cost of stock/super stock racing?

[skills]

As a fan it's hard to understand the cost of class racers. After seeing the prices of the new factory cars I was wondering what is the true cost? With car, trailer and truck and or motorhome how do you guys do it? Is there a way the racing organizations can not only put the fun back in it but lower the cost? One of my retirement goals is to perhaps try my hand at stock and was wondering what does it take?

[ALMACK]

Depends on how much someone wants to spend I suppose.
Right now, there's no limit on how much a person can sink into one.
$ 100K for a bracket racing stocker ? Plenty of those out there.

On the other hand... if someone is just trying to get into the program on a budget, the entry level class is IHRA Pure Stock.

This is my first year in PS and I wanted to see if I liked running a class car without commiting a bunch of my retirement funds on building a NHRA Stocker.

So far I have a little over $ 4,500 in the car with used parts ( including the 3,500 I paid the car lot for it) and it just barely runs under the I/PS index.
O.K. with me as I can upgrade the Mustang slowly as disposable income is available and hopefully make it a full Stocker.

[Michael Beard]

With car, trailer and truck and or motorhome how do you guys do it?

Baby steps. Started class racing in the late '90s with a 4-cyl FWD car, because it's what I could afford (and even then, only with a lot of help). Had a lot more help over the years. Terry Knott gave me a ride in his Stocker, and he and Jeff Ross helped me in various ways to initially purchase my Volare. Since then, I've sunk a ton of money into it, but those racing expenses and upgrades to the operation have been covered through winnings. I won my open trailer in a shootout race when I was a kid (Thanks to Steve Sweitzer who sponsored the shootout). My truck was paid off by world championship winnings. By not having a giant toterhome and trailer combo, I figure I'm a few hundred thousand ahead of the game.

One foot in front of the other... 15 years ago, I never would've dreamed of where I am today. Hopefully I will be able to continue upgrading a little bit at a time. Maybe I'll have a bigger truck and a 2-car open trailer before I retire.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Baby steps. One foot in front of the other... 15 years ago, I never would've dreamed of where I am today. Hopefully I will be able to continue upgrading a little bit at a time. Maybe I'll have a bigger truck and a 2-car open trailer before I retire.

Damned! The kid was listening!

[Rusty Davenport]

Save your money, sit back and wait----you will know the right time to jump on a complete ready to go car........most likely from a frustrated racer who wants to sell without thinking.........take it from a pro-frustrated racer who has made all the mistakes.

[Pistol Pete]

Skills:
It all boils down to " how fast do you want to go" in a Stock Elim. car ??

If you do not mind 13 seconds & slower, you can buy a 80 Malibu, it's either
U or V /SA right here from N.J. for like $8,000.
You probably can find an open trailer for $2500.
That leaves you with a tow vehicle, you can probably find a nice used Suburban
for $6-8 grand.

So i'd say you can be rock n rollin for under $20k.

If your looking for a tow vehicle i might have one for you.

Pistol Pete
1374
I/SA

[Ed Carpenter]

I found out the hard way after buying my car. Its not just the initial expense its everything after that. I would be scared to add up everything I've spent on my car and mine is miles from being as nice or competitive as other cars.

[Julie Jordan]

Like any hobby, you can try to "keep up with the Joneses" or you can make your hobby fit within your means. As others have said before, you don't need huge toterhomes, RV's, stacker trailers. A simple pickup and open trailer will get you there just fine. Do an annual budget and determine how much you have to spend on your racing operation, then limit your racing and expenditures accordingly. You don't have to have the quickest car in your class or be in one of the faster classes. There are very successful racers who race in the lower classes of stock and SS eliminator and do just fine. You have to leave your ego at home and race within your financial parameters. There is nothing wrong with that.

For most of us, drag racing is a hobby. As such, spending on this activity should be a low priority item in your budget. I know too many racers who have no health insurance, no retirement plans, a lot of debt, but they have fancy racecars and tow rigs. I think that's part of the reason our Country is in such bad shape. We spend without consideration for the income and the future. Personally, that's not how I want my finances to be.

So, jump in. Do as Michael Beard says and take "baby steps". The people are great out here and I guarantee you that you can have fun and still race affordably.

[GTX JOHN]

Baby steps is right..................never spend more than you can afford.

Try to work an extra half day a week on something to generate some more
money to spend.

Spend time looking for deals on everything and talk to everyone. Do not
be ashamed to ask for help or make an offer on something.

Forget about qualifying on top or winning heads up races.

Maintain and check every part on car for problems regularly.

Remember there are many things in life much more important
(Think Health, Family, Faith, Work)

Irving Family Racing

[Billy Nees]

This thread is getting me all teary-eyed and hopeful that Drag Racing might just survive itself!