Making a profit in drag racing ????

[Rusty Davenport]

You would stand a better chance being a carnival worker. Consider it an expensive hobby and stick with an education and a job......a real good paying job.

[Chad Rhodes]

i think Lingenfelter had it right. its much easier to make a living off of drag racing, than to try to make a living racing. A unique product, or service or doing something that others either can't or don't want to do can go a long ways toward paying the bills (racing bills). You don't have to be a killer enginer builder or chassis guy, or world famous ( even thought that probably helps). Word travels fast in the stock/ss circles. When i was working at a speed shop i built up a pretty good customer base of class racers, and did alot of business at the track, had it been my own business it would have been very profitable.

On the racing side, if you make a million laps in a car, and you're a decent driver then breaking even on your expenses if you footbrake race it is possible, recovering the capital cost of the car might not be. As for sponsors, if you are looking for a "full ride" you better be one of the top hitters. However I think with a decent track record, and a good marketing plan then some sponsorship help is doable.

[Brister]

In IHRA you should ask Beard or Piatek. Both are skilled drivers with what appears to be very conservative (aka low budget) racing operations. If anyone has a shot at a profit, I would expect these two guys do.

I hear one of them is actually a pretty good wrench (sorry Mikey).

[cicero819]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

I have a question and would like some honest answers. Suppose you were going to get into drag racing and would like to break even from all your overhead or make a small profit. Which class or catagory would you choose to run in either with NHRA or IHRA or BOTH?
Also consider you were a decent engine builder even if you out sorced your machine work and you did all of your own maintenance. You were capable of building your own ride or finding and purchasing a good used rolling chassis and were a decent driver but maybe not a Dan Fletcher type driver.
The sportsman classes would be your only option here (No Pro Class) so should/would you race a class car (stocker, S/S)? A Super Class car(S/G. H/R, S/C? or stay close to home and race a bracket car at weekly events or big money races? Maybe a dual purpose car such as some race?
It will be interesting to read about what decisions most of you would make and who cares to answer this senario. Please disreguard the class racing vs throttle stop racing and bracket racing arguments.
Anyone??????

Terry, wow! the only answer is Super Comp for NHRA and IHRA with a dragster which you convert back Super Pro for local racing. You can find one for a decent price, complete race ready car or rolling chassis and build a very good BBChev and be competitive. Very few can switch classes like a Biondo but as a possible vehicle for breaking even, the dragster seem to be the weapon of choice. A car against a dragster is like you showing up at a gun fight with a knife, still dangerous but no contest at the end result. Claude

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by cicero819

Terry, wow! the only answer is Super Comp for NHRA and IHRA with a dragster which you convert back Super Pro for local racing. You can find one for a decent price, complete race ready car or rolling chassis and build a very good BBChev and be competitive. Very few can switch classes like a Biondo but as a possible vehicle for breaking even, the dragster seem to be the weapon of choice. A car against a dragster is like you showing up at a gun fight with a knife, still dangerous but no contest at the end result. Claude

No thanks. I have several engine stands already. I prefer doors.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by cicero819

Terry, wow! the only answer is Super Comp for NHRA and IHRA with a dragster which you convert back Super Pro for local racing. You can find one for a decent price, complete race ready car or rolling chassis and build a very good BBChev and be competitive. Very few can switch classes like a Biondo but as a possible vehicle for breaking even, the dragster seem to be the weapon of choice. A car against a dragster is like you showing up at a gun fight with a knife, still dangerous but no contest at the end result. Claude

I still like my "dime rocket" stockers.

[Michael Beard]

I still like my "dime rocket" stockers.

Tip o' the cap to Billy Nees Race Cars... I took the Turismo out to Pageland Dragway last night (will post more elsewhere later, with pics, as there were a number of Super Stockers there for the Classic GearJammers meet). The little car is *deadly* right now. Deep-staged, ran 9.91, 9.90, 9.90, 9.90, and after a long oildown, we ran in much cooler air, and it went 9.888 (against a guy that was .001 and heading for dead-on... wasn't doin' nuthin' with THAT regardless of what I was driving!) Looking at running it at either Atco or the Dutch to get some "official" 1/4-mile runs. Thanks for a great piece, Mr. Bill!

[Billy Nees]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, slacker.

[cicero819]

I also only care for door cars. Mr Nees which type of dime car would you suggest. I know that my Oldsmobile Eighty Eight with 3800 v6 can run the quarter all day at 8:25 et in the eight. are these the future gems of stock eliminator. Thanks