NASCAR, The AMA and the Transition

[b:21maroyj]Joe Gibbs Racing Forms Motocross and Supercross Team
JGRMX to Debut with Riders Josh Hansen and Josh Summey at World Supercross GP & AMA Supercross Series Jan. 5 in California[/b:21maroyj]

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2007) – Since debuting in the 1992 Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing has won over 100 races in NASCAR and the NHRA. In 2008, the veteran racing organization will continue to add to its rich history, but in addition to winning races on four wheels, they’ll also attempt to do it using only two.

Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross (JGRMX) is the latest venture of the 16-year-old race team founded by Joe Gibbs, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and current head coach of the Washington Redskins. Gibbs’ youngest son, Coy, will head up the operation, along with motocross industry veteran David Evans.

The two have already secured the services of riders Josh Hansen and Josh Summey, as JGRMX will campaign both riders in the World Supercross GP and American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Supercross Series,[b:21maroyj] and also the AMA National Motocross Championship.[/b:21maroyj]
Hansen is a 23-year-old from Lake Elsinore, Calif., and Summey is a 24-year-old from Stanley, N.C. Both riders have relocated to Huntersville, home to JGRMX’s race shop, just a quarter-mile away from Joe Gibbs Racing’s gleaming facilities of its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series teams.

The son of 1982 AMA Supercross champion Donnie Hansen, Josh Hansen has been competing professionally for six years, with his best season coming in 2005 when he scored five podium finishes and ended the season tied for the championship in the AMA Supercross Lites division. Injuries hampered Hansen’s efforts the past two years, but he joins JGRMX recovered and renewed for 2008.

Summey has been racing professionally since 2001. He moved into the AMA Premiere Motocross division in 2006 and notched five top-10 finishes. In 2007, Summey finished 11th overall in World Supercross GP points and 10th overall in the AMA Supercross Series championship.

Hansen and Summey will make their JGRMX debut Jan. 5 at the opening round of the World Supercross GP and AMA Supercross Series in Anaheim, Calif. The World Supercross GP and AMA Supercross Series is considered the world’s premier action sports venue. The 17-stop tour begins January in Anaheim and culminates May 3 in Las Vegas. All events take place inside stadiums, with each race televised on either Speed or CBS. Every event is broadcast live on http://www.supercrossonline.com.

JGRMX will also compete in the AMA National Motocross Championship. The 12-race schedule begins in May and lasts through September, with all of its events encompassing two days at rural venues throughout the United States. Considered the original action sport, the AMA National Motocross Championship is televised on Speed and broadcast live on http://www.motocross.com.

[b:21maroyj]Jeremy Albrecht is JGRMX’s team manager. The 35-year-old from Reche Canyon, Calif., is a motocross veteran, having ridden and wrenched motorcycles for years. Albrecht raced as an amateur for several seasons before becoming a mechanic in 1990 for his brother Joel on the professional circuit. In 1994, Albrecht worked with X-Games gold medalist Tommy Clowers, and in 1995 he paired with Jeff Emig, one of the top motocross riders of the 1990s. Albrecht accompanied Emig to four titles, assistance that helped earn Emig a 2004 induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Following his tenure with Emig, Albrecht became James “Bubba” Stewart’s mechanic in 2002, where the duo produced seven championships. In all, Albrecht has 11 major championships as a tuner, eight AMA Mechanic of the Year awards, two LiveNation Mechanic of the Year titles and the 2006 Mechanix Wear Outstanding Achievement award.[/b:21maroyj]
[b:21maroyj]“We plan to win with people, which is the same blueprint that allowed Joe Gibbs Racing to win in NASCAR and the NHRA,” said Coy Gibbs, who enjoyed riding motorcycles as a youth before working his way up from a mechanic in the NHRA to competing in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and, ultimately, the NASCAR Busch Series.[/b:21maroyj] “The philosophy that helped win three Nextel Cup championships is the very same philosophy that will guide JGRMX. We feel like we’ve assembled a core group of people who will make JGRMX succeed and grow.

