Field Fillers ?

[gerrymack]

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!

Jim, working on your average payout here, the Nationwide team would have had to turn up to 60 races ... and considering the season was only 35 races long I don't think winning $1.2m by just turning up and doing a few laps was possible at all...

In fact, a quick look at the Nationwide standings/winnings for the 2008 season shows:

- only three teams earned more than $1.2m
- those three teams won 19 of the 35 races
- only eight teams won more than $1m
- 160 drivers contested the series in 2008, but only 12 did the full 35 race schedule

Just thought a few facts thrown in might help!

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Jim, working on your average payout here, the Nationwide team would have had to turn up to 60 races ... and considering the season was only 35 races long I don't think winning $1.2m by just turning up and doing a few laps was possible at all...
In fact, a quick look at the Nationwide standings/winnings for the 2008 season shows:
- only three teams earned more than $1.2m
- those three teams won 19 of the 35 races
- only eight teams won more than $1m
- 160 drivers contested the series in 2008, but only 12 did the full 35 race schedule
Just thought a few facts thrown in might help!

That team that C&D was referring to had two cars. That number came from their article. As far as the qualifying speeds, teams have to run the same engine that they qualified or go to the back. I doubt the "fillers" engines would make 10 laps -

 

[clwill]

i honestly think you might as well just make your own chassis for a great deal cheaper .

Wow, when you're talking about strapping yourself into a 300mph rocket with a 7000hp bomb in it, I would think the chassis would be the last place to go cheap. Maybe get a slightly less expensive hauler trailer, and go for the proven pipe, IMHO.

 

[clwill]

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

I apologize, I've posted that same explanation many times in the last couple of years, I see that you're right and only responded to you once before. Sorry.

 

[FuelCarBuilder]

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 .

There's alot more to it than you probably realize William.

 

[Mooseman]

There's alot more to it than you probably realize William.

I don't know about over there but here in new zealand as long as the final chassis product is upto standard you can make it yourself . I enquired about it with the NZDRA because when I get into drag racing I want to make as much myself to save money , and they said that when I get around to doing it I can make the chassis myself as long as its upto standard .

 

[Nitrohelper]

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

Very true, and to pick-up some good used parts to go with it.

 

[clwill]

I don't know about over there but here in new zealand as long as the final chassis product is upto standard you can make it yourself . I enquired about it with the NZDRA because when I get into drag racing I want to make as much myself to save money , and they said that when I get around to doing it I can make the chassis myself as long as its upto standard .

Like so many things in life -- just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[gerrymack]

That team that C&D was referring to had two cars. That number came from their article. As far as the qualifying speeds, teams have to run the same engine that they qualified or go to the back. I doubt the "fillers" engines would make 10 laps -

Still $600k per car Jim and averaging $20k a race each one's going to have to turn up 30 times ... two cars for 30 races, entry, travel, accommodation ... still going to burn through a lot of money and effort so the $1.2 wouldn't be looking great at the end.

NASCAR publishes complete list and prizemoney on its site, so did the article name the team?

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Still $600k per car Jim and averaging $20k a race each one's going to have to turn up 30 times ... two cars for 30 races, entry, travel, accommodation ... still going to burn through a lot of money and effort so the $1.2 wouldn't be looking great at the end. NASCAR publishes complete list and prizemoney on its site, so did the article name the team?

"The No. 90 and 91 MSRP Motorsports Chevrolets had 61 starts . . . and 61 DNF's in 2008, quitting in virtually every race but winning $1,225,778."

The team is owned by the wives of former driver and broadcaster Phil Parsons and Randy Humphries (whoever he is). A photo of the #90 pit before a race shows no tires, gas cans, tools or pit crew. Car & Driver is not known for making stuff up. You can bet your a$$ that there won't be any coverage of quitters with empty pits on national TV!

 

[FuelFC]

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.

$216K Gross.

Your cooler is empty and you guys don't eat? Dang. You do have to spend something to leave the house Justin don't you? LOL.

Damn and I thought I knew cheap. I worked for her. And we had to use all six sides of the rags.

 

[Wes]

Hey...I know!!!! NHRA should welcome Nostalgia AA/FD's and AA/FC's into Top Fuel and Funny Car to fill the fields. Yes? No? Maybe?

 

[gerrymack]

"The No. 90 and 91 MSRP Motorsports Chevrolets had 61 starts . . . and 61 DNF's in 2008, quitting in virtually every race but winning $1,225,778."

