I don’t see any of the mainstream African-American companies involved with almost any type of motorsports including drag racing. You, J.R. and Antron are probably the most successful African-American professional drivers. Why aren’t those companies coming to the party?
TH: It’s sad that we’re not able to get other African-American businessmen involved, but that’s not to say that we aren’t trying. We’re trying, we just haven’t had any success yet and for whatever reason, I don’t know.
Do you think it’s not enough people at the track, not enough people of color at the track?
TH: I think NHRA has the most diverse crowd of any other motorsport in the world as far as African-Americans, Hispanics, whatever. I think there is more of a diverse crowd than any day at NASCAR. We need to be in a situation where Corporate America can see what we have to offer and to come on board.
As a businessman and team owner what’s your feeling about the HD Partners buyout of NHRA? Have you had contact with these guys at all?
TH: I think there was a meeting in Sonoma if I’m not mistaken and we didn’t get a chance to go because we were getting the shop up and running, but hopefully it’s for the better. I would think that it would be…
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Are you saying it couldn’t be any worse?
TH: It couldn’t be any worse. It can only get better.
Tom, why don’t you have a major sponsor?
TH: That’s a good question. I think we have a tremendous amount to offer and not necessarily on the track, but away from the track. One of the things we want to do with our race team is to get involved with giving back to the kids using our affiliation with the NBA and the NHRA. We have a lot to offer. That’s a good question. It’s not because of lack of trying.
Do you have a sports marketing group that represents you?
TH: I’ve actually been doing a lot of research myself and we’re in the process of talking with a good sports marketing company now and we’ve talked to a number of corporate companies, but no one has really stepped forward yet.
Have any of the corporate people ever given you a reason why they weren’t interested or why NHRA drag racing wasn’t appealing to them?
TH: No one has ever said. The reason people have told me the most is that “it’s been the wrong time of year.” That’s what I’ve gotten from a lot of people.
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When you find out when the right time of year is, let us know so we can publish it.
TH: I have faith in the Lord that everything will work out and according to His will and I have faith that we will get a good partner. Someone we can work together with. We’ll get a good program going. It’s frustrating at times, but that’s not going to deter me, we’re going to keep moving forward.
Any thoughts of a two-car team? Is your son showing any interest in driving a race car?
TH: He’s still in college, with a couple more years to go. There’s a possibility to have a two-car team. I think we have the room to do that and a program to do that. We just opened up an 11,000 square foot shop in my hometown, so there’s opportunity to do that. We just have to see what the future holds.
Okay, Tom, now for the infamous last questions. When it comes to favorite music: James Brown, James Taylor, Rick James, or Harry James?
TH: I don’t know Harry James or James Taylor. James Brown, the Godfather.
Since I’ll never get to ask this of that other famous basketball player, Michael Jordan, because he gets paid too much and when he is asked this question refuses to answer, I’ll ask the most famous basketball player I do know: boxers or briefs?
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