“We’re also unique to the sport in that we have all of the team components in one small geographic area. Our race shop, test tracks, trainer, staff and riders are all based out of the Huntersville area and will work closely together, not just on race day, but every day. The goal for 2008 is to make every main event by tuning our machines properly, maintaining a professional presence and giving our riders everything they need to be successful. Hard work and constant reinvestment in the team will position JGRMX as a team that can contend for the podium against the world’s best.”


FYI if not read before.

Man you guys are all so tuned in to the inner workings of NASCAR! IOW, whatever me or you have to opine is pure speculation.

My speculation is that NASCAR is/would not willingly take on MX/SX. IOW, they don't really want it. The various press pieces and the 'leaked' information showing up around the net definitely has that feel. And, why would they? They're business people, savvy in what it takes to make money in motorsports. They have a formula. MX/SX does not fit in the mold they are accustomed to, either in form or sheer scale. Not enough visible signage area on the bikes, a small fan base and so on.

Which means, if they are 'forced' to take it as part of the deal, I would not get too excited about all of the revolutionary marketing genius and money that will suddenly start pouring into the sport. That takes a lot of money, and if they don't think the return is there, they won't be too liberal with the pursestrings. Just because they can, doesn't mean they will. They have a lot of properties to handle and they are all competing for their time and money bandwidth. The rep for MX will get SO drowned out in those strategy sessions. If he/she is even invited to the meeting.

Which means that the other rumor- that they will farm out the management of this property to someone else with a vested interest in the sport - is probably spot on. As Teef said, "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.". At least for a while.

Now, that does not mean they won't get creative with scheduling so that our events are co-scheduled alongside other racing that is going on in the same geographical area on the same weekend, holding exhibition races as part of the NASCAR race weekend (or the actual racing at the speedway), etc. Cross-pollenation like that is a pretty easy decision to make from a business perspective. But I wouldn't look for anything to change dramatically overnight.

And that's my wild-ass guess. Just like yours.

Alcohol's not allowed now? Who remembers Miller Supercross?

How about the EZ Wider team from a few years back?

Smokeless tobacco is promoted regularly at events.

what i really want to know is if nascar wins the bid to run motocross , will 500guy still get his free lifetime sub to racerx ?

NASCAR is out. Good from my opinion.

From the AMA:

March 07, 2008
AMA selects Daytona Motorsports Group to manage professional racing series
- press release -

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced today that the Association has entered into an agreement in principle to sell the sanctioning, promotional and management rights for its AMA Pro Racing properties to the Daytona Motorsports Group (DMG), based in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Led by Roger Edmondson, the founder of the CCS motorcycle racing series and currently the President of the Grand American Road Race Series LLC, and Jim France, Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President of NASCAR, DMG will assume responsibility for the AMA Superbike Series, the AMA Motocross Series, the AMA Flat Track Series, the AMA Supermoto Series, the AMA Hillclimb Series and ATV Pro Racing. The agreement in principle does not include the AMA Supercross and AMA Arenacross Series, the rights to which are held by Live Nation. Daytona Motorsports Group will license the use of the AMA name and trademarks to promote their motorcycle racing activities.

"For as long as I can remember, the AMA name has been synonymous with professional motorcycle racing in America," said France. Added Edmondson, "Our goal is to guide the sport into the mainstream of American culture and showcase the extraordinary abilities of the competitors and their teams."

"We are honored to be working with the Daytona Motorsports Group," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "This group of individuals has supported the AMA and motorcycle racing for decades. There isn't a better-resourced or more qualified entity in which to entrust the future of AMA Pro Racing."

The agreement between the AMA and DMG came as a result of an RFP (request for proposal) process undertaken by the AMA in September, 2007 to seek promotional partners for its professional racing series. The AMA will continue sanctioning amateur motorcycle racing and club activities.

"Today is a great day for professional motorcycle racing and for the AMA," Dingman said. "By placing AMA Pro Racing in the hands of people with a proven record of excellence in motor sports organization and promotion in a fashion similar to our successful partnership with Live Nation, the AMA will be able to focus its resources on its core mission to be a member advocacy organization."

Dane

[quote="Moto329":afaiice0]My only concern is how long until this sport becomes just like NASCAR? Meaning there's the few that get to do it, and the millions that get to sit at home and watch.[/quote:afaiice0]

We have that now. We can't even fill up the night show with 450 riders.

BTW - I'm glad the euros didn't get it.