Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenny5160
Are you aware that 65 cars is a 7 round race? And that is before any provisional entries get in.
At this year's Gators in Super Stock, the 5th round loser gets $500 and 6th round loser gets $650. Do you honestly think that the primary motivation of cutting quota from 80 to 60 is to avoid paying two guys an extra $150 each? The Winner and R/U purses do not change.
If we assume NHRA is being honest about the insurance charge and the entry is $210, they are choosing to give up $4200 in entries to save that $300 to the semifinalists plus a couple more cars in the earlier rounds?
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They can't load the schedule. There has to be the ability to get the TV stuff done on time AND get the race completed. They probably make that $4200 up, and a lot more, playing ads on the jumbotron during down time/track prep. 20 years ago, that entry ($245 IIRC) got me and another person in. Likely a case of oil, brake clean, deals from people on the Midway, maybe some other swag. $15k+ if the car was stickered half decent. And 650 to lose 6th round IIRC. God only knows how much less a competitive car cost to build and maintain, and the tow rig and travel cost.
Back then, the purse was relevant. Now, it's so insignificant, most people don't even pay attention or know what it is. Unless you go to the final, it's just grocery money for the weekend. Just another detail that's no longer published in the Dragster.