Unfortunately, there are many lessons to learn in this area and two people staged up to run the same race may have different rules that apply to them. It sounds and looks like Rich is running Top Dragster for a profit ... so the CDL, DOT registration, annual physical, hours limitations, etc. apply to him.
We could be lined up on the other side of the Christmas tree and be running the roads 100% legal with none of that.
General applicability. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The above link is the section of the federal code that delineates the general applicability of these rules. If you'll scroll down the 390.3(f)(3) you'll note the exemption for "the occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation nor in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise."
Follow this link to Q&A 21:
Interpretation for 390.3: - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
and you'll see why everyone is not engaged in commerce, but some are...
Question 21: Does the exemption in §390.3(f)(3) for the ‘‘occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation nor in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise’’ apply to persons who occasionally use CMVs to transport cars, boats, horses, etc., to races, tournaments, shows or similar events, even if prize money is offered at these events?
Guidance: The exemption would apply to this kind of transportation, provided: (1) The underlying activities are not undertaken for profit, i.e., (a) prize money is declared as ordinary income for tax purposes, and (b) the cost of the underlying activities is not deducted as a business expense for tax purposes; and, where relevant; (2) corporate sponsorship is not involved. Drivers must confer with their State of licensure to determine the licensing provisions to which they are subject.
In Texas the common person carries a Class C license. That gives you the right to drive a vehicle under 26,000lbs for personal reasons and tow a trailer registered for under 10,000 lbs (it could be capable of hauling more, but it’s registered weight and ACTUAL weight must be less). People who drive RV’s generally have to carry a Class B license, that allows you to drive a personal vehicle weighing over 26,000 lbs. Then there is the Class A Exempt license that I carry … personal vehicle over 26,000lbs, trailer over 10,000 lbs.
My rig is 91 feet long and weighs 63,000 lbs. We generally put about 15k miles a year on it racing.
My insurance company issues me a $10,000 bond for $50 every year (Superheavy or Oversize Permit Bond, Form MCD-439) and I maintain an account with the State of Texas where I can go online and buy permits for being overlength.
Texas DOT cooperates with many other state DOTs (WASHTO regional cooperation) allowing permits to be bought online through one account. Or the people at Custom Permits can take care of you for stuff like that permit you want to have before entering Nevada!
My Renegade/Freightliner RV and liftgate stacker trailer are all white. My racecars are sponsored by nobody other than me and driven by my wife. We do not consider racing a business (couldn’t think of a worse business to engage in) and our tax returns reflect our winnings as a hobby.
I’m not saying that I’ll win every roadway encounter with a DOT officer (I have so far), but I’ll win in court every time. I'll readily admit I still get nervous going through those whole vehicle scanners on either side of El Paso when I'm driving the rig to Las Vegas. When the guy comes up to your window and says "is that a Lab laying on your bed in the back" you sorta feel like you have an afterglow for the next few hours!
If you do get a CDL, be very careful. A different set of laws apply to every CDL holder regardless of whether they are driving a big rig or their personal Toyota Corolla. The most popular difference (varies slightly by state) is a .04 BAC, instead of .08, for a DUI ...
