Is IHRA Going Under?

[Carguy49]

Originally Posted by MikeMoller

I think the sanctioning bodies and the track operators need to do more to get butts in the seats. I knew a dirt track operator up north who ADVERTISED the races locally - radio and TV - and ran promotions for discounted tickets. The ticket prices charged to see a NHRA/IHRA divisional are way to high, not family friendly. I'd rather have 100 spectators at 5 bucks a head than 10 at 20. How about 25 bucks a carload? As the dirt track operator told me, you can't sell a hot dog to an empty seat.
The NHRA Divisional at Charlotte was not advertised at all, not even on their website. The Charlotte track had no information on schedules, run times or ticket prices.And there were only a few food truck vendors there, no track operated vendors at all.

You make a very good point, Mike. Yes, advertising does cost a lot these days, but without it nobody knows when these events happen. I remember Sunday, Sunday, Sunday on the radio in the old days. Most local events are so poorly attended that the stands are basically empty. At our local track (Pacific Raceways) we had a Stock Super Stock Combo as part of the Super Saturday program. Many cars there to participate, but only 50 or so people in the stands. On Sunday was a nostalgia show with AA/G cars (high 6's @ over 200) and many other very cool cars and a car show. Spectators in the stands - best count I got was maybe 100. Again most were, probably, friends and family of the racers. No advertising for this event and so much to see and hear.
Another point that has been brought up is the cost of food and beverage. Very few racers eat track food because of cost and quality. For the cost of 1 meal at the track ($15) I brought food to cover the whole weekend and still had leftovers. The cost for spectators has to be reasonable to fill the stands.