Mike,

First I have to say that I'm in total agreement with you regarding payout. The current sportsman payout structure is a total joke. My uncle raced S/S back in the 60's, and he was winning $1,000 back then racing S/S. Obviously, S/S was more prestigious than it is today because it was THE CLASS to race if you weren't running Nitro. But still...40 years later and it's still $1,000 to win?

Of course, the entry fee in the mid-60's wasn't $250 either. My guess is that the entry was probably $40, tops.

But, all that said, I think you can forget about any of the sportsman racers getting any of that $100 million. Plus, quite frankly, I don't believe there are many sportsman racers that are deserving of it, myself included. If Wally's going to start writing checks, he should probably start with guys like Jenkins ans Sox, that put NHRA on the map in the 60's (the legends).

Rather than NHRA sending me a penny, I would simply like to see them start treating us with a little more respect. As somebody else put it, stop shoving stuff down our throat, and actually start asking for input (the oildown rule is the latest debacle). From there, increase the payout, give us a decent place to park our rigs (i.e. if we're going to race at a track, start making the owners of those facilities put some money back into them so we can actually park on pavement, rather than 3 miles away in the mud), don't make us run at 8am and 10pm, and for God's sake don't tell the spectators to go get a hot dog when we pull up.

I'm hopeful this buyout will do one of two things:

1. Improve the current situation
2. Eliminate sportsman racers from national events so we can have more sportsman friendly big races

I'll be very disappointed if one of those two things don't happen.

Jason Oldfield
S/G & S/ST 1838

Someone has to race early and late...unless you want to spend 7 days at an event...or limit the field to about 10 cars in each sportsman class at Nat'l events.

Actually Jason, that was my quote. Hey, I'll take the credit if you agree. lol
But I didn't mean we need part of the 100 mil dispersed to the sportsman racers in cash. I just meant to increase purses and spend the money for the benefit of us all.....in various ways.
You are right about the Sox & Martin's, and Jenkins etc. But remember they all started in S/SS.
We all should be grateful to those that went before us and made this sport what it is. The New NHRA should be VERY grateful.
But their history and importance to dragracing is a moot point for this discussion, in that the 100 Mil goes to Wally, and the SPORTSMAN side of the new NHRA.
The PRO side will be a topic for the new owners.




Mike ( madness & ) Mayhem

Does the PRO FWD go with the Pro's? I loved the listing on DRC first round and final alll in one pass.

>>>Nobody said anything about us getting 100% back, but my god, they just got 100 million dollars.<<<


NHRA getting 100 Million should not affect your payouts. Should NHRA all of a sudden make stock $100,000 to win because another company bought a portion of the organization for 100 million???

If you owned your own business and someone bought a portion of your business and you made a small profit on that portion. What would you say when your customers came asking for part of that money?


>>>NHRA has had 40+ years to refine their expendatures and profit/loss margin. It seems it has worked well for them, and every racer I know says it's time to give back, in the form of better payouts. All expenses go up for us, the racers. Payout needs and should go up to.<<<

501c Not-For-Profit Organizations do not have a "profit". And their financial statements are public knowledge.


>>>Your thoughts about the money going for rules equality, and throttle stop elimination etc. I don't understand. I am for both of those things ( although in the real world throttle stops are here to stay, you must be realistic ) but how would doing those things cost money for management?<<<


Rules don't change themselves. You have to pay someone to review the rules, then someone to make the revision and change the rule book, and then you have to pay people to enforce these rules. And employees don't normally work harder than they have to. Therefore, you will have to employ more people or bump salaries a little bit for added rules to be enforced correctly.

Would you handle the AHFS and all that hooplah for free?



If you are racing for the payout window every weekend you should be racing in NASCAR, where you will get paid. Payouts just can't increase. NHRA hasn't been where I have been racing for a while, but they do pretty well with their program. A lot of racers tend to hate on NHRA, but think about the amount of racer bitching they have to deal with...


Lee Norton
I/PS '02 Firebird 231 V6

I don't like it, but it is the rule we have to deal with. Now maybe you will check those tranny pan bolts and check for leaks more often. In the end it will make you more cautious of maintenance.

Lee Norton
I/PS '02 Firebird 231 V6

i totally agree that the payouts are a slap in the face, not to mention multi million dollar companies welching on payouts for contingincies but what i am saying is that HOPEFULLY changes in the racers favor are on the horizon, or am i just wishful thinking out loud?

i totally agree that the payouts are a slap in the face, not to mention multi million dollar companies welching on payouts for contingincies but what i am saying is that HOPEFULLY changes in the racers favor are on the horizon, or am i just wishful thinking out loud?

BINGO! More or less my words...

Lee Norton
I/PS '02 Firebird 231 V6

We are NOT customers. WE are the show. You must get over the customer mentality. The folks in the stands are the customers. They are there strictly to see racecars. We bring the racecars. And yes, the racers absolutely deserve more !
Don't be silly, I didn't say 100k to win. I said more than now. We deserve it. Period !

Yes, 501c not for profit orgs. DO in fact make a profit. And are legally allowed to do so. No company can exist without profit. Ask your bookeeper how a 501c works.

>>pay someone to review and change the rules, then pay to have them enforced << Not a valid argument, all this is already in place, and has been for years. No extra expendetures there.

>> check your pan's for leaks more often <<
Thats what you have to say to a working man that just blew up his motor, and to add insult to injury just got a 250 $ fine ?
I must say, I don't agree with you on anything. It doesn't seem as if you have the well being of the racers at heart.

Mike ( madness & ) Mayhem