The National Hot Rod Association announced a reorganization plan Tuesday designed to streamline its business operations and make it more productive in the marketplace. The plan calls for a reduction in the work force in some areas at its Glendora-based corporate headquarters as well as NHRA-owned facilities including Indianapolis Raceway Park and Atlanta Dragway. NHRA will also realign several areas of operation in order to position the company to take advantage of new business opportunities.

"This was an extremely difficult decision, but it was necessary for us to operate more efficiently in this very competitive marketplace," said NHRA's Executive Vice President and General Manager Tom Compton. "The demand for our sport continues to increase and we need to be structured to meet that demand.

The NHRA is the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body with more than 85,000 members. The 22-race, $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series headlines a competition program that includes 5,500 events annually at more than 140 member tracks.

"Given the level of interest in our sport, NHRA is investing heavily in the sales and marketing area," said NHRA President Dallas Gardner. "The changes being announced are part of our overall strategic plan that will result in the company being more customer oriented. It is imperative that we aggressively take advantage of the opportunities before us. It is important to recognize the changes we have made today will not reduce the level of service or commitment of the NHRA to the entire sport. Conversely, it will enable us to be more effective at every level."

In an unprecedented move designed to "streamline its business operations" the National Hot Rod Association has announced a reorganization plan which has resulted in the immediate termination of several employees, some of which had been at the organization for over twenty years. According to a statement released late yesterday, the plan calls for "a reduction in the work force at its Glendora-based headquarters as well as NHRA-owned facilities including Indianapolis Raceway Park and Atlanta Dragway."

NHRA employees receiving termination notices yesterday included Vice President and IRP General Manager Mike Lewis, longtime National Dragster staffers Bill Crites and Chris Martin, Corporate Art Director Joe Martinez, Director of Sales Mike Coon, National DRAGSTER Advertising Sales Director Sandy Wasserbeck, and the entire Jr. DRAGSTER advertising and editorial staff with the exception of Editor Paula Trujillo.

Although an official count was not available, other administrative staffers reportedly brought the total number fired to nineteen -- twelve in Glendora, five in Indianapolis, and two in Commerce.

In the NHRA statement, Executive Vice President and General Manager Tom Compton offered this explanation: "This was an extremely difficult decision, but it was necessary for us to operate more efficiently in this extremely competitive marketplace. The demand for our sport continues to increase and we need to be structured to meet that demand."

Sources close to the organization indicated that at least some of the ousted employees were told that lower-than-anticipated income resulting from numerous rain-impacted events this season contributed to the downsizing.

Citing the changes as necessary to position the company to take advantage of new business opportunities, NHRA President Dallas Gardner explained, "Given the level of interest in our sport, NHRA is investing heavily in the sales and marketing area. The changes announced are part of our overall strategic plan that will result in the company being more customer-oriented.

It is imperative that we take advantage of the opportunities before us. It is important to recognize that the changes made today will not reduce the level of service or commitment of NHRA to the entire sport. Conversely, it will enable us to be more effective at every level."

In a related move, NHRA hired a new Vice President of Marketing just last week, although the official announcement has not yet been released.