I find it amusing ....

[hucktyson]

Every single car owner who quits always goes way over the top to emphasize that cost has nothing to do with quitting lol lol So let me get this straight if Motor’s cost 200k instead of 50k then you wouldn’t quit ??? Listen racing is probably the absolute worst way to blow your money except maybe drugs. No matter how much money you have you can blow it on racing but if you have enough money you will die before you blow it all on drugs lol.

[Kwd1253]

Agree huck, most of the time has do with money reason quitting. 1. Cost of racing (A) they are coming way out of pocket. (B) losing sponsors or can’t pick more up to cover over head. (C) can’t get sponsors give more money. 2. They don’t have the time to run a team or watching over cost because what ever taking up their time. 3. Lose the passion for racing and dealing with it. 4. Just to old keep doing it.

[hucktyson]

My point being is that the cost of racing is the biggest driver in the “ losing passion “ If they were having years like snort had in 2015 they would “ have the passion “ unless you have a 9 figure net worth that is growing 10% or more a year the cost of dirt late models at the top levels is significant ....

[B_K]

Have a kid (or some grandkids) and see if what your passionate about doesn't change over time. I still love going to the races, but not at the expense of missing one of my daughter's games/school functions. There are many who juggle both and kudos to them. There are others who from a fan level to car owner that see their interest and priorities float in a different direction.

Money is not always the reason. I'm fortunate enough to be able to go to whatever race I chose to, but I haven't been to one more than two hours away in a while. Same with car owners. I'm sure a lot of them could easily afford to stay in it, but if you're taking away from other parts of your life, what's the point?

[golddirt]

BK I completely understand what you are saying I am as a fan used to hit 3 to 4 races every week. I am now Find myself raising a teenage daughter which changed my life completely and I am lucky if I have been to seven races this year. Not only has the lifestyle change kept me from going to as many races but I also get tired of the drama that is going on and being a late model fan there's just not a whole Lotta places to go to anymore. I remember you could expect 35 cars for a weekly show in late models well congratulations all of the spending has stop that

[BerckFan]

Have a kid (or some grandkids) and see if what your passionate about doesn't change over time. I still love going to the races, but not at the expense of missing one of my daughter's games/school functions.

This ^^^^^

[billetbirdcage]

Cost is almost certainly all ways a factor in some way or the other, but sometimes in other ways then a guy would think. Besides the obvious, some times it's just not a fun as it used to be with all the money on the line. Racing is supposed to be fun, but with the cost it's easy to get frustrated when you run bad and thus makes you second guess continuing to speed that kind of money.

Case and point: A sprint car driver wasn't having a good year and tore up some stuff and just decided to take a break for the rest of the year and just race a mod-lite locally. He won his first mod-lite race the other week and said he had more fun and was more excited over that win then he had been in a long long time. It's just way less pressure and easier to have fun when you don't have all that money on the line.

[PRCKartRacer9]

That's why I race karts with a $100 predator motor. We race for stickers.

[Zonks32x]

Huck, I think you're correct that $$ plays a role, but I think a huge part of the deal is pride as well.

Many of these owners are self-made successful businessmen and accustomed to "winning" every day in their professional lives. They want championships and nothing less. So they spend big $$ and get frustrated when it doesn't happen, go through drivers, chassis changes, engine builders, and then finally sell out and move on b/c it's not fun if they're not winning.

There's no shame in finishing 2nd or 3rd on a National tour, but I believe there are plenty who long for the trophy & the bragging rights more than the winner's check.

Unfortunately, there's always a BIGGER fish in the pond who can out-spend & out-compete everyone else. We can all name those teams...Nationally, Regionally, and at our home tracks.

Wish I had the answer.

[hucktyson]

You are absolutely right guys with that kind of money as used to getting whatever they want whenever they want it and racing doesn’t work that way. People say racing is healthy because there are still enough of those guys ... those guys will get tired of it eventually , the guys that sustain it are the people who grew up doing it and love doing it. Racing was much more fun winning limited late races than getting smoked at national events but I like the challenge of trying to get 100% out of my skills and equipment at big events more than the challenge of avoiding wrecks at local crate races lol

[RW57]

He speaks the truth about grandkids have 1 fixing to turn 2 another grandson due in December I got back into racing last year buying my son out as he walked away. I was on fire at first then had a detached retina ending last yr.Was supposed to race Tonite grandson came to stay with Big Daddy while his mom was at work. We did some errands race car what race car yeah money is a factor but my priorities have changed.

[Raceready]

That's why I race karts with a $100 predator motor. We race for stickers.

We raced in a Clone class. Everyone was supposed to have the $97.00 Harbor Freight stock engine. Everybody that ran up front had at least $400.00 of machining and trick parts in the engine. Then the big money went into the chassis and components. I know that there was at least 1 company that built and sold already tricked up engines for about a grand. We would get $25 for a win and a few times in the season there would be a 40 or 50 to win special.

[kidrock]

BK I completely understand what you are saying I am as a fan used to hit 3 to 4 races every week. I am now Find myself raising a teenage daughter which changed my life completely and I am lucky if I have been to seven races this year. Not only has the lifestyle change kept me from going to as many races but I also get tired of the drama that is going on and being a late model fan there's just not a whole Lotta places to go to anymore. I remember you could expect 35 cars for a weekly show in late models well congratulations all of the spending has stop that

I'm guilty of not going as well. First my brother and I sold our cars and everything with them because for me my job changed and for my brother his daughters had kids which became more important and who can blame him for that. It just doesn't seem to be as important for me to go to the track anymore but, still like to watch at home and keep up with what's going on.

[dirtcrazy4u]

Hey huck. You could be a top local car owner ? The equipment you have is top tier, the guy behind the wheel is a guy that puts his business first. Which is what comes first. I feel you would be a lot better driver if you had more seat time. When you reach those 7 figure numbers let Jared take it for a ride.

[Highside Hustler25]

All successful dirt late model racers have a sugar daddy in some form or another.