Q&A With Lucas Oil Speedway GM Dan Robinson

ITP - This was your first year as the GM at Lucas Oil Speedway, how did everything go?

DR - Overall, I think we had a great year, annual attendance was up, we had the highest attended race in the history of the Speedway on Memorial Day weekend with the Show-Me 100, our car counts remain strong especially in the TNT Quick Shop ULMA Late Models so overall I think it was an excellent year. We did lose a few races to rain but that is to be expected. It was definitely a learning experience on my end and I think 2011 will go even better.

ITP - What was the easiest part of the job & what was the hardest part of the job?

DR - The easiest part of my job is having a great staff already in place that  knew what to do to put on the type of shows we expect here at Lucas Oil Speedway. I can’t say enough about them and the support I have received from the start. The hardest part is probably learning to balance the different expectations of fans, drivers, sponsors, and employees. They are very diverse groups all with many different needs and it is is sometimes a difficult balance but again, I think it went very well for the first season.

ITP - What do you like the most about your job?

DR - The thing I like most is the camaraderie between racers and fans. I worked seemingly forever to work in racing full time and I really enjoy the day in and day out interaction with drivers and fans. They are a neat bunch and make my job really fun.

ITP - It seems like over the years we have seen a lot of turnover at the GM position at LOS, what are your goals and visions for LOS?

DR - The turnover has been unfortunate but with any new type of venue of this magnitude with the high expectations that are in place, sometime it just takes a little time to find the personalities that work well together. I have been very fortunate to work here for three of the first four seasons so I pretty well knew firsthand what was expected when I walked in the door and that made things a little easier. My goal is continue to grow Lucas Oil Speedway into one of the Top-5 Racetracks in the country. I want us to be mentioned in the same breath as Knoxville and Eldora and I think once we get a few years under our belt and continue to bring in the type of events that we are capable of that will happen. We have all the tools to do it, we just need to nurture it and grow it to reach it’s full potential. Obviously, the TV coverage is number one on our list, with three CBS events on tap this year, that should really increase the exposure of not only our facility but also that of Lucas Oil and the other grassroots motor sports programs that Lucas Oil is involved in.

ITP - Do you see this position as a final destination spot?

If this was my final destination, I would be very happy with it but Lucas Oil is a growing company and I don’t want to limit myself. There may be opportunities to grow with it and I am very open minded to whatever direction my career takes with Lucas Oil as long I can provide value to the company.

ITP - If you had to give yourself and LOS a grade for the 2010 season, what would it be?

DR - I would say I would give it a B for the year. There are things I would have done differently for sure but as I said in the beginning, attendance was up around 12,000 over 2009 so that is a positive step, our weekly show averaged around 200 more people per week than in 2009 so there are some good things happening. We had great events on Memorial Day with the Show-Me 100 and the Pro Pulling event was a really strong draw for us this year. On the downside, I believe we have a lot of work to grow our weekly show both in car count and in fan attendance and that will be a large focus of mine in 2011.

ITP - It seems like most race tracks forget about the job of promoting, what do you do differently to keep your fans involved in the races at LOS?

DR - I have always believed we are in the entertainment business these days although that probably holds true even in the past. We do race cars on a dirt track but we have to provide so much more than that as there is so much intense competition for the family dollar. We have always tried to provide in-show entertainment and this past season we added a singer/comedian to do pre-race shows, we have a great Junior Fan Club Program through Frogs Signs, we had bands throughout the year play, etc. I think all of these types of things add up to provide more than just entertainment. I really think one of our biggest draws is our family pass program. Where can you take a family of 5 nowadays for $25 and get 3-4 hours of great entertainment.

ITP - Everyone was complaining about the economy in 2010, how was your overall car count and fan count for the season?

DR - I may have eluded to this prematurely but our fan count held it’s own. We were up and some of that was obviously attributed to the huge crowds at the Show-Me 100 but up is still good. We are still not where we want to be but I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. As far as car count goes we were really happy with our Late Model count as it grew very nicely over 2009 but we had very slight decreases in the A-Mods and Factory Stocks. We hope to rebound with those classes this year and get them back up to where they need to be.

ITP - What do you consider to be a perfect race night?

DR - Wow, that is a tough question. A perfect race night would be great weather in the 70’s, full crowd in the grandstands, and a packed pit area with everything running like clockwork. Those are few and far between but the Saturday night of the Show-Me was about as close as I could have envisioned to being a perfect night.

ITP - About how many hours a week to you work as the GM of LOS?

