NASCAR at GIR a Success Despite Several Challenges

MADISON, September 25, 2009: In the span of a calendar year, unemployment in the St. Louis area rose from six percent to ten percent with racing’s TV ratings plummeting 37 percent, the most of any market in the nation. In addition to that, during Gateway International Raceway’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race week, St. Louis was the site of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and on the evening of the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 Presented by Ventrilo, the Cards played a home game.

Through this, GIR’s staff stayed focused on what they knew was their core audience: race fans. Those fans responded, with single-day tickets for Gateway’s NNS race remaining at the same level as the 2008 event, which took place prior to the bottom falling out of the nation’s economy. How was the track able to accomplish this?

"We put on our promoter hats and went out to promote our race," said Gateway International Raceway Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki. "The race fans in this region are the most underrated in racing. What we did was show them we appreciate them and the hometracks they love and they came (to Gateway).

"Our staff understands this sport and understands that you go to the fan if you expect the fan to come to you. We were regular visitors to more than 30 short tracks in three states. We became one of them. It’s a great reminder to all those wondering where the fans went. They didn’t go anywhere; some just forgot where to look for them."

Batycki also credited his staff for working smarter with narrowed budgets, saying they were actually able to accomplish more with less due to the close relationships the track has formed with sponsors, media, track promoters, and the fans.

"We understood coming into this season it was going to be tough," he said. "We were able to overcome the obstacles in our path thanks to three things: Partners who believed in our product and wanted racing to succeed; a staff that refused to quit; and fans who appreciated being shown the respect they deserve for their years of supporting racing."

Gateway International Raceway and its staff is looking forward to the 2010 NASCAR schedule, which will see the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series running on the same weekend, July 16-17. Batycki is already preparing.

"Promoters like Bill France, Sr., C.J. Agajanian, and others worked countless hours and logged countless miles convincing fans to keep coming to races during tough economic times in the past," Batycki said. "We have a great NASCAR weekend set for Gateway in 2010 and we are ready to speak and promote to every fan we can to make it even bigger and better."

For ticket information for the 2010 doubleheader weekend at Gateway International Raceway, call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com.