The team is owned by the wives of former driver and broadcaster Phil Parsons and Randy Humphries (whoever he is). A photo of the #90 pit before a race shows no tires, gas cans, tools or pit crew. Car & Driver is not known for making stuff up. You can bet your a$$ that there won't be any coverage of quitters with empty pits on national TV!

Not saying they're making it up, just found it hard to believe.

Thanks for the team info, did a little research online and, yep, it's all there. In fact, one driver, Johnny Chapman, drove 27 races for them, 4 dnqs and averaged 20 laps per race ... makes a mockery of the system and I find it hard to believe they allow something like that to happen. 61 races would still chew up a lot of cash, but with 61 dnfs not that much!


MSRP Motorsports The most proftiable NASCAR team of 2008 - Sports Business Digest - August 2008

 

[Mooseman]

Like so many things in life -- just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Yeah but I look at it from the view of if I build my own chassis for myself and I crash and hurt myself then thats my problem , it would be different if someone else was in it though

 

[Gipraw]

Not saying they're making it up, just found it hard to believe.

Thanks for the team info, did a little research online and, yep, it's all there. In fact, one driver, Johnny Chapman, drove 27 races for them, 4 dnqs and averaged 20 laps per race ... makes a mockery of the system and I find it hard to believe they allow something like that to happen. 61 races would still chew up a lot of cash, but with 61 dnfs not that much!


MSRP Motorsports The most proftiable NASCAR team of 2008 - Sports Business Digest - August 2008

That process was occurring in Cup also, and it is the basis behind the Top 35 qualification rule. Guys with cars that could make the whole race were getting out qualified by the start and park guys, so they put the top 35 rule in to reward the guys at the bottom that were making the financial commitment to run the whole race by keeping the cars that were in permanent qualifying trim from keeping them from the race.


Maybe some of the fully sponsored teams might be willing to lease some approved pipe to one of the local guys for the weekend at a very reduced rate if the local guys used their own bullet? Any chance that could work ?

 

[clwill]

$216K Gross.

Your cooler is empty and you guys don't eat? Dang. You do have to spend something to leave the house Justin don't you? LOL.

Damn and I thought I knew cheap. I worked for her. And we had to use all six sides of the rags.

And let's not forget that these events are scattered all across the US with an ugly schedule. I think someone calculated it as about 20,000 miles (back and forth across the country many times). So you're looking at something like $6500 in gas (at 8mpg and $2.50/gal for diesel), let alone the time (and per diem) for the days of driving... Ugh...

 

[Big Sexy]

$216K Gross.

Your cooler is empty and you guys don't eat? Dang. You do have to spend something to leave the house Justin don't you? LOL.

Damn and I thought I knew cheap. I worked for her. And we had to use all six sides of the rags.

Gross is correct Jim-

Gotta look at the big picture, otherwise you would cry at night! I feed 6 guys on my team and put them in the best hotels 20 bucks can buy, and can get a 3 or 4 day race in for about 300 or less total. You can pack 4 guys into a room.. Been there, done that.. I got a hotel for my guys at the March Meet this year, and the sheets had stains on them in the shape of a body! That is class, but do you want the Ritz or to race?

Again, someone with the time, and desire can do it, and maybe come close to breaking even or a small loss, but if you do it this route, you are doing it to "do it" and not for the $.

As for a legal chassis, that is an issue one would need to overcome, but once purchased, it is purchased, and does not cost much to feed, so that expense is covered. ..... Maybe!

 

[Ponyhntr]

So you're looking at something like $6500 in gas (at 8mpg and $2.50/gal for diesel), let alone the time (and per diem) for the days of driving... Ugh...

Those trucks actually get closer to 6 mpg than 8. Re-doing the math and it's approz. $8300 for fuel, then you need to add in oil changes, other services, tires, tolls, IFTA taxes, liscenses, speeding tickets (these guys haul A$$ to the next race), etc.

You're looking at AT LEAST $10k just to get TO every race, then you have food, hotel, ground transportation, etc.

 

[davey]

I don't know about over there but here in new zealand as long as the final chassis product is upto standard you can make it yourself . I enquired about it with the NZDRA because when I get into drag racing I want to make as much myself to save money , and they said that when I get around to doing it I can make the chassis myself as long as its upto standard .

I wouldn't strap my azz in anything that I built!!!

 

[Toejam]

How did Hadman, McKinney, Plueger or Don Long ever become Household names in Chassis building if they couldn't build their own cars to begin with? I'm sure if someone's home built car passed tech NHRA wouldn't deny it competing. But I'm sure they'd inspect it after each pass early on.