DR - During the season I typically work around 60 hours a week at the track and during the off-season I really try to keep it under 50 just to keep some balance. On race day, I am usually one of the first ones here and the last ones to leave but I’m doing what I love so it doesn’t seem like work at all. My family thankfully is very understanding, as even when I’m not “working” I often am on the laptop at home or working the phone.

ITP - What is your background in the racing industry (where did you get your start etc.)

DR - I have always been around racecar's since I was about 13 as I grew up at Wilmot Raceway in Wilmot, Wisconsin. When I was in my early 20’s, I went to work for Larry Phillips building cars during the heyday of his asphalt days which really taught me a lot. I eventually went to work for Bill Willard at Lebanon I-44 Speedway and at Bolivar Speedway and have also worked for Kluhsman Racing Components and Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool as well as owning my own racing parts supply store for a short time. I’ve just never been satisfied at anything else except working in racing.

ITP - In 2011 what are we going to see at LOS?

DR - 2011 will see one of the most diverse and exciting schedules we have ever had here in Wheatland. We will have everything from the POWRi National Midget Series to the Show-Me 100 with Winged Sprint Cars, USMTS Modifieds, and MLRA Late Models in between not to mention one of the highest paying Truck and Tractor Pulls in the Nation and the ASCS National Tour in September. The newest dimension we add this year will be the Diamond Drag Boat Nationals the last weekend in July on the new Liquid Quarter Mile scheduled for completion mid-summer of 2011. The diversity of our schedule and the fan friendly confines of our facility is second to none so we expect a great season again in 2011.

ITP - Having a job that is so demanding of your time, what do you like to do away from the race track?

DR - Unfortunately, my idea of spending time away from the track is to go to other races. I love to go and see how the other half lives. This past season I was fortunate enough to go to a Lucas Oil Off Road Race in Las Vegas, the Lucas Oil Drag Boat World Finals in Phoenix, the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals at Knoxville, and even the East Bay Winternationals among other great events. It is great to be able to get out once in awhile and just spectate without all the pressure of putting on the event. I can’t say that I golf or rock climb or any of those things, it’s pretty much all racing. I do enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife Dee Ann and my kids Denae and Dylan but even they know that I’m always looking for a race to attend.

Q&A With Mike Nichols

ITP Mike, you picked off another IMCA National Championship in the Stock Car division in 2010.... how many National Championships is this for you and what does it take to win a championship?

M.N. This is my 4th national title. I was my others in '02, '04 and '07. '08 and '09 I was national runner-up so it was a really good feeling this year to finally break the streak of 2nd's.

It takes many things together to win a national championship. I've been around IMCA for several years and have seen many come and go. It seems the ones that have their name pop up in the standings for just a year or two don't really understand how the points are accumulated or what is all involved in making it happen. I'm a firm believer that you, your crew, your family and your sponsors need to dedicate your whole season towards running for a national title. It obviously takes a lot of support from the people that help you, it takes money, it takes a TON of time and of course it takes some luck. Oh and did I mention you also have to win lots of races and track championships too? The criteria to win it requires a very special season but once you've run for it a few times, you really get focused on what you have to do. When my career is over I'll look back and realize just how special the seasons I've had really are.

ITP At the beginning of the season we will here a lot of drivers say "I am not racing for points" are you thinking about points all the time?

M.N. Yes, anyone that knows me at all knows I know the rule book front and back and know how points, lineups, etc are calculated. The way IMCA calculates national points now, you can't just decide to race for national points in July. It must be a conscience decision before the season begins. While I understand bad luck and back circumstance can always discourage the outcome of the season, I also understand that it's necessary to put yourself in position for the national title before the season begins. Running for a track title is different. I've seen many guys have vacations planned with their families in the middle of the summer and have to change those plans because they were all of the sudden leading track points at their respective track.

ITP What kind of things do you get for winning an IMCA National Championship?

M.N. Can I just answer that with 'not enough'? lol It amounts to between $6-$7000 in cash and plenty of parts/contingencies to put together a new car when you add it all up. There are some opportunities that have come about with new sponsors and such as well. I have always made a point to follow up with new and old sponsors throughout the year with results and make sure to send them things like pictures of the car and shirts.

ITP How did your racing career start?

M.N. My dad was a traveling salesman and was gone during the week. I am the youngest of 4 and I was the last kid in the house so my mom wanted my dad and I to find something to do together on the weekends. I was 12 years old at the time when we decided that was going to be racing a go-kart. I had already been going to the races every weekend before that and the go-kart's was a good way to get involved. I fell in love with the competition and the pit side of the sport from there.

