Field Fillers ?

[The Counterfeiter]

Stay with me here! There is a big article in this month's Car & Driver about "Start & Park" teams in NASCAR. Teams show up, qualify, run a few laps and park - winning an average of $20,000 per race. No spares, one set of tires, no pit crew. One Nationwide series team won $1,200,000 last year doing this!
So . . . is it possible for a TF team to do this because they just wanna be racing? One qualifying run on Saturday and go to the line on Sunday with the possibility of winning several grand. I don't know what the payout is for qualifying or round payouts, but I'm pretty sure top ten teams do get some extra money as the season progresses.
Is there enough money in doing this to keep an unsponsored team going?

 

[MM]

no you'd more than likely lose money if you did that

 

[kd]

Stay with me here! There is a big article in this month's Car & Driver about "Start & Park" teams in NASCAR. Teams show up, qualify, run a few laps and park - winning an average of $20,000 per race. No spares, one set of tires, no pit crew. One Nationwide series team won $1,200,000 last year doing this!
So . . . is it possible for a TF team to do this because they just wanna be racing? One qualifying run on Saturday and go to the line on Sunday with the possibility of winning several grand. I don't know what the payout is for qualifying or round payouts, but I'm pretty sure top ten teams do get some extra money as the season progresses.
Is there enough money in doing this to keep an unsponsored team going?

...Best in 09 JIM!!!

If I remember right...first round= $9000.
And the powerade bonus was $2k for every race you maintained top 10 status...

Based on the nhras 07 tax return...5.5 million profit could pay a poop-load of ROUND MONEY...!

Jim or ANYBODY else...Please explain a non-profit org.,...having a profit...!

 

[clwill]

Jim or ANYBODY else...Please explain a non-profit org.,...having a profit...!

I've done this at least twice for you -- maybe it'll take this time...

A "non-profit" is only that with respect to the IRS. It doesn't mean "loses money or breaks even", it means "doesn't make a profit for the shareholders". That means that the people who own NHRA shares don't make money on their shares. The business can make a profit, but there are restrictions on what they can do with the money they do make -- most has to be reinvested in the business.

That clear?

 

[Mooseman]

most has to be reinvested in the business.

That clear?

Quick everybody grab the popcorn , I can't wait to hear how people respond to that lol .

 

[Just Paul]

Best case would be to have a single car team run a 2nd car, one session on Sat, get in the show, service the car for Sunday, then idle it down Sunday Morning. No extra crew or trailer needed.

Joe Amato ran 2 cars out of 1 trailer in Reading 98. Bill Walsh made 1 lap in qualifying, got in the show, and made first round, so it can be done.

 

[Toejam]

no you'd more than likely lose money if you did that

Don't tell Paul Smith that! He did that at several races in the 90's till NHRA banned alternates buying spots.

 

[kd]

I've done this at least twice for you -- maybe it'll take this time...

A "non-profit" is only that with respect to the IRS. It doesn't mean "loses money or breaks even", it means "doesn't make a profit for the shareholders". That means that the people who own NHRA shares don't make money on their shares. The business can make a profit, but there are restrictions on what they can do with the money they do make -- most has to be reinvested in the business.

That clear?

Got it!....sorry missed the others Chris...your sarcasm was soooo nice too!

EDIT: Chris-found ONE of same message Just done by you...Be NICE or I will bring Don skuzas CADDY up again...!

...NOW...BACK to Jims Thread.....

 

[MM]

Don't tell Paul Smith that! He did that at several races in the 90's till NHRA banned alternates buying spots.

costs were a little cheaper back then...ask Paul how much is costs to rent his car and equipment for a weekend and its more than 1st round money

 

[Toejam]

costs were a little cheaper back then...ask Paul how much is costs to rent his car and equipment for a weekend and its more than 1st round money

First round money was around $5,500 back in the mod 90's, I bet it cost a lot more than that back then to bring a Rig and car to the track. The key is "Selling" your position, which is how PS made his $$$, can't do that anymore.

 

[kegs]

If I remember correctly Virgil pulled out a second car when there was a short field and made one pass and qualified.

 

[Hey you!]

