Making a profit in drag racing ????

[X-TECH MAN]

[QUOTE=Wade Mahaffey; Sometimes fun is worth more than money.

Wade Mahaffey[/QUOTE]

BINGO ! I think the fun factor is the most important thing. If your NOT having fun then you should find something else to do.

[Rich Biebel]

John Lingenfelter once said in an interview

You can't make a living drag racing....
but you can make a living off of drag racing....meaning a drag racing related business that made a profit and was promoted by your success in racing.....It always stuck in my mind what he said and I could not agree more. There are very few people to have made any money just from race winnings.....and over the long haul they would be in the red.....

[CycloneFE]

Rich,

Great point, and for those that think you can't run a dragster by yourself, just take a lesson from Don Higgins, the man is awesome.

This is going to get interesting.

Steve

PS, I will be in it for the fun, when I get there.

[Michael Beard]

>> A dragster is the supreme drag race vehicle. They have a superior advantage aginst door cars in the bracket format. You can race Top Dragster and/or Super Comp/Quick Rod and be just as competitive in either.

The level of competition is also higher in each of those classes, due to electronics. Higher risk, higher reward (and only a higher reward at big money bracket races, only because Box cars typically have more opportunities to race for big money) You're more likely to want an enclosed trailer for a dragster, too, so there's added expense in the initial outlay as well as reduced fuel mileage.

>> You can race a stocker in S/S, but not as competitive.

That may be true in NHRA, since they have lowered the indexes, but I would otherwise disagree. I drove a legal Stocker in IHRA Super Stock for 1 year, finished 6th in the World, qualified for the All-Stars race, etc. Greg Rowe also won in SS with a Stocker, despite a limited schedule.

>> Be your own sponsor, showcase your product on your own entry. It's sweet when you go to a race and transport a product for someone...and get paid!

That, I agree with. My graphic design and printing business is inseparable from my racing operation, as I rely on word of mouth, and my customer base is strictly drag racers, tracks, and promoters.

I think there's some misconceptions about "sponsorship", too. I think a lot of folks would consider sponsorships "cheating" in this little mental exercise, but that's thinking about "grubstake" sponsors, where someone gives you something for the sake of giving it to you, rather than a "marketing partnership". Sponsorships take effort, and it can be as integral to your racing operation as checking the air in your tires. It's about building brand awareness, and generating sales leads, if not direct sales. Overlooking this as a natural part of your racing operation is like short-shifting on a heads-up run.

It's already been proven that a dual-purpose Stocker that can be bracket raced (aka, built to last) is a viable way to go. I run 55+ events a year, and since I've been double-entering at so many races this year, it's like going to that many more. I've already been through two drums of fuel this year! I think a Super Stocker would be too costly to maintain. In terms of initial investment, I think you can probably still buy a turnkey car cheaper than you could build it, even if you could do much of the work yourself. Those are skills that you could use to *maintain* it, though.

No, I can't do nothing *but* race for a living, but it's a good "part-time job", and moreover, my "regular" business would not exist without the racing operation aspect.

$.02,

[cicero819]

Don "The Worm" Elgin, Al Young, Johnny Labbous who are still racing and probably have turned a profit occasionnally and yes many more, but these guys have done with a lot less. How about the Taylors racing with their Z24 in stock trim and winning against electronic delay cars. I see Mr Williams still enjoying running his Cajun Oldsmobile in Class and brackets and probably breaking even. I'm sure that a dependable Stock and Super stock, can be used to bracket race and class race and might break even but just like golf, rare are the ones actually leaving with a surplus in their pockets from any events. Great topic Ed. I'm sure your car would be ideal candidate for being on the black side of the ledger. For a door car I would say a S/Street that can also race S/G and bracket(like the Pocket Rocket Opel)CR

[treessavoy]

You're not going to build a car and instantly get a million dollar sponsor. It will take years of winning big races before you can approach a major sponsor.

In my opinion the best way to go would be to build a car that fits both NHRA and IHRA and that can be bracket raced then race at every opportunity and try to win as much as possible.

Tow vehicle should be a 1 ton truck with a camper in the back and a flat bed trailer for the car.

But you must be aware that few people actually make enough money to support themselves solely from drag racing.

Most of us just hope to make enough to cover racing expenses.

JimR

[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.

[mannymen]

Don't build a superstock motor for over $20K and that is the low side for a BA/CA motor to have it expire on you after 20 passes. Right now my dilemma is to now run brackets permanently with a 468 or bigger BBC (factory block) or rebuild another Superstock 427, but that all depends on $$$. Repair (apples to apples) costs for the SS motor (.75 or under motor) are way more extreme than a 468-582 (that puts out way more power than any SS 427 out there). Plus the bracket motor is easy on parts and maintenance is minimal, which means less overhead.

I would tell everyone if costs are a concern and you want to make some profit, then bracket racing and 10.90 racing are the way to go. Your overhead is less giving you a better chance at making profit. I have to win a couple of 50K races to make profit in the SS'er, but only about one 10K bracket race to make profit in the bracket/10.90 car. You can take the bracket car anywhere pretty much any day of the week and beat it to near death for a race where stocker and superstockers have a more limited schedule for the high overhead.

Just my opinion and looking at the recent add for modified motors in the classifieds is why u go bracket racing and build a bracket car/motor. 15-20K for a motor that spins too high and makes no power for the cost. One could put together QTY 3 - 582 BBC's and make 150hp more for that kind of money. Again just my opinion

[tim worner]

I have a nice Olds Cutlass for you to start with.