ITP At this point in your racing career did you think that you would have amassed the wins and championships that you have?

M.N. Absolutely not. I'm 33 years old now so I'm still relatively young for this sport. When we won our 200th weekly series IMCA win early this summer and IMCA called me for the interview, I remember asking how many guys and which guys had won 200 races. They told me I was the 6th guy to do it and when they told me I was on the same list as David Murray, Johnny Saathoff, Henry Witt, Sean Lias and Jeff Anderson, I kind of freaked out. I've never really thought of myself as an 'elite' racer so that seemed so surreal. The 4th national title kind of hit me the same way being the 5th driver to earn 4 national titles. I read what I've done and just think that these stats have to belong to someone else. It's amazing and I have been very blessed with being surrounded by a lot of great people and great sponsors.

ITP At one point you tried racing in the Modified division, what brought you back to Stock Cars?

M.N. We ran the IMCA modified in 2000 full time and somewhat limited in '01 and '02. We did win 6 or 7 races and was 2000 Regional rookie of the year. The money spent on modifieds is crazy. It was out of hand then and it's only gotten worse. Money was the biggest driving factor to getting back into the stock car but I also love that for the most part, the harder you drive a stock car, the faster you go. Sometimes when you do that in a modified, you can make yourself worse and worse.

ITP What is your favorite race track, and why?

M.N. I love a racy track with multiple lanes and a lot of banking. My favorite track has always been Butler County Motorplex in Rising City, NE but after my trips to Thunder Hill this year, I believe I have a new favorite. As a racer and fan, I love to see a high banked track that is wide enough for 3 and 4 wide racing and that's what you get in Mayetta.

ITP Last year you raced a lot at Thunder Hill Speedway in Mayetta, KS, what did you like and dislike about that race track?

M.N. The 'likes' definitely outweighed the 'dislikes'. I love the Conkwrights and their passion for that place. Obviously the track is awesome but the program itself was good too. They have tremendous tech there in Superdave and in my eyes, that is a big bonus. As a racer that gets tech ed a lot, it's good to be somewhere with good tech for everyone. When everyone is compliant and tech ed equally, there will be a better program down the line. The only dislikes I can think of are the fact that it's 3 hours from home and they were a new program this year. They made some rookie promoting mistakes but I believe they have learned from them and I believe 2011 will be an exciting year for Thunder Hill.

ITP Do you see more people heading to Thunder Hill next year when they are truly an IMCA track?

M.N. I'm not sure what will happen next year, as no one does. I would like to see a perfect world where you didn't have 2 tracks within a half hour competing on the same night. For the better good of racing, some team work needs to happen so the race fans and racers can choose to attend both venues if they choose to. I hope people realize that the Conkwrights have a vision there and they are going to be there for a while. They are committed to IMCA, committed to the fans and committed to the racers. I see them making more improvements to the facility and the show itself. The fans in that area are very lucky to have the quality of racing and racers that they have. I hope they all support the track in 2011 as much as they can.

ITP What can you tell us about the Medieval Chassis that you drove to the championship in 2010?

M.N. It was a 2010 car obviously new at the beginning of the year. I love what Jesse does up there at Medieval. The 2010 car was much faster than the 2009 car and I look for the 2011 car to be better yet. His geometry and bar placement is all engineered towards getting more tire to the ground. When the track was slick, I felt like I was on the gas a second before everyone else. We have since sold that car and have the 2011 slated to go on the jig in early December.

ITP You are a pretty vocal spokesman for IMCA, what, in your opinion, do you feel that they offer the racers and the fans to put them at the top?

M.N. I could go on and on all day on this subject. While most racers agree that the IMCA rules package is very attractive, most are very against the claim. 2011 looks to be a HUGE change in IMCA for the stock cars as we will likely have a sort of spec option when the rules are announced this week. The crate has proven its popularity in the sport mod class and that has been the driving force towards a non-claim or spec option in all classes. Whether you are against the claim or for it, one must realize that the claim rule does NOT necessarily need to be used every week. The threat of the claim is what keeps engine costs down. And the claim is the racer's way of policing themselves. This is a luxury most sanctioning bodies do not have. The lack of the claim or reduction in claims/progression in technology have driven the modified class to the point where it is today. In my opinion, adding a 7800 RPM chip this coming year to them will be the first step in limiting their power back to where a non-claim spec option can come in. Limiting RPM's saves racers money. Racers do not understand this. Years ago they took our big carbs away from the stock cars and gave us the puny 350 cfm carb we are still required to run. This saved the racers money. Period! All they did was gripe and complain about it but in reality, we are burning less fuel, less tires and blowing up a ton less engines now than ever before. What really drives me nuts is to hear people complain about how IMCA will only do something with their name or stamp on it so they can make money. They literally don't see the big picture. The stamp ensures the same specs for everyone with an aftermarket part. It ensures equality that nothing else can. In many cases, the stamps have actually driven the cost of parts DOWN, not up.
Now am I going to say that racing in IMCA is cheap? No. Racing is not cheap. People will spend their usable income to go racing. With that being said, it is much more affordable to be competitive in IMCA than it is any other sanction I've seen around.

