(Photo credit: NHRA) – Yesterday it was announced that the NHRA had promoted Peter Clifford to the role of the organization’s president. Previous to this promotion, Clifford was the NHRA’s executive vice president and general manager. He replaces Tom Compton in the top spot who is said to have retired from the organization. There has been rumors and speculation about Compton’s future at the organization over the last couple of months as media outlets have prodded the company for answers regarding his role and whereabouts. Per the NHRA announcement and ensuing press conference Compton chose to retire and the organization asked the media to respect his personal privacy.
It will be interesting to see how Clifford adds to both the legacy of the company and his own legacy following Compton who he worked alongside for years. Compton was a controversial figure at time but there are some notable accomplishments under his watch, most importantly the bringing on of the Coca-Cola company as the central sponsor for the NHRA’s national drag racing tour. Over the years, Coca-Cola has shifted branding on the series but the partnership with the NHRA remains intact and is currently signed through the 2018 season.
In his previous role, Clifford was hands on with many functions of the NHRA’s operation like the tracks the organization owns, guiding growth initiatives, long term strategic planning, IT, human resources, and national event business. Clifford’s ascension to the role of president is different than Compton’s who was essentially hand picked by Wally Parks to be his successor. With more hands on experience with operations “on the ground” it will be interesting to see what Clifford decides to tackle within the organization with respect to changes and alterations from the current model.
Here’s Clifford’s statement from the press conference the NHRA. Here he talks about his new role as president regarding what he like to accomplish in the role:
NHRA is an exceptional company with a team that’s beyond motivated. They’re devoted, and NHRA is a rarity because we have an incredibly skilled and hard‑working team, not only in this office in Glendora but also in the field, at the racetracks, divisions, and everywhere we operate in the U.S.
That’s what makes this a place I look forward to coming to every single day. Over the last couple months, the leadership team at NHRA has worked on a number of initiatives, and we’re eager to roll them out over the next couple of months, and I’d like to lay them out for you right now, and with each one of these there’s going to be a series of announcements hopefully that come out over the coming weeks and months.
First, improved television. We understand from a lot of our constituents that we need to address some of the issues facing television, and we have some exciting announcements to come on that in short order.
Second, increase Sportsman participation and support our member tracks. At the heart of our pyramid, and we look at the sport as a pyramid, we have our Mello Yello Series on the top, at the base is all our Sportsman racing, and we know we need to develop more Sportsman racing going forward, and we have a plan to do that.
No.3, expanding marketing partnerships or better known as sponsorships. We’re going to be adding more resources to this area, and we’re going to have some announcements on that, as well.
No.4, expand media coverage. We want to make sure we get the coverage that we deserve as the No.2 motorsports property in the country, and we have a plan in place to do that. We’re going to be adding some resources, and we’re excited about that, as well.
No.5, improved competition at national events.
No.6, which is certainly impacted by the first five, new fan development, and that one isn’t last but not least because obviously new fan development is extremely important to us. Our goal is to get more people exposed to our sport in order to increase participation and to add fans.
As most of you know, we have the most powerful sensory experience on the planet, period. It’s the original extreme sport.
Finally, I know for those of you that know me, it’s not my style to lead you on, but we do have many exciting announcements around the corner, so please stay tuned.
You can plug in Alfred E. Newman or Charles Manson as the head of this organization and nothing will change. They’re just talking heads and it’s the board that tells him what to say.
Seriously !!! When I first read the headline my thought was .. maybe ?
But then after reading the reams of his absolute bull**** rhetoric making ludicrous and overly optimistic claims about an organization who’s heads haven’t seen the light of day , genuine popularity nor one thin dime of profit for well over a decade convinced me toot suit the guy’s full of it … the NHRA is intent on self implosion …. and welcome to another round of 21st century Drag Racings New era Same S*** Different Day cluster **** of self delusion
Pathetic ! Now could someone lend me a grain scoop so I can dig my way out of the 2 ft of bs this talking head left behind ?
Compton retired huh?
http://www.dragracingonline.com/analysis/v8_compton-1.html
#1. Make the funny cars identifiable. If it needs a big sticker on it telling us it’s a Toyota or Camaro then the branding isn’t working. Ford pulled out because there no up$ide to the cars now.
#2. Make pro stock race recognizable cars. Those Pontiac things they raced for years were weird. The camaros look weird. Lure dodge and ford back. Make it relevant.
#3. 1/4 mile. Period. Slow them down with less aero, make me pedal it, take the fancy clutches away, let’s see them drive them again.
All three are great suggestions . Problem being they’re all great suggestions everyone’s been screaming for going on the last ten years that the NHRA in their infinite wisdom and delusions refuses to listen to .
