After a lengthy hiatus from production, the PINKS franchise made famous on television with its six-year run from 2005 to 2010 is set for a return under the guidance of colorful host Rich Christensen and Executive Producer and former show contestant Brian Bossone with what they’re planning to develop into an annual happening that is to drag racing what Sturgis is to motorcycles over Independence Day weekend in Rockingham this summer.

“We’ve been working to determine if this is a property and a product that people still want. You get your lovers and you get your haters, but all in all, the racing itself really overcomes it all.” says Bossone. “There’s always negative stuff on Rich, it is what it is. But love him or hate him, he’s done so much for grass roots racing in this sport, and that’s really why I got behind this.

“We’re in a position where drag strips are closing on a regular basis, and other than test and tunes and bracket racing or spending serious money to go heads-up racing, where else can you do something like what these races offer? Because of the things that are going on, I think the avenue is opening up for street racing again. For a lot of people, there’s nowhere to race and nothing to truly race for.”

Bossone cites the overall cost of production to put on the PINKS: All Out events — a multimillion dollar project — as the determining factor, at this stage in the game, for promoting only a single event, which they later hope will bear fruit — as it did with the first All Out in 2007 — into more events.

Bossone and Christensen, in the planning phase, had annual can’t-miss celebrations like the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in mind. They wanted to deliver a week-long event where racers know where and when it will be each year and can plan their vacation time and their racing budget around it. From there, they began the hunt for the best place to do it.

“There are a lot of great tracks out there and we’ve been to most of them, but demographically, the east coast right now has the greatest saturation in terms of getting people out to the event to kickstart this whole thing. Our biggest events were at places like Maple Grove, Englishtown, and Rockingham. Everything up and down the east coast was monstrous.”

Rockingham Dragway’s Steve Earwood was all-ears when Bossone proposed the event (and when racers would call him to ask about having another PINKS event), and with a great following, a venue large enough to conduct it, and years of marketing magic of his own, a deal was made without any hesitation on either side. “For ease of getting this done, and the execution, Rockingham is the best place for us. Steve just gets it, and he’s going to do it right.”

Bossone and company are planning to open the four-day event up to some 2,000 racers, with individual classes for 9, 10, and 11-second cars, along with a motorcycle class, with enough registration spots for 500 entries per class. If that number can be attained — and Bossone believes the once-a-year format can — then each class will have their own specific day of racing.

“I want to open it up to everybody and give them all a chance this time We’re doing it once a year. We already have a payout  in place, and depending on car count and sponsorship, it’ll just go up from there.”

The PINKS team has already fronted production costs with MAVTV to film All Out Week and deliver it to living rooms nationwide. A deal for the Rockingham event is guaranteed, and Bossone and Christensen want to honor MAVTV’s support of their past work with this initial event. Because the pair will own the programming, they won’t rule out taking it to other networks in the future, including NBC Sports, with whom they’ve had considerable negotiations with and have named a broadcast partner.

Says Bossone: “It’s been a tough run to get this program back, and it’s not the fans or the racers, but the struggle to gain the financial support to get this thing to live and move forward that’s been our real challenge. That’s my biggest hurdle right now — to get the sponsorship behind us to bring this thing to the level that it was before, so we can hand out millions of dollars.”

According to Bossone, NAPA Auto Parts, in particular, which was a major backer of the PINKS: All Our program, has gone in a different direction with their marketing since the show went on hiatus and won’t be returning. But it’s that kind of support from a major brand that they’re seeking, as they believe they have a platform perfect for marketing to the grass roots racer and car aficionado.

Says Bossone: “Does John Force really shop at NAPA or O’Reilly’s for parts? Of course not, he has parts given to him. The people that go to these stores and shop are our demographic — the 18 to 50 males and females making $25,000 to $50,000 a year that are true grass roots drag racers.”

That’s our hurdle right now, but we’re doing it. I don’t care. It’s on me. Rich and I have stepped up to the plate, we’ve heard what people want, and we’re going for it. We have it out there and we want everyone to know. I’m disappointed to see some of the hatred out there for Rich, but I’d say ‘just don’t come’. If you really hate it that much, just race each other. This race is for the grass roots racers that want to have a great time — a big celebration where everyone can come and hang out and do what we did before. If you want to come and join us, the doors are opening and it’s happening. If you don’t, you can watch from the outside, because we’re going to have a ball.”

Borrowing a page from the book of No Problem Raceway Park owner Pat Joffrion, Bossone envisions a big party with a race going on in the background — an approach that has seen great success for the Louisiana racing facility in the past and one they hope will help get the once-vibrant PINKS brand going once again.

Photos courtesy PINKS/PINKS: Bring It Back