Add to all of this IMCA's EXCELLENT staff. Let's not forget they have tech officials that travel around to sanctioned tracks all over the country to assist with tech and answer any questions that may arise. How about the point fund where 100% is returned to the racers? IMCA is huge! The average racer can compete locally but can also make the choice to compete nationally as well. They have several special series' around that you can travel to with your class of car throughout the year as well. When you're up to your waist in snow, travel down to Abilene, TX. Then you can go racing against guys running the same rules you are with the same procedures. You don't need to worry about if you're bringing a knife to a gunfight or what the procedures will be. They will be just like they are at home and at any other IMCA track.

Aside from all of that, Kevin Yoder does a fantastic job with contingencies. There are many contingencies that aren't just focused at national points. Some are just for a 10th place finish at a special event or an opening night win at your local track. There are so many benefits, it's hard to understand why some are so against IMCA.

ITP In the past year there seems to be an outcry for tracks to bring their Street Stock, Factory Stock & Stock Car rules more similar. Do you see this happening or do you think it's too late to pull everyone together?

M.N. As long as we are racing, it's never too late. While I am obviously biased towards IMCA, tracks and tech officials and rules makers must focus on working together towards uniform rules. I have a serious concern for my stock car class into the future and I want to see the class flourish once again. I don't know all of the tracks in the KC area but I know racing is very popular there and I know everyone is passionate about their favorite track.

ITP If they could be brought together, what would you do to accomplish this goal?

M.N. Clearly in today's economic state we must be very careful as we have much less disposable income than some of us have ever had. With no confidence that we'll have a job in a year from now due to the economy, the last thing the majority of us are going to do is go out and spend a ton of money to go racing. What people must realize is, as technology progresses and things evolve, money MUST be spent to keep up with the Joneses. While most will really complain about spending in the short term, it doesn't seem as bad if it's spread out. To me, Thunder hill did a great move this year with the transition rules. They didn't make everyone change over this year to go IMCA racing. They had a transition year where the old stuff was still legal. In a perfect world, you could get together with all the tracks in the area and adopt a set of chassis and engine rules for 2 years from now. These rules would be legal now but you would allow racers to transition themselves over to those rules. In my opinion, IMCA's 2011 rules for the stock car will be very favorable towards adopting all tracks in the greater KC area over for a minimal amount of money. I'm extremely excited about the direction IMCA racing is headed for the future. Whether these tracks transition themselves towards IMCA sanctioning or not, they need to work towards adopting the same rules. IMCA is HUGE and IMCA plays a HUGE role in the cost of racing parts around the country. Therefore it will be cheaper to adopt those rules in the long run.

ITP What does 2011 look like for Mike Nichols? Where do you plan on racing or how do you look at starting out next season?

M.N. 2011 right now is miles away. I'm still burned out from 2010. My new car goes on the jig in December but racing is the furthest thing on my mind right now. When the Daytona 500 rolls around I think everyone starts to get the itch. For me, when the clocks move an hour forward in the spring I really get after the racing program. The extra hour of daylight in the evenings gives me much more focus on the season at hand and the realization that it's almost here. I am 2 wins away from being the all-time wins leader in the stock car division. I would like to focus on maybe making that happen next year. After that, I just hope for a safe season with minimal break downs. I also hope to meet many more people in our racing family. I have no idea what tracks I'll run at yet but will probably figure that out around February or March. I hope to have a schedule up on my web site by then at http://www.mikenicholsracing.com

ITP What do you do when there isn't any racing going on?

M.N. Right now I've been celebrating a great race season and trying to catch up on bills from the season. I love to play pool and play poker. Our winter pool league will start in the next couple of weeks so I'm excited for that. I've got several friends that like to play in a monthly poker tournament so that is definitely a winter highlight for me as well. In between that time, I really enjoy watching football so there is definitely plenty to do this time of year.

Q&A With Whitey Folk