Expert: Dan Liddy - 4/15/2009

Question
Dear Mr. Liddy,

I know that Daniel has already asked a similar question, but I have slightly different circumstances.

First of all, I'm 35.  Secondly, I will be graduating with my BSBA in Sport Management from Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh PA in May.  (My ultimate goal would be to be the head of marketing for my own team/driver that I started out with as a developmental.)

Honestly, I would like to get into the business side of NASCAR.  I also would like to try my hand at racing so that I can further my understanding of the sport from all angles.

So, what route would you recommend for someone that just wants to try it out, maybe race every few weeks or so, and has no working knowledge of cars other than basic maintenance 101, (changing a tire, changing the oil, checking the fluids and air pressure, etc.)?

Some of the resources I have available are, I live right next door to BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, (www.beaverun.com), I have an association with a Sprint car team (as in the cars with the wings on the roof, not the NASCAR series,) and would have a sponsor if I should choose to drive.  Would this be helpful, or should I try something else.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Tracy

Answer
Hi Tracy:

"Dan" is fine, Mr. Liddy was my grandad.

Starting out racing in winged sprints is probably NOT a wise choice. The cars are VERY powerful, and VERY squirelly, and require a tremendous amount of racing experience to control effectively, let alone become competitive.  

Most racers starting out , begin in go karts, or small hobby stocks, midgets, 1/4 midgets and the like.  Or in my case, SCCA sports cars on road circuits. Of course, if you have all those assets at your disposal, you should head in that direction rather than deviate to something where you are not connected. You should spend a maximum of available time in the pits at the local track, meet and talk with drivers, owners, and mechanics. Racing is something you learn at the grass roots level.

Many people don't have any concept of what it costs to field a NASCAR team these days, but a sponsorship packaage for a Sprint Cup car is in the $10 to $20 million dollar range.

I don't know what else I could tell you. My real area of expertise is in preperation, building and racing small sports and stock cars. For marketing expertise, well, I was a salesman for my career, but someone else did the 'marketing' I just sold the stuff.

Please write again  if you feel I can help you !!

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida