Purses & Contingencies

[sc1153]

John,

Not for nothing but I have collected enough contingency money in the past couple of years for it to show.....now the point of this being a problem is that people will be faced with the simple fact of "DOLLARS and SENSE" (not cents) It does not pay to spend $150-$170 entry and 3 days of racing to win $2000.00 when anyone can go local brackets and spend $50-70 entry and win $800-$2000 in one day. Not to speak of all the other inclusives (fuel, food, lodging, ect.) I can tell you one thing....simply if we cant win $5000.00 divisionally and $15k-20k Nationally..... NHRA racing makes no SENSE

When I roll through that gate I think I have the confidence an experience to leave with the money and trophy...If I cant rely on money than I can race a street car at my local track to win a trophy..

!!SHOW ME THE MONEY!!

I will NHRA race but will do more bracket racing than NHRA stuff if things dont change (I live too close to not race some NHRA)

[T Hall]

I think a better question would be,,,,,,,, what is a reasonable amount of time to be paid by these companies and how should NHRA deal with slackers?

[R&S Motorsports]

Originally Posted by sc1153

John,

Not for nothing but I have collected enough contingency money in the past couple of years for it to show.....now the point of this being a problem is that people will be faced with the simple fact of "DOLLARS and SENSE" (not cents) It does not pay to spend $150-$170 entry and 3 days of racing to win $2000.00 when anyone can go local brackets and spend $50-70 entry and win $800-$2000 in one day. Not to speak of all the other inclusives (fuel, food, lodging, ect.) I can tell you one thing....simply if we cant win $5000.00 divisionally and $15k-20k Nationally..... NHRA racing makes no SENSE

When I roll through that gate I think I have the confidence an experience to leave with the money and trophy...If I cant rely on money than I can race a street car at my local track to win a trophy..

!!SHOW ME THE MONEY!!

I will NHRA race but will do more bracket racing than NHRA stuff if things dont change (I live too close to not race some NHRA)

True that SC1153 you could not be more right. I go to every race excepting to win ( of course that doesn't happen all of the time) but I look at the winners purse not what it pays to win the 4th round. I run my racing program as a business and have been fortunate to break even or make money since I started the business format on my taxes. If I didnt think that I could win some money to support my habit I would most likely buy a boat, join a country club, get a few atv's etc etc... if I just wanted to BS with friends and have fun. There is local bracket racing within 60 miles of the shop for $150 entry pays 2,000 Saturday and 5,000 to win on Sunday and another track even closer that has a $75 entry for $3000 to win, there would be no reason for me to drive to a NHRA race 8 hours away for 3 days that wouldn't pay more than these. Racing is Racing to me I go where the money is, the cars dont know weather its a National event or a local bracket race.

[Keith 944]

less money, less initiative, i cut way back on traveling a few years ago, and the nhra's nickel and dimeing us to death....

[Jeff Beckman]

John, I think braket racing is great. I am furtunate enough to race where I please. I beleive 98% of us race for the social experience including racing, friends, BS and BEER! This economic time will force most to make choices about where and when. I hope we all continue to race, whatever the venue. The few Lucky Big Dogs if you will, this contingencey thing, is huge to them. For most it's like gas prices, whatever. I think the fact that fuel has crept back up to 2.00 a gallon and the Dow being back up to 8800 are good signs, very good. People can not keep this grim outlook, life is going to go on. Basic goods and services are a must, like gas, they cost what they cost. Anyway, your question is sound and fair, I will not continue to race NHRA if they get much more obtuse to the sportsman racer. I will chase big money brakets, or local 2000 races for that matter. Hope this answers your question. Jeff

[Bob Verwold]

Jeff, I think you just want to stay home and race with all the crazy's at the Trails, Spent way to many nights up there with Beer in my hand out visiting!!!!!!!!!

[Jeff Beckman]

Maybe, dont forget the nuts! Nah, I like to travel some.

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by John DiBartolomeo

If it's just the money you're after, much like a gambler going to AC or Vegas, why not go bracket racing? It's still racing. Run under the dial/index and you lose.

If its a gambling analogy that you're looking for, then that's what you'll get.

In short, its all about the preference of the game. As a card player, I can play Blackjack or Texas Hold'em. But, if the purse and entry are the same, and we assume that I'm just as good a player at either game, I'm going to play the one I ENJOY more, which is Hold'em (S/C, S/G, or S/St). But, if you tell me that its 10X the cost for me to play Hold'em and the winnings potential is the same or less, I'll be taking my money over to the Blackjack table (E.T. racing)

Hope this helps put it into perspective..