BIG $$$ Race
 

Watched the 5 Day Christmas Bracket Bash at Bradenton this past week. Tyler Bohannan did real well.
Next year SFG Promotions has got a bottom heavy payout for next year starting with the $500 3rd round, $1,000 4th round, $1,500 5th round, $2,000 6th round, $2,500 7th round, $4,000 1/4 final, $7,500 Semi final, $20,000 Runner up, $50,000 Winner. It is really racer orientated payout. 3 days with $50,000 to win each day + $20,000 warm up race. $999.00 Entry for event.

I remember the Stock Super Stock big 3 day race the previous year, believe there was another one in the midwest that year also. It was fantastic.

So, will there ever be another Stock Super Stock event?
Will the payouts change after seeing what SFG is doing?

Ron Ortiz
U/SA $?$?$?

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Saw quite the array of racers, Randi Lynn Butner, Jason McCandless, Spencer Massey, Dave Connoly, and the usual heavy hitters of the bracket world.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Hello Ron, all I have to say is what promoter in their right mind would put their time and effort into a race that will not yield a profit. Michael Beard tried, BOLD promotions (Bo, Jason L., Dave C.) tried, and Tyler Bohannon tried ……With that said, Tyler B. has another Stock/ Superstock race scheduled August 4-6 in Madison, Illinois ….

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Thanks MJ, BOLD Promotions, that's who it was. I was hoping that would have continued this or next year somewhere down south a little. Don't know what the profit margins are, but that new thing with SFG says otherwise.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

BOLD promotions lost $$$ dealing with Stock/Superstock racers …..On the other hand, SFG makes $$$ dealing with ( ) racers. TWO DIFFERENT CROWDS ……

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

They both pay money to race.
They both put a number on the car.
They both go down the track.
How are they different.

Win $50,000
R/U $20,000
Semi $7,500
1/4 $4,000
7th Rd $2,500
6th Rd $2,000
5th Rd $1,500
4th Rd $1,000
3rd Rd $500

Entry $999. 3 days @ $50,000 + $20,000 warm up race, that is 4 events per week

What does a National event that takes 4 days pay out? What is the entry fee?
Tell me again why it won't work for Stk SS.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Good question Ron! But, historically it never does work.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Simply because the majority of the class racers that whine about not having a big money race don’t show when there is one. When one comes up, the excuses start flying. They just don’t show.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Those big payouts are dependent on buybacks and double entries. Most Stock and Super Stock racers don't like buybacks including myself.
Then,if you don't have heads up races,half the people wouldn't show up.
If you have heads up races,the other half would not show up.
If you have more than 128,people would complain it's too easy to qualify.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Don't forget buybacks are a large part of the purse and buybacks will not be well received by class racers(I am one or them).

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Lack of grade points, maybe?

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Don’t forget that a number of stock/superstock racers won’t race unless a Wally and National Ragster are involved …

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

I believe that's part of it. Also, lack of Wallys.

My opinion is that, seeing we're involved in a highly specialized sub-culture, NHRA (and to a lesser degree, IHRA ) is the venue where most want to show off their performance in the form of qualifying, class wins, etc. The eliminator win is almost a secondary concern to many.
Therefore, big $$$ races are not as big of a draw as they are to bracket racers.
Some of my opinions are based on actually promoting S/SS combo races on a small scale.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

I went to the big money race at SGMP. It was a great time. Anyone that didnt go missed a awesome event. Lots of good food and a big party one evening. The weather wasnt totally cooperative and they had to group two of the 20k races into one 40K race. That was the only hiccup. There was a some issues with the timing and ladder but that got resolved pretty quickly. They had about 160 cars there and I thought that they reached a break even point at near that number. I was hoping that there would be another one of those events this year. Bo returned to Pro Stock, Line retired from Pro Stock and I am not sure if Connley is still working for what was KB Racing. I know he has a shock business that he is operating. All of this might have had some effect on more events. I was surprised that more didnt show up with that amount of money on the line.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

It's just math. The number of bracket cars far exceeds the number of s/ss cars out there. Difficult to race for big money, without huge entry fee's, if there aren't enough cars. Throw in all the obligations throughout the year, not sure where the masses of S/SS racers would have an open schedule and be willing to travel.

