Purses & Contingencies
 

With the announcement of this year’s NHRA Contingency Sponsor list and what appears to be a very short one at that (although I believe we’ll find that by the time the first car pulls into the water box in Pomona in less than a month, that list will grow), does anyone realize that there is only a small percentage of racers who will be lucky enough to take advantage of the money posted? As an example, at most divisional events, there are only 16 racers (winner and r/u from the eight “core” classes – TAD, TAFC, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Gas and Street) who will be able to pull from the now-reduced list. This begs to ask the question: Does it REALLY matter to you if that list had 100 or just 50 sponsors? For some, the “thought” of being able to “win” the big money is a risk they’d like to take, but does it really MATTER? What WOULD cause you to either attend or not attend a race?

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Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

First of all, the quote,,,,“thought” of being able to “win” the big money " is a little confusing. The NHRA payout is very little if you win compaired to the possable contingency winnings. Regardless, we all love to race and everyone including NHRA and IHRA knows that, it is an addiction, a passion that never goes away. With that being said, most of us race because we love it, and if we win, then the money is a great bonus, with the exception of a few, Dan fletcher, Biondo, etc who do it for a living, thats the icing on the cake. ,I have my one and only Walley placed where I can see it everyday, but the monies I won that day are long gone, but I would have traded the money for the memories and the trophy any day.
Fortunatly for me, in this troubled time, I still have a good job and everything is status quo, "knock on wood", so I will keep going racing as I can afford and things will change for the better, History repeats itself, As long as NHRA upper management addresses it somehow and it doesnt seem as though they are, but who knows what is goingon behind the seens, we will all be driving many miles again just spend a lot of money riding around on our golf carts and B,S ing with each other and going a few rounds, complaining about something of course, but thats part of the fun.
The only thing that could keep me away right now would be affordability, and I am going this weekenfd to get myself a new scooter, doing some improvements on my race car and doing my share of stimulating the economy. Hopefully that will continue.
Sorry for the long Jason type rambleing. No offense Jason, I like your mpost.
Tony

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

Sure it makes a difference John, especially for those of us that have 6 hour tows to every single race. At some point, if contingency were to go away completely, you'd basically be saying that I would be competing for:

1. $1,000
2. A nice shiny trophy
3. Sometimes a grade point (if it is a division, open, or Sportsnationals)

I certainly like Wallys, and I can't get that anywhere but racing at NHRA events. But, if I can race locally for the same $1,000 every single week (and sometimes more), and then you factor in the cost to get to an NHRA race, without the contingency money there is little to no incentive to travel to these races.

That said, even as the contingency stood last year, LODRS events were questionable at best, but unfortunately if you want to go to National events (and go for the potential big payout), they're a necessary evil. So, I will most likely go to 3 LODRS / opens to get a decent grade point, and then I'll be out (unless by some miracle I'm leading the division at that point, where I might be tempted to chase the gold card, but even that's unlikely as the cost doesn't justify it for a guy that would only go to a total of 5 or 6 NHRA races).

Now, if I lived in southeastern PA or NJ, it would be a different story. If I had 5 LODRS events (of 7) and 4 opens (of 5) within a couple hours of my house, I'd attend all of them regardless. But I don't, nor do the majority of the racers D1.

This is a different topic, but it seems to me that NHRA could use some presence outside the southeastern PA / NJ area...

And no offense taken Tony!

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

No disrespect John, But isn't that like asking someone if they wanna make $100,000 this year or $50,000?

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Dear John,
I can't believe you just posted that.

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

I second that. I replied further on the S/SS forum.

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

well i know im new to the super class racing,but i can tell you this...i do not rely on winning for me to be able to enjoy racing. i have my share of wins,but now im looking to get into a more competitive and "more testing" type of racing. the money to win to me is just a added bonus.i do have confidence in my abilitys,but i can honestly say i dont expect me to win every race i enter,but i am sure i will have the best time racing and meeting new people along the way.....just my .02

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

B Chillik. I agree with you that it's about the friends and just being able to race, but that can be found racing in your local area and at the weekend bracket race.

