IHRA/ESPN deal makes waves

Both the mainstream media and the enthusiast media are weighing in on last Monday's announcement that IHRA drag racing will return to ESPN's online streaming service this weekend, beginning with the kickoff for the IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship at the historic Immokalee Regional Raceway just east of Fort Myers and Naples, Florida.

Wrote Jeff Birchfield in the Johnson City Press: "Drag racing will be returning to the worldwide leader in sports. The International Hot Rod Association and ESPN announced a multi-year agreement on Monday to renew their partnership after nearly a two-decade hiatus.

"IHRA drag racing last appeared on ESPN in 1999, but will be available this weekend with the Summit Sportsman National Championship opener on the ESPN3 live streaming network.

"When the IHRA professional series returns in 2018, the agreement will cover the drag racing organization's national events."

Sports Business Daily reported on the deal, as did Autoweek and Sports Video Group News, which quoted ESPN's Dan Ochs, director of content strategy and acquistions: "IHRA and ESPN have a history dating back to the 90's and it's great to bring them back."  

While the deal is certainly important for the IHRA, ESPN and the participating tracks, it's especially advantageous for IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship racers, who can now approach potential and existing sponsors with the potential of international broadcast coverage on the leading sports network.

We'll post a story here very soon with some suggestions and advice on how to land sponsors and keep them happy, including a template of a sponsorship proposal to help get interested racers started.