me all the time . We work crazy hours together .
I always say in every interview I ’ ve done that I ’ ve gotta thank God for everything I do . None of it ’ s possible without Him . I still have to be able to put in the work for it , but just to be able to have the wisdom and ability to make the right decisions . I ’ m thankful for where I ’ m at .
– NATE VAN WAGNEN DI
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January / February 2018 |
DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 77 |