You could probably do something at a big money bracket race where the S/SS cars are kept separate and then the winner is put into the big race. This is done with footbrake cars at big money top races.

Just a thought.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Hello!! Ding-Ding!! We have a winner! Thank you James! Jim


.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

They will let anyone with the money enter, if someone wants to race for big money. They separate bottom bulb racers. No reason a stock or super stock car wont be competitive, especially since it's all eighth mile. Might need a bigger radiator . Better be capable of excellent reaction times. Give it a shot, they will be glad to have you.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

YO KEN , Kenny works his tail off ,plans the race, secures sponsor give away prizes,great payout, has the race at Numidia , and a very disappointing crowd shows up ….

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Seems to be a lot of different reasons, but am I missing something here.

NHRA $2,000 + contingencies to win. SFG. $50,000 to win
4 days = 1 race. 4 days = 4 races
No Buybacks. Buyback. I don't like buybacks either
If you're racing for $50K why not

Mike Pearson is right on.
Mike Gray lack of grade points. I know, I need at least 6 points to enter a race in my home state, so I have to travel to several states to get points.
442 OLDS with the talented drivers there, qualifying is of little importance, try surviving.
Roy Kinslow, great idea, could be easily done, need to get ahold of SFG to see. Motor Mania TV would be included.
Sure there are a lot of reasons, but if you look around drag racing is not as such a big deal as it was a decade ago. Atlanta, Houston, W Palm Bch are examples of what is happening. Soon, the people with their noses up in the air will only be remembering when they could.
But what do I know, I'm building a Stocker when tracks are closing, fuel is sky high, and the payouts are similar to 1990. As a side note, for the SFG races it appears you can win with a .030 light and be a hundred off. But there is a better chance of needing a double oh light and be dead on within 8. It's brutal out there, but you just need to beat the other person in the other lane.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

One of the problems I have is with the disturbing trend of 1/8 & 1000 racing in the bracket racing world . It was all 1/4 mile racing growing up . Sorry I like 1/4 racing . What's fun about doing something half way ? The buy back was something you just live with . It's good seat time & you meet some new car people.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

It’s a shame that stock and super stock racers will not support a big $ race
Sheeeeet most of the racers that complain about lack of prize $ won’t support local Stock and SS associations racing that pays back 90% of the $
Dave Lay has 5 race schedule at Atco and on Saturday we get 60 or so car them Sunday we get a little more than half the racers
Makes no sense
We race for good $ for $100 entry
And we race in New Jersey Atco
Where are all you cry baby local class racers ?
What’s your excuse people?
No Wally. Really

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Most class racers don't like 1/8th mile racing. Even if they had an NHRA race with 1/8th mile racing, most wouldn't go. Remember the grove race when we sat in the rain and 3 days later we went to 1/8th mile, alot pulled out. The next year, even people who stayed the year before went up to Dave Mohn as we sat in the rain and said if he was even thinking of 1/8 mile they were pulling out.

Our cars aren't built for those races, at least my car isn't. Most of the good bracket cars that run money races are big tire, big block, high mph cars with power glides. If we manage to go late in the rounds with those races, we can't cool our cars down or transmissions. When I ran the consolation race at the Classracer race, they were calling us back before I got my time ticket the last 3 rounds. My battery was dead with no alternator, my filled block was 30 degrees hotter even using my chiller with fresh water, and when I Ran Ronnie Morehead and puked trans fluid on the track, my trans was almost 300 degrees and I pushed the front pump gasket out from the heat.

another problem is the amount of weekends we race and the amount of runs some engines can go. I raced 7 divisionals, 2 opens, the classracer weekend, 5 Dave Ley races, Indy, the Sportnationals, and the Keystones. My engine is used up, and my vacation time and wallet was also. I dont really have a race that I could say I would have missed to spend 1000.00 and buybacks (another hangup) on a bracket race.

James, I agree, I don't know why more people don't attend the ECSSA races at Atco, it's a great race, great payout, and a chance to race and practice against some heavy hitters. I consider Daves races and the Classracer race my extent of non NHRA races. The Tyler Bohannan race is the same weekend as the Atco points race. I doubt many div1 racers will travel to his race instead of going to Atco that weekend.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

I think you answered your own question in the previous paragraph.

