Erica pulls out of Sonoma & Seattle

[Ed Wright]

Maybe you would want ton pick up the tab for them running those races? Or, maybe finding them a big sponsor to fund it? Elite Motorsports is not their sponsor. That is the Freeman's, the owners. Working stiffs racing on their own dime, doing their own engines, etc. Am I the only one impressed by that?

[Carguy49]

There are a couple of things that are very apparent about Erica's team. First - is what they have accomplished on THEIR OWN DIME. Sure they have some backing, but not nearly enough. Second - why hasn't someone with deep pockets stepped up and backed this team. Look at what they have done and they said that they weren't going to run the whole season. I believe they are as amazed at what they have done as anyone. I truly think that team has what it takes to win the Championship. Look out for the future - GO ERICA and team.


Even Bob Glidden has called her to congratulate her, and he is still the best in my book.

[FireSale]

I may be a lone detractor here, but I still question her commitment to the Pro level of the sport. She did skip Chicago last year to run someone's Pro Mod (Ricky Smith?} for fun.

People who don't follow entry lists pay high ticket prices to see these top flight drivers and cars and expect them to be in the field. A lot of spectators wouldn't be very happy to fight the traffic and find John Force, Robert Height or Doug Kalitta took the race off because they had a nice point lead.

As it stands now, NHRA can't fill a 16 car PS qualifying field with real qualifying. Can't find 20 competitive cars to fight for those spots on race day so we have the Ford and Pontiac cars being wiped in the first round just to fill the slots. My hat's off to those drivers for just having the nerve to show up at the track against the MOPARS and ELITE motors cars.

She's popular with the fans and has a very strong car but still can't find a consistent full ride sponsor. Why is this? Last year when her car seemed to have a different color scene at every race, any public discussion on ESPN regarding sponsorship seemed to revolve around her saying she needs a sponsor to give her money to keep racing. That's always the bottom line, but a team leader just doesn't say that in public. If I were a potential sponsor I would be looking for a team that would represent my product or service with pride rather than just take my money and run. Lucas Oil backs several racers who don't have winning records because they are individuals that the company wants representing them at the track. I think Erica has a ways to go in this area.

Call me an independent thinker.

Dale

[Ed Carpenter]

Read a pro stock thread the other day and a few of the pro stock guys posted on it saying it cost 70,000.00 plus per race to field a car. That's why car counts are down and teams are skipping races. I'm sure that's why Greg Stanfield has missed so many races this year. That's insane how much it costs. I don't know how anyone does it.

[FireSale]

Originally Posted by deuces wild

Read a pro stock thread the other day and a few of the pro stock guys posted on it saying it cost 70,000.00 plus per race to field a car. That's why car counts are down and teams are skipping races. I'm sure that's why Greg Stanfield has missed so many races this year. That's insane how much it costs. I don't know how anyone does it.

At 16 races per year that's 1.2 million per season, which is about right. That's a tax write off to some degree for a sponsor.

Dale

[ALMACK]

I think she is doing a fine job of driving.

And the whole team right now has the right chemistry.

Congrats to that whole team on their accomplishments !

I feel certain that pulling out of 2 races is purely a business decision, not a blow against her fans.
I would imagine she really wants to race.

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by FireSail

At 16 races per year that's 1.2 million per season, which is about right. That's a tax write off to some degree for a sponsor.

Dale

IF you have a sponsor who can "write it off". All a "write off" does is lower your taxable income, you are taxed on that much less. It's not like you get that amount back in your pocket somehow.

If your racing on your own dime......

And, since the Freeman family pretty much races out of their own pockets, they do not "owe" it to anybody to show up for a race.

[Lee Valentine]

Firesail, as a former P/S crew chief all I can say is you don't have a clue.Try running a competitive stoker and multiply it by 20 times and stay on the road 30 weeks a year. Lee.

[FINESPLINE]

Originally Posted by FireSail

At 16 races per year that's 1.2 million per season, which is about right. That's a tax write off to some degree for a sponsor.

Dale

And I guess you believe the politicians and the news that the economy is getting better by the day. There is not a lot of corporate money available to fund the high end racers. If you don't have it to front the effort , you can't write it off.

[FireSale]

Originally Posted by FINESPLINE

And I guess you believe the politicians and the news that the economy is getting better by the day. There is not a lot of corporate money available to fund the high end racers. If you don't have it to front the effort , you can't write it off.

What I mean is that money spent by a company on name bearing racing operations is a tax deduction as advertising expenses. IE: Lowes and Dewalt in NASCAR. The cars are billboards. If Elite, Summit and Jegs don't write off some of their racing expenses then they need new accountants.

Dale