Jim, I remember just a few short years ago when your guys like Morgan Shepherd, Carl Long, and (Indy) Andy Hillenburg would show up and qualify five seconds off the pace and then make a handful of laps then pull off and collect their $$$$$$$$ starting money. Nascar made a rule that you had to qualify within a half a second or so many tenths from the pole sitter in order to start the race. I assume that's still the case today.

 

[Toejam]

Last year at Seattle Ron and Craig Smith (No relation) showed at for their first NHRA race in a few years. Don't think the short fields didn't influence that decision, make one squirt, get your $9,000! Pretty simple if you can do it.

 

[Nunz]

With 9K paid to first round losers, I don't see how it makes any economic sense. To go through all that it takes, as far as money, people and time, just to get a fuel car to make 1 lap at a national event, I would guess it's a losing proposition. There are a lot easier ways to make 9 grand! Plus, that's assuming nothing goes wrong. Anytime you pull a rig out on the road, the risk of something expensive breaking is there, and obviously, anytime you even fire a fuel motor, well, you know... I think the only legitimate lure is for a team who really wants to race, but has not had the budget to compete, this year they may have a shot to go a round or two because of the (expected) shortage of cars.

 

[Toejam]

With 9K paid to first round losers, I don't see how it makes any economic sense. To go through all that it takes, as far as money, people and time, just to get a fuel car to make 1 lap at a national event, I would guess it's a losing proposition. There are a lot easier ways to make 9 grand! Plus, that's assuming nothing goes wrong. Anytime you pull a rig out on the road, the risk of something expensive breaking is there, and obviously, anytime you even fire a fuel motor, well, you know... I think the only legitimate lure is for a team who really wants to race, but has not had the budget to compete, this year they may have a shot to go a round or two because of the (expected) shortage of cars.

Nunzio, does anybody in Drag racing do it to make money? As far as the $9,000 First round cash, it's more about the chance to make that money as opposed to leaving with nothing! Now I thought NHRA paid any Fuel cars $3,000 to make at least one qualifying pass at Natl. events, not sure if that's completely accurate or not.

 

[Nitrohelper]

....... that decision, make one squirt, get your $9,000.......

Plus you get to hang out with the teams & fans at your closest National event.
The $ 9,000 helps to defer part of the $15-20K to make that one run .
Those teams won't travel very far from home. They want to "Fire-Up" the grill, and have a few!
Rent-a-rides have been over $25K/race for three laps, now that may come down with open fields...
..... you are sure to get 9K more after you collect the rent.

 

[Big Sexy]

I think it is possible to do this, mind you I said possible, not practical..

Do it "Mr. Magoo" style, and use a 45' Gooseneck and a Dually. Only need a few pop-up tents, a cooler, and 4 people including yourself. Remember, you are only trying to qualify, and it can be done if we only have 9 to 10 cars at each event. If you qualify and get the currently reported figure of 9K for the race, and went to all 24 events and qualified, you would make a whopping 216K.

 

[Toejam]

Plus you get to hang out with the teams & fans at your closest National event.
The $ 9,000 helps to defer part of the $15-20K to make that one run .
Those teams won't travel very far from home. They want to "Fire-Up" the grill, and have a few!
Rent-a-rides have been over $25K/race for three laps, now that may come down with open fields...
..... you are sure to get 9K more after you collect the rent.

Jerry, not to mention the free tuning help that usually comes the low buck racer's way when at the Big races.

 

[nitro]

Biggest problem for the Field Fillers is having a legal chassis in Top Fuel and Funny Car. My McKinney chassis is 10.1e, has less than 60 passes on it. NOT LEGAL for NHRA. So it's match racings at IHRA tracks for me in 2009.

Paul Weiss

 

[Mooseman]

Biggest problem for the Field Fillers is having a legal chassis in Top Fuel and Funny Car. My McKinney chassis is 10.1e, has less than 60 passes on it. NOT LEGAL for NHRA. So it's match racings at IHRA tracks for me in 2009.

Paul Weiss

Doesn't SFI sell the plans for the new chassis upgrades , couldn't you just get some pipe a tig and a pipe bender and uprgrade it yourself , sorry if I sound like an idiot but I have seen McKinney's price tags and i honestly think you might as well just make your own chassis for a great deal cheaper .