Dirttrackker did a great show about the cost of just showing up at a late model event. Whether we want to bury our head in the sand and ignore it, or look for solutions. One big thing is purse structure, top heavy purses are bad for the sport. 125,000 to win and 6,000 for 6th is a joke. Dirt late model racing needs a couple tracks to go all in on late models, like several tracks have done for sprints. Example Knoxville raceway sprints are thriving, 5000 to win weekly and 20,000 to win the points. Look at payouts for 2 thru 4, 2nd 3,000, 3rd 2,750 and 2,500. Husets pays between 4,000 and 5,000 weekly. Port Royal pays 4,000, 2,000 and 1,500. Those tracks are helping the sprint car racing sport grow. The feeder system for late models shrinks more and more every year. Only a fool looks and gauges the health of the sport based on Lucas, WOO and Eldora events. A few tracks need to do this for the dirt late model world. Or Lucas Oil and WOO need to create a feeder system. Or maybe some of the corporate sponsors of those series help fund this to happen.
The cost of racing!
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This is the year that will be known to hurt DLM racing the most imo. Rumblings of some teams throwing in the towel.
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We need to stop making excuses. Have you seen the payout for the Knoxville nationals?
1. $185,000 2. $85,000 3. $45,000 4. $30,000
5. $25,000 6. $24,000 7. $23,000 8. $22,000
9. $21,000 10. $20,000 11. $19,500 12. $19,250
13. $19,000 14. $18,750 15. $18,500 16. $18,250
17. $18,000 18. $17,500 19. $17,000 20. $16,500
21. $16,000 22. $15,500 23. $15,250 24. $15,000
Not just some top heavy payout.
1500 for last in B-main and 900 last in C main. So they actually payout decent for not making the feature.
Example 20,000 for 10th at Knoxville nationals, 10th at World 6,000.Last edited by play4kps; 10-18-2023, 03:53 PM.
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The Knoxville Nationals purse is impressive, but they are making A CHIT TON more than they pay out as well.
Grandstand capacity: 20,322
Saturday sells out @ $60/each = $1,219,320
2023 total purse from their website: $1,159,005
Saturday grandstands alone pay the purse for the entire week.
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The sport used to be a lot bigger than the guys who decide to venture to Eldora. I'm concerned about that class of racer having a place to race. Guys that have 1/2 million+ budgets do not concern me.
The payout of one big race doesn't fix anything.Modern Day Spec Wedge Racing
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Most teams are losing a lot of money. I know they're not in it to make a fortune. But they're not in it to lose a fortune either. On the other hand, just wait until these teams start rolling into the track in a new $1 million+ rig.Originally posted by Pennsboro32 View PostThis is the year that will be known to hurt DLM racing the most imo. Rumblings of some teams throwing in the towel.
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We have been thru an extended period of low interest rates and economic prosperity. Wait until the economy actually takes a dive. It may actually provide the collapse needed to reform the sport in a positive way.Originally posted by MRM View PostMost teams are losing a lot of money. I know they're not in it to make a fortune. But they're not in it to lose a fortune either. On the other hand, just wait until these teams start rolling into the track in a new $1 million+ rig.Modern Day Spec Wedge Racing
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Eldora gets that many if not more. And Eldora sells far more beer, liquor, and food. If we continue to make excuses, we will continue to slide down. 99% of late models that run at weekly tracks have no chance of running competitively with the top tier teams. That used to be charm of dirt late model racing, watching the locals compete with the big name travelers. Those days are long gone.Originally posted by Tireguy17 View PostThe Knoxville Nationals purse is impressive, but they are making A CHIT TON more than they pay out as well.
Grandstand capacity: 20,322
Saturday sells out @ $60/each = $1,219,320
2023 total purse from their website: $1,159,005
Saturday grandstands alone pay the purse for the entire week.
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What locals? There are none anymore.Originally posted by play4kps View PostEldora gets that many if not more. And Eldora sells far more beer, liquor, and food. If we continue to make excuses, we will continue to slide down. 99% of late models that run at weekly tracks have no chance of running competitively with the top tier teams. That used to be charm of dirt late model racing, watching the locals compete with the big name travelers. Those days are long gone.
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