I often wonder, What kind of money does it normally run these tracks to bring in these national series such as Lucas or World of outlaws? I'd figure it's a pretty penny considering the amount of cost the series has to run up and down the road.
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I often wonder, What kind of money does it normally run these tracks to bring in these national series such as Lucas or World of outlaws? I'd figure it's a pretty penny considering the amount of cost the series has to run up and down the road.
$50-70k for a basic show
But how much usually how much does the track bring in though
Wow, These tracks must make some big $$$ bringing them in to justify that for 1 night of racing. In my simple mind I find it hard to see a track making enough money in one night to justify that kind of expense.
Sponsorship would be key there. The Silver Dollar Nationals is presented by Imperial Tile, but I don't know how much money they put in. But, I-80 has other track sponsors as well. I wonder how the revenue is cut though, like what goes to the track and what goes to the series.
I would say at one time that would be a very good decision to bring a touring series in! I think a lot of tracks do that to get their name out, or to have bigger name drivers come to their track for other races. But anymore it seems a like a costly price with no promise of a big event. Lucas and WOO are getting less than full field as the norm starting last year. I think cost really depends on tracks, The North-South as an example would pack the house reguardless whether sanctioned or not!
I would seem to think the 50-75 would include the purse- not just sanction fees- ??
Every track I’ve went to with national series is packed out. And if there was only one support class it be more packed. Advertise racing over by 10:30. That’ll get more families out that’s never been to there local track but always interested.
So how much is the sanction fee for a WOO or LUCAS show now a days?
The week day shows can be very small margins, especially if the weather impacts fan count. I know a track that hosted a weekday WoO show last year, weather sucked, had to power thru the show, and the track lost over $10K.
Talked to one of the owners of Virginia speedway one night. Lots of cars not many fans in the stands. Told him i was sorry he'd didn't have a better turn out and the lost he was going to have. He said that through sponsorship his over head was basically covered. One of the nicest facility in the country. Always a good car count but never many fans.
If they hadn't built Virginia motor speedway in the middle of nowhere they might have a crowd I was at a crate race a few years ago paying 25g to win the guy beside me was a flag man at another track I said this guy doesn't have enough people to play first place money little on the rest of the field he said don't worry about it the guy is loaded with money a lot of these race track are bought for a tax rite of if you will notice they go up for sale in 5 years.
Virgins Motor Speedway is owned by the family that use to own the NASCAR track either Martinsville or Richmond if I am not mistaken.
Virginia Motor Speedway
A few years ago, a track owner told me he netted $139k on a 3 night race!
Martinsville was owned by Clay Earles, now it is owned by Nascar like Richmond.
$50-$55k covers purse, fees, insurance, etc. key is having sponsors to offset cost
Lol track owners and promoters are like all the contractors I work for, ain't none of em made a penny yet....yet they still stay in business and tracks keep putting on races...
Well it's not hard to figure out 2 thousand people at 30 dollars clears you out you still got concessions an back gate a promoter told me once he paid for his track in 2 years off the concession stand they ran a lot of big races an drew huge crowds I didn't think that was possible but after I did a Lille figuring I realise it was.
say you have WoO and 2 support classes with a total of 100 cars pit side..average of 5 people per car at $40 per pit pass
100 x 40 x5 = $20,000
200 fan pit passes
200 x 40 =$8,000
General admission
$25 adults 2500 in attendance
$15 kids 200 attendance
$25 x 2500 = $62,500
$15 x 200 = $3,000 Thats $93,000 in ticket sales alone...
3,400 fans at an average of $5.00 per person in concessions stand food $17,000 in food
$100,000 in revenue before insurance, sanction fees, purses, sponsor money. If tracks were smart at these big events, they would hold a special weather insurance policy that would cover the event if things went south or had to cancel which would cover a loss.
My home track use to have WOO once a year back when it was just Clanton and Richards winning everything. I dont know they made out money wise but the pits, infield and stands were packed. Food lines were always long and the line for beer was even longer. Judging on the sea of blue 10 oz bud light cans underneath the bleachers, and the price at $13 for a 6 pack I'd think they made out on concessions.
Unfortunately now that WOO has some more drivers that people wanna see, we havent had them since Richards' last title year. There was a rumor going around that year that they were dropping WOO and adding Lucas, never happened and they added USAC sprints this year. No clue what their sanctioning fees are like compared. Havent had any sprints since URC 15-20 years ago of I remember correctly.
I can agree with the point on the beer sales, I believe if you sell beer and have a crowd come in you'll make a killing on that alone!
Have to also believe for an average track MichiganRebel08 hits the dollar amounts pretty close for a good overview.
Beer sales alone has to make money hand over fist
Not every track has beer sales, thankfully. Interesting is that you see tracks come an go on the big tours. They'll have a race one year or two, then drop off, then show back up. They would not come back if they always lost money.
The 2 biggest races of the year are World and the Dream, and no sanctioning, thats what makes it best. No stupid provisionals and thank God, they dont have the stupid if you dont stop on track, you get your spot back caution, even if you cause it!
If You are spun out at Eldora and do not stop you get your spot back
2 fast time provisionals. That’s it. I like it.
Lucas has many sponsors for the season.
https://lucasdirt.com/sponsors
There are no sanctioning fees. WoO and Lucas make their money from Morton buildings and obviously Lucas and other series sponsors. But, the track is responsible for the entire purse. I was told by a 2 promoters that the WoO late model purse alone paying the winner $10,000 was $50,000 for the whole purse. And with a Lucas purse paying $12,000 added $14,000 down through the field. Those numbers don’t include paying the support classes.
That sounds accurate. Many of the races have crowds of 4,000 and up.
Around 10 years ago the WoO Sprints were $52,000 purse, $20,000 sanction
Post 32-MC92
Question-?? Are you saying that the tracks do not pay Lucas or WOO a sanction fee for hosting a race ??
Back in '88 I spoke with USAC about bringing in their non winged sprint cars to my track... $60,000 PLUS the purse.
YIKES!!!!
Wow I had no idea they were that high. I just assumed they were lower than WOO and Lucas. Not sure what kind of turnout they'll get for USAC considering this area has been known for LMs and not much for sprints. I'm sure I'll be there just out of curiosity and the chance to see something different on the track.
I understood dropping WOO when they did with it being a 2 car show (plus whatever good locals showed), but now with the roster WOO has were missing out on seeing Shep, Madden, Weiss, and possibly Bloomquist depending on his schedule this year. Gonna have to head up to Port Royal this August to see a good LM show
MC-92. YOUR WRONG. Flat out wrong. WoO and Lucas both have a sanction fee. You believe a touring series comes to a track brings all the support people and a ton of other costs and we're do they get the money to cover all those costs ? The promotor then needs to cover the purse costs. Sure some bring in to dang many support classes. If you look at how many tracks around the country take that gamble I think the numbers are low.