[rboyle]

Racing of any kind is not and never has been cheap. It is for most of us a secondary part of life. A hobby, a fascination, an addiction, a secondary source of income, a part of the business you are in, etc. Most it is not the primary source of income but something we do with our spare money or whatever.
Race fuel, slicks, engines and transmissions set up for any type of racing, safety equipment, support vehicle and trailer, entry fees, hotels, gas, tolls, and time off work it gets expensive real quick.
Racing is a luxury that many can't afford, racing at the National Event level is a privilege.
Know this going in and it is much easier to accept.