Big Joe's Backseat Driver: David Goode takes the reins at TTS
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 16 2009 05:16 AM
It's been the worst kept secret in motorsports thanks to the Internet, but what you may have heard about changes at Texas Thunder Speedway is the truth.
The rumors are not, so, let's get that out of the way first thing.
No, Pat Wilson is not bankrupt.
No, Pat's wife Brenda is not in the family way.
And no, they're not getting a divorce.
"Texas Thunder is just one of the businesses I own and I feel it's time I start concentrating on some of the others a little more," Pat said Tuesday at a meeting between himself, myself and the new promoter.
Yes, we do have a new promoter at Texas Thunder Speedway.
"It's been a lot of fun the past 14 years," Pat added, "but I felt it was time to let someone else call the shots on race nights and during the week.
David and I talked about it a lot and he's gung-ho, so here we go."
If you don't know who David Goode is, let me introduce you.
He's a successful Killeen entrepreneur who has his own stable of businesses and, like Pat, racing is in his blood.
"I was out there running a wrecker in the infield one night and caught the bug," David said.
"I thought 'I've got to get me one of these.'"
He certainly did. David has been competing in the IMCA Modified class since that night the bug bit, but now, with one feature win under his belt, he'll have to get out of the race car, just like Pat did back in the day, since it's pretty much a given that the track promoter doesn't race against the guys he might have to disqualify sometime.
The Goode fan club will still have David's two kids, Sarah and David Jr., to cheer for, since they'll continue to compete in the IMCA Southern Sport Mod class. He'll try to watch them race, but David will be a little busy on Saturday nights.
What does a track promoter do?
He (or she) wears a lot of hats, and not just on race night. During the week, you'll find a track promoter working on the race surface to make it as smooth as possible. David and his crew have already begun cutting the track to make a better transition from straightaways into the turns and he tells me the banking at both ends will be a little steeper in 2010.
Also, the promoter spends a lot of time visiting with sponsors, both potential and on board, to make sure they are well cared for, since without them the track couldn't stay open.
On race night, the promoter has to address all questions from drivers and fans about anything from rules interpretations to a shortage of paper towels in the restrooms. I wouldn't even be surprised, if necessary, to see this particular promoter back where it all started, behind the wheel of a tow truck, helping to untangle race car schnozzles.
And, yes, the promoter deals with personnel issues and may be called on to assess penalties, up to and including disqualification.
David says he plans to hang up suggestion boxes for drivers and fans to let their thoughts and feelings be known, too. He's planning some new things for the snack bar, which I won't go into now, but let's just say the menu is about to change.
I asked David, jokingly I thought, if he planned to build air conditioned skyboxes and he said "That's been discussed."
The boy is serious about his new challenge, that's for sure.
After talking with David and Pat for over two hours, I believe that track ownership has made the right move in calling on David to take over the day-to-day operations at Texas Thunder. His enthusiasm, which rivals what I've come to appreciate from working with Pat over the past 11 years, is infectious.
"I want this to be a great family fun place, great for racers, great for fans," he said.
"That's what I want to see."
Not that it's been bad, mind you. I've learned more about racing from Pat Wilson than I ever would have otherwise.
Announcing a stock car race is nothing like doing a team sport and Pat taught me what to say and, more importantly, what not to say, and how, more often than not, just to be quiet and let the cars tell the story.
Welcome aboard, David!
Thanks for telling me I still have a job at TTS.
By the way ... is it too soon to ask for a raise?