[Mike Carr]

Using current entry vs payout ratios in NHRA and IHRA, using a 63 car field in Stock

IHRA 63 cars x 135 per car = $8,505 taken in.
Payouts (round money plus Win and R/U) = $2,840 (3,040 in Super Stock); 33.3% payout of entry fees; IHRA keeps $5,665

Since the five lower Sportsman Eliminators (Stk, S/S, Q/R, S/R and H/R) are the same payouts (+/- $200), IHRA at that race would make, approximately, $27,500 per race, per day, based on entry fee at the gate vs payout. $55,000 for the weekend. Not counting the $40 per crew member for the weekend. This sounds great, unless the cost of the track and IHRA for the weekend is over $60K to put those events on. It would seem that IHRA could be better served to up the round money a bit (currently, you need to get to the fifth round to break even or a little better for your day's entry) to help possibly draw more cars and make the money back that they put into the payout.

BTW, NHRA, based on the same 63 cars, takes in $10,710 (@ $170 per car) and pay out $3,900, keeping $6,810, making their race a 36.1% payback race. Not much better.

Obviously, IHRA and the track probably made little, to nothing (probably lost money), on the Immokalee races. Though I do believe the low car counts are a reflection of the low round money paid out. A racer from up here would tow 1,200 miles one way there to race, make it to the 4th round both days (if it were a six round race), and actually lose money (won $240, paid $270 to race). A person, even those who love to race, would look at that scenario and say "Nah, I'll pass".

I think if IHRA were to increase the round money, or lower the entry fee a bit (getting to the third round gets you your entry fee back) would be a plus to perhaps draw more cars to compete.