NHRA CONFIRMS TO TEAMS ITS 2024 PAYOUTS (1 Viewer)

[Randy]

I can tell you this when we won in87 we made close to 20g with contingencies or last nat. win with cont.7g

We won TA/FC at the 2009 Las Vegas Nationals (October event), and with contingencies we won about $11,000. When we won the 2012 Winternationals we won about $7,200. All the contingency sponsors had left. We did get manufacture credits on future purchases from a handful of our suppliers. We used to joke how the super stockers and super gas racers with all of their contingency decals would win twice what we won.

 

[twostep]

We won TA/FC at the 2009 Las Vegas Nationals (October event), and with contingencies we won about $11,000.

Less than half of what you should have won.

Kudos to the major skills of the professional golfer but they certainly get ridiculously compensated. Their Indy equivalent, the Masters, pays $3,200,000 to win in 2024 plus who knows what from various sponsorships. 20th place paid $324,000 last year, not 6500. With no need for half a dozen or more crew members, 6 figures worth of tools, a transporter and no worries about damaging equipment unless you get pissed off for missing a 3-footer and take your wrath out on your putter.

In all seriousness, every one of the NHRA purses should be doubled, from Top Fuel to the lowest Stock class, effective March 7, 2024.

 

[Rich D]

I agree the purses should be higher and Mike and Randy's comparison in the alcohol ranks is not a good sign. That being said, comparing payouts to other sports and pointing at one or the other as being unfair or out of line is short-sighted. We have to remember that payouts are mostly a reflection of how many eyeballs are watching the sport. F1, Nascar, NFL etc. all have massive TV deals that are reflected in the payouts and salaries. The needle won't be moved much in drag racing until more people are watching. It sounds like NHRA may be on the cusp of a more lucrative TV deal in the next couple of years. If so, then that will be the time to call for them to "share the wealth". At the moment there is not a lot of wealth to share.

 

[Randy]

I was watching a show years ago that was following a golfer who just got his PGA tour card. He and his dad were going from event to event in a 20 year old motorhome staying in campgrounds. At the driving range of one event, the dad made a comment how it was really something, to see his kid hitting golf balls, traveling in the motorhome while the guy next to him hitting balls was fellow golfer Phil Michelson, who flew to the same event in his private jet.

It is said, 10% of the golfers make 90% of the money, and 90% of the golfers make 10% of the money. It's all about endorsements and sponsors and the money advertisers spend in each sport.

Some people play with the boat on weekends, some ride motorcycles, some play Pickleball, and some have a two car top fuel team for fun. All depends on your fun budget.

 

[Rich D]

We won TA/FC at the 2009 Las Vegas Nationals (October event), and with contingencies we won about $11,000. When we won the 2012 Winternationals we won about $7,200. All the contingency sponsors had left. We did get manufacture credits on future purchases from a handful of our suppliers. We used to joke how the super stockers and super gas racers with all of their contingency decals would win twice what we won.

Randy (and Mike),
From someone who raced during this decline in contingencies, where would you place the blame? Did NHRA not foster the program with the manufacturers, or did the companies decide over time that it didn't make financial sense? It used to be such a vital part of the reward, particularly for the sportsman classes.

 

[twostep]

I agree the purses should be higher and Mike and Randy's comparison in the alcohol ranks is not a good sign. That being said, comparing payouts to other sports and pointing at one or the other as being unfair or out of line is short-sighted.

It's not unfair; life isn't fair anyway. I understand that major golf tournaments, NFL games, etc draw an infinitely larger fan base than any drag race which explains the huge payouts. I just used it as an example. Still, somehow it just doesn't seem right. NHRA is never gonna pay a race winner $3 million or even 5 percent of that number; they don't have anything close to PGA or NFL money as you pointed out - but IMO they can do better.

Racers "Do it for the love" but that only goes so far.

 

[Butch]

Randy (and Mike),
From someone who raced during this decline in contingencies, where would you place the blame? Did NHRA not foster the program with the manufacturers, or did the companies decide over time that it didn't make financial sense? It used to be such a vital part of the reward, particularly for the sportsman classes.

I wonder since all the individual parts makers ( contingency ) got bought by large corporate investors has any thing to do with low contingency payout.

 

[NITRO JUNKIE]

Great to see that the payouts have gone up. More money, more cars, it looks like Mission will do a great job. It will be interesting to see what else they can do for the sport!

 

[Randy]

Randy (and Mike),
From someone who raced during this decline in contingencies, where would you place the blame? Did NHRA not foster the program with the manufacturers, or did the companies decide over time that it didn't make financial sense? It used to be such a vital part of the reward, particularly for the sportsman classes.

Tim Hyatt and a lot of the supporters in manufacturers midway were priced out. Seemed like no one cared that many of the manufacturer midway trailers kept teams on the road with the inventory they carried and the racer services they provided. Even as a smaller team we were forced to buy our own machine shop equipment for the trailer, including clutch resurfacing equipment. Plus little things, like a way to keep C02 bottles full because all that stuff we took for granted disappeared. When it was happening we had people from other teams coming to our pit to use our stuff. We were happy to oblige.

 

[Joe]

Great to see that the payouts have gone up. More money, more cars, it looks like Mission will do a great job. It will be interesting to see what else they can do for the sport!

They must make all 4 sessions for only a few thousand dollars more.

 

[Rajunz]

Confused.... 4 qualifying runs # 20 gets $5400.... 3 qualifying runs #20 gets $6500 ??

Yeah, that part looks like a typo.