[Jeff Beckman]

I know the payouts suck. The Pros get most of the money and they will tell you it's not enough. A wise man once said "in order to make a small fortune racing, you had better start with a big fortune". I too wish racing was not so expensive with so little reward, but then everyone might try it. It may be better just to have those of us who are truely driven to race, and those couple of crazy guys. I remember being just as giddy if you will, to race my first super street car as I am to bring out my new top dragster next year, maybe more. I did not have 8500 in my race operation then. Nineteen years later, I have hundreds of thousands sunk into this, my choice and privlage. But the 8500 race team still drinks beer, sees the same races and has every bit as much fun with all you fine folks. So at least in the end, most folks who want to, can race. I hope everyone that wants to can come and watch, dose/can. The only one/two who will ever get rich is NHRA/Force.

When I think about most of the post as of late, it occurs to me that with the rite partners we could start a new sanctioning body. Free tickets for spectators, get them in the gate. Add .50 to everything inside, hot dog, beer, t shirt. Just like Norwalk, hand the racer a cup of coffee in the morning heck he might just come back. Give them a big bowl of ice cream for a buck and a half. Have grand stands from 800 feet to the finish line. Educate the fan! Set up pits and vendors down both early sides of the track. Put box seets behind the strip, if you wanna pay big bucks for burn out shows, let them see how on the edge a fast car goes "not so straight" down the track.

Pinks is huge because it is tight racing with lots of air time, average Joe can say "I was there man" or, "I was in that race dude, no realy". Average Joe will never run a fuel car. Dont forget the hook, a school bus wheel car or jet cars, I would prefere to use some nostalgia cars AA?FA, add a car show. everybody wants a good parking spot! I know it sounds like Super Chevy but a traveling sportsman show like the Jegs races could work with a couple of tweeks. Dreamer, I know.