It's not that the money races aren't worthwhile on their own, but if you've committed to the NHRA trail then you already have a lot of weekends on the calendar and runs on your stuff.

I used to run a lot of 'medium bucks' races all around the area, and still will on occasion. For me, the slower pace of NHRA races are part of the appeal. The purse could be a lot better, but the exposure is also lower. You aren't ringing up a $5K+ tab in a weekend, the race is going to be 6-7 rounds, and you won't lose in the semis to the car you beat first round.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

The heat issue is a great point. On double entered races, it's a real issue.Going into next year, I have 2 sets of cars for the nephews. Big money bracket race cars and NHRA cars. It's almost impossible to find an NHRA legal S/SS that can run the rounds needed for big money bracket racing, on top of the issues of quick turn arounds. Much less be an actual competitive S/SS.

Not uncommon for us to put 3-400 runs on an engine over the course of a season for bracket racing.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

I was just hoping that another Sportsman race for Stk & SS like BOLD put on. I see how SFG Promotions is setting up a bottom heavy payout for high $$ for next year and was wondering why the Sportsman couldn't pull off something like that for half the payout. I understand the thought process of having a fun four days of a national event and all the associated events within. I also understand the heat and wear and tear on equipment. And I understand all the other comments, I just wanted another Sportsman race, but it appears that the number one problem is the racers themselves not showing up. That is really confusing.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA Grumpy was right.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Sadly, Ken Miele announced today that there will be NO CR Nationals in 2023. Racers need to look no further than the mirror to realize why the CR Nationals was not renewed. There you go Ron ….

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Numidia 1500 miles from me.
Still...I was really considering going. In the end the thought of towing that far to get my butt kicked 1st rnd in a heads-up race made my decision.
However if there was one in D4 I would still go!

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

If money were the primary incentive for a racer, they wouldn’t build a S/SS car.

Yes, there are a lot of complaints about NHRA payouts, which are embarrassing, but for the most part racers want better payout while still maintaining the rest of the NHRA experience, whatever that means to each racer.

The money by itself obviously isn’t it.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

[QUOTE=Lenny5160;673696]If money were the primary incentive for a racer, they wouldn’t build a S/SS car.

I will drink to that . AMEN Lenny ….QUOTE]

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Well we still have contingencies to fall back on. Heard that there is a whole new line of them that could come on board. Instead of performance based items there could be such things as eggs, you know, a dozen to win, half a dozen to R/U. Quickly followed by the dairy companies, then there is the meat industry. The possibilities are endless.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

[QUOTE=MR DERBY CITY;673705]Call me crazy for building one but what I did out here on the west coast was to make sure I could use the car for more than just NHRA stock eliminator. I am purposely building an older car than can run nostalgia races and I'm using the largest radiator allowed along with a trans cooler in case of lapping or the hot temps at Bakersfield and Las Vegas.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Ron, if we continue to invest?? the amount of money we have in our
"Stock" Eliminator operations, for the current sanctioning body purses,
we may HAVE to race for groceries.

J.R.

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Ya know, I've spent years (literally) trying to teach Racers how to race with junk for junk (literal junk for a purse that is junk) and the only thing that I can ASSume is that an awful lot of Racers have a terrible ego problem or they need to get new accountants!

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Billy. I just didn't want to drive a race car that was slower than my High School street driven car. Heck I was driving an L-88 69 camaro to high school and running 11.80's on weekends in 1973. What fun would it have been to "race" something slower. My wife put her foot down and said "nothing faster than mid 9's". The reason being when we grew up bracket racing she noticed every time a car, or a pair of cars went tumbling down the track they were usually faster than her recommendations. My choices were all about thrill, and rules from the rules committee. LOL

Re: BIG $$$ Race
 

Jeff, I can appreciate you racing whatever you choose to race. BUT, ya know what the coolest/craziest/strangest thing about S/SS racing is? "Fast" is relative to your index.
OBTW, my high school ride was a very fast 57 Chevy and I'd have gone for a hundred against your Camaro.