NHRA Division 1 - Purse & Entry Changes for 2020

[Bobby Fazio]

There really was no need to raise the entry fee on D1. The payout could have been raised forever ago. 128 stockers at the Maple Grove Divisional last year. That was $21,760 entry fees just for stock. $6200 was the sum payout for all who made it to round 3 and beyond.

I would say take the average LODRS car count across the country for Stock, SS, Super Street, Super Gas, and Super Comp and if the entry goes beyond that at a given event, the purse should increase by some sort of step or percentage.

[BKSG1198]

Oh boy, we have the math guy involved now...haha.

I totally agree, I think maybe a $10 increase in entry fee and still do $2,000 to win could have been done. Like you said D1 is one of the highest car counts in the country along with D3. I looked at the math and you can correct me if I’m wrong Bobby but, I think at 64 cars they actually make $300 more profit then they did at $170 entry at 64 cars but, either way we’ll all line up at Atco in May, a few will be in the dark the entry fee even went up and we’ll all take our beatings and go on because it’s a drug, an addiction and with no other avenue to go too we keep giving in.

[Dave Turner]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

There really was no need to raise the entry fee on D1. The payout could have been raised forever ago. 128 stockers at the Maple Grove Divisional last year. That was $21,760 entry fees just for stock. $6200 was the sum payout for all who made it to round 3 and beyond.

I would say take the average LODRS car count across the country for Stock, SS, Super Street, Super Gas, and Super Comp and if the entry goes beyond that at a given event, the purse should increase by some sort of step or percentage.

I have it from a very reliable source(thank you Dave Mohn!), that Stock entries averaged 97 in D1 last year.

[SGSST109E]

The track costs go up as does the vig to NHRA for each event. It is what it is.

[James Perrone]

Please. Stop crying. Of coarse they didn’t need to raise price
But they did and there paying more.
Could have raised it and give us nothing. Thanks Dave Mohn.
As I write this I’m at the casino lol. Pre$$. it up.
Think about this... it’s $340 for nationals event .. $1500 is the winners check

[Mepprecht]

Have to remember top alcohol doesn’t pay at the gate... a lot goes to them! Don’t forget that!

[Chevy55]

If you want to race divisional y'all gotta pay and unless Sportsman Racers can come up with some magic way to increase spectator interest and fill the stands nothing is going to change!

[Bobby Fazio]

Originally Posted by James Perrone

Please. Stop crying. Of coarse they didn’t need to raise price
But they did and there paying more.
Could have raised it and give us nothing. Thanks Dave Mohn.
As I write this I’m at the casino lol. Pre$$. it up.
Think about this... it’s $340 for nationals event .. $1500 is the winners check

Perrone 17 black all the way. I'm headed to Borgata in a few minutes.

Don't get me wrong I want tracks to succeed and stick around forever. It would be nice for them to try attracting spectators and increase revenue that way. I see Atco has free spectators at the Open which is awesome, but people have to know it is actually going on. I have been on Maple Grove for years about really taking advantage of the Memorial Day Weekend divisional and packing the house. Hopefully the new owners will bring some fresh ideas make the track something special. Free carloads after 3pm and charging $20 to park the car and $20 more to get to the pit side just doesn't cut it.

[BKSG1198]

I mentioned a few years back (Pre Dave being the head honcho) about letting me help out with marketing D1 races. I mean the paper on my wall does say "Marketing Degree...lol". One of the biggest assets that we have isn't even used and that's the great sponsors at PC Richards. You have stores miles away from the track and don't utilize them to the public in the area. You should gather a few local racers, Maybe a Alky Car, COPO and park them in front of the store and make an event out of it, maybe offer those racers a 1/2 off discount into the race and a decent parking spot since they won't make it there till Thursday. I was told before well we put free tickets out on the counter for people to take if they want.....Ummm Hello, if I just bought a brand new 72 inch TV with all the gadgets and fixings, I'm worried about getting that sucker home to install instead of looking for free tickets to a race but, I was told a car show would never work.

Billy K. at Maple Grove does great work with the local High Schools to get them to attend more events and Chris at NED (i see he's bringing it back this year) did stuff with the local camp he helped out at for the D1 race. You have to make it cost effective for people to come watch and explain it to them. People don't go to Eagles or Flyers games as a family anymore because it's a $500 night. I went last Saturday and 2 beers cost $24....thank god we got free tix off of a fellow racer. Maple Grove deal is cool to watch Alky cars,Top Sportsman & TD but, you throw a qualifier and 2 rounds of Comp into it and nothing against Comp, it takes someone to really understand Comp to get it and why they shut off at 1/2 track when someone goes red or only runs it out to 1,000 foot on a bye. We almost have to make Saturday Nights of D1 races into a mini-thrill show, all us sportsman are more or less done by 3pm on Saturdays so the fans don't have to see the boring throttle stop cars, etc.

[Billy Nees]

I think that the key to "Marketing" this whole deal is the "Car Show" side of the whole thing. Ya know, in this day-and-age what is the difference between Hershey or Carlisle and the MG points meet? You've got hundreds of people who love their cars and love to show them off and will gladly talk about them with anyone who asks. The only difference is that a "Drag Race" breaks out!
People, at least in my area, still love cars. There are young people standing in line to buy every 3RD gen. Camaro and FOX Mustang they can find. There are older people who are always looking for a reasonably priced older car (2dr, 4dr, unpopular body styles, just decent cars) to go for rides on the weekends and take their grand kids for ice cream in.
I've got a group of kids who hang out in my neighbors garage playing with their Mustangs and Rams and S-10s and Neons and they think that "NHRA Drag Racing" is TF and FC! They don't think that there is any place for them there. So much for NHRAs marketing plan.