After this I'm sure many may have already changed their schedules for 2009. The SS/BA Superstocker will probably see more time bracket racing this year than anything. As of now I'm not driving 4 to 12 hours to NHRA/IHRA races that cost 8-10 times more for the entry fee and pay nothing more than the weekend bracket race. If you want trophies then stop by the house and I'll give you some for free, but those are from my days of playing TEE ball and Little League:) The trophy is nice also, but I at least want the chance to make the LONG trip worth my while monetarily.

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It's simple, the real racers will go where the money is.

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This was not a stupid question, nor is any "disrespect" taken. we'd just would like to know what it is that would make you attend or not attend an event. If it's just the money you're after, much like a gambler going to AC or Vegas, why not go bracket racing? It's still racing. Run under the dial/index and you lose.

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

John,

Not for nothing but I have collected enough contingency money in the past couple of years for it to show.....now the point of this being a problem is that people will be faced with the simple fact of "DOLLARS and SENSE" (not cents) It does not pay to spend $150-$170 entry and 3 days of racing to win $2000.00 when anyone can go local brackets and spend $50-70 entry and win $800-$2000 in one day. Not to speak of all the other inclusives (fuel, food, lodging, ect.) I can tell you one thing....simply if we cant win $5000.00 divisionally and $15k-20k Nationally..... NHRA racing makes no SENSE

When I roll through that gate I think I have the confidence an experience to leave with the money and trophy...If I cant rely on money than I can race a street car at my local track to win a trophy..

!!SHOW ME THE MONEY!!

I will NHRA race but will do more bracket racing than NHRA stuff if things dont change (I live too close to not race some NHRA)

Re: Purses & Contingencies
 

I think a better question would be,,,,,,,, what is a reasonable amount of time to be paid by these companies and how should NHRA deal with slackers?

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True that SC1153 you could not be more right. I go to every race excepting to win ( of course that doesn't happen all of the time) but I look at the winners purse not what it pays to win the 4th round. I run my racing program as a business and have been fortunate to break even or make money since I started the business format on my taxes. If I didnt think that I could win some money to support my habit I would most likely buy a boat, join a country club, get a few atv's etc etc... if I just wanted to BS with friends and have fun. There is local bracket racing within 60 miles of the shop for $150 entry pays 2,000 Saturday and 5,000 to win on Sunday and another track even closer that has a $75 entry for $3000 to win, there would be no reason for me to drive to a NHRA race 8 hours away for 3 days that wouldn't pay more than these. Racing is Racing to me I go where the money is, the cars dont know weather its a National event or a local bracket race.

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less money, less initiative, i cut way back on traveling a few years ago, and the nhra's nickel and dimeing us to death....

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John, I think braket racing is great. I am furtunate enough to race where I please. I beleive 98% of us race for the social experience including racing, friends, BS and BEER! This economic time will force most to make choices about where and when. I hope we all continue to race, whatever the venue. The few Lucky Big Dogs if you will, this contingencey thing, is huge to them. For most it's like gas prices, whatever. I think the fact that fuel has crept back up to 2.00 a gallon and the Dow being back up to 8800 are good signs, very good. People can not keep this grim outlook, life is going to go on. Basic goods and services are a must, like gas, they cost what they cost. Anyway, your question is sound and fair, I will not continue to race NHRA if they get much more obtuse to the sportsman racer. I will chase big money brakets, or local 2000 races for that matter. Hope this answers your question. Jeff

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Jeff, I think you just want to stay home and race with all the crazy's at the Trails, Spent way to many nights up there with Beer in my hand out visiting!!!!!!!!!

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Maybe, dont forget the nuts! Nah, I like to travel some.

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If its a gambling analogy that you're looking for, then that's what you'll get.

In short, its all about the preference of the game. As a card player, I can play Blackjack or Texas Hold'em. But, if the purse and entry are the same, and we assume that I'm just as good a player at either game, I'm going to play the one I ENJOY more, which is Hold'em (S/C, S/G, or S/St). But, if you tell me that its 10X the cost for me to play Hold'em and the winnings potential is the same or less, I'll be taking my money over to the Blackjack table (E.T. racing)

Hope this helps put it into perspective..