But FYI … Ford pulled out because they were getting absolute ZERO return on their investment despite the likes of Force and his perpetual motion machine 24/7 advertising blathering
Sad fact is when it comes to buying a car these days nobody cares who won on Sunday anymore . Fact is 99% of the buying public doesn’t even know who won on Sunday anymore
NHRA is Fat, Dumb and Happy.
Aero tear drops going a thousand feet sucks.
Compton retired? C’mon Brian.
Marc, while I understand your sentiment, show me some factual stuff that shows he did not retire. Clearly something happened unfortunately with no factual backing to any of the myriad of theories out there we are left with what we know and this is it.
Ahem Mr Lohnes ;
Unless one is to ignore the obvious [ not exactly a trait one wants to see in one’s journalists by the way ] it is blatantly obvious after reading all the reports of Mr Compton’s … how shall we say this .. extra curricular activities as well as the many pages in print and online that followed of the NHRA stating their ” Zero Tolerance ” policies towards anyone involved in the NHRA [ remembering Whit Bazemore’s debacle ] .. the only reasonable and more than obvious conclusion can be ;
Mr Compton was given the choice of either leaving on his own accord or facing the consequences including the legal ones for breaching his contract with the NHRA’s bylaws .
In other words …. ‘ Retired ‘ is the NHRA’s euphemism for .. firing his sorry rear end .
So yeah … technically you are somewhat correct . He ‘ Retired ‘ But the simple reality when all the facts are stacked up is he was shown the door … or else .. which is being Fired by any other name . The only reason the NHRA even offered him the escape hatch was in fact to avoid another Bazemore affair … which in reality may be the kick in the pants the NHRA is in dire need of
Seriously Mr Lohnes . A better way of saying it if the blatant truth is a bit to risky for you to post would of been ;
” … who is said to of left the organization ” .. period ..
At least that way you’re not taking sides , placing BangShift at risk or toeing the NHRA line by saying what everyone with a modicum of discernment knows is not true . Remembering as a member of the 4th Estate you do have certain responsibilities towards your readership regardless of the potential consequences towards yourself
As for the NHRA and their press releases of late ? I’ve seen more honesty coming out of DC lately than the fertilizer the NHRA keeps trying to feed us .
Jeeze … I’m still scraping the bs off my shoes Peter Clifford left behind
PS ; Do take notice in the ‘ official ‘ NHRA press release they’re saying … ” …. he is said to of …….. ” not conclusively that he DID retire . There’s a host of legal reasons why they said it that way but suffice it to say they’ve left the door wide open with their own wording .. all but inviting some sharp young guy like yerself to come charging in .
And not a damn word about improving the TV package….. NHRA gets beaten over the head daily on their Facebook page about the way ESPN pre-empts NHRA programming, yet it isn’t even acknowledged. Looks like the “Gods in Glendora” still have their heads in the sand or up their ass. BTW, I believe Parks’s “hand-picked” successor would have been Dallas Gardner, Compton’s predecessor.
If the network aint willing to invest in it … it aint gonna get fixed no matter how many FaceBook Twitter etc complaints are posted . And the fact is … ESPN aint makin no money off their NHRA coverage … so they aint about to invest another solitary dime into covering a sport that is crushing itself under its own weight and delusions . losing both TV and ticketed audience by the minute
If you have nothing to say, say nothing.
Clearly there is no happiness in Mudville and Casy has two strikes and it’s a full count and bottom of the ninth. It’s an easy guess what happens next. I suppose when a portion of one’s living comes form what is being talked about that a soft ball approach would be tune of the day. Many clearly are not impressed with that.
Make Pro Mod the fourth Pro cat. and get rid of those stupid motorcycles!
What was the whit bazemore affair? Anyone care to post something up?
….at long last, they recognize that there is a problem.
Jeez guys, give the guy a chance before beating him over the head.
They should have gotten a new guy from outside the organization, it needs a reboot or the stands will stay empty.
I think the Bangshift Leadership of Briand and Chad would do just fine.
Hi Brian
Totally understand the pressures in going off half cocked with reporting as far as Bangshift is concerned.
But as C Kid said above there are ways to say “he’s gone” and still give the full story. Which is why we all like Bangshift.
I think all I was saying is to guard against being the mouth piece for anyone.
There are problems with the NHRA. Maybe Bangshift could be an instrument for change.
Thanks for the great publication.
NHRA can’t go outside the organization, that would add another finger in the huge cash pie.
Bring Back the 1/4 mile and the fans will return. Limit the engine block and head size that’s it.
1/4 Mile!
1/4 Mile!
1/4 Mile!
1/4 Mile!