Purse Increase

[Erik]

looks like fuel cars will receive 50k, pro stock 25k, and 10k for psb starting in 2009 according to nhra home page

 

[D]

Wow, a $10/$5K increase per races for cars that cost $1.5-$5 million dollars a year to operate and the first purse increase in what 15 years? Stop the presses this is going to stop the mainstream media in their tracks, that Full Throttle sponsorship is really kicking in, this will take things to the next level

S/F
D

 

[NitroRichFire]

Isn't this still quite a bit off, with what it really takes to run these cars for a championship? How does this compare to round track cars?? Their expense VS the winning they get??? If you break it down, drag racing VS round track????

 

[ramblerjay]

nhra can't win on this one. if they leave the purse the same, then people complain. if they raise it (like they did), people still complain.

 

[Paul]

This is a 25% increase, granted the base has not grown in 15 years so the NHRA is still below covering the cost of inflation over the period.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

nhra can't win on this one. if they leave the purse the same, then people complain. if they raise it (like they did), people still complain.

You're right, Jason. But the bottom line is, the increase probably won't even make a dent in the increased cost for the tow diesel, let alone the operational costs associated with making the race car itself perform at a top level. On the other hand, if the money isn't there, it isn't there.

Times are tough all over, so to expect an entertainment business, that is reliant on patrons that are struggling to pay for the day-to-day expenses of simply surviving, to be able to create a measurable increase in the purse is laughable.

Sean D

 

[megadeth]

I believe the primary sponsor pays the majority of that cost it doesn't come out of the owners pocket.
But a purse increase of any kind should help don't you think?

 

[kd]

I believe the primary sponsor pays the majority of that cost it doesn't come out of the owners pocket.
But a purse increase of any kind should help don't you think?

May help the little guy buy a tank of deisel...give Forces office staff a few more $$, BUT...mainstream media, press, etc (the REAL world) wont blink until AT LEAST the INDY winner gets a MILLION.!!!

 

[mick]

glad to see the Nationals dangling extra $$ to win again.

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Very exciting! TF and FC winners will now receive only a little less than the last place finisher in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Crew chief for a two car TF operation told me it costs $125,000 per car to get to a race, qualify and race first round. IF you go rounds - $6000 per round.
Of course, qualifying is no longer a problem . . . if one of the independent teams doesn't show up after Denver, where #1 qualifier will get a bye run,
we'll see 14 car fields. Fans should be very happy to see the the top two qualified dragsters racing with no competition in the first round.

 

[kd]

Very exciting! TF and FC winners will now receive only a little less than the last place finisher in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Crew chief for a two car TF operation told me it costs $125,000 per car to get to a race, qualify and race first round. IF you go rounds - $6000 per round.
Of course, qualifying is no longer a problem . . . if one of the independent teams doesn't show up after Denver, where #1 qualifier will get a bye run,
we'll see 14 car fields. Fans should be very happy to see the the top two qualified dragsters racing with no competition in the first round.

Well said (AS ALWAYS!!!) Jim.

This purse increase should have been held back until REAL increase could have made news. THIS increase... another embarassment to are already freckled step child sport!

 

[NHRADeuce]

Wow. You guys would whine if you found a $5 because it won't buy a tank of gas. Considering most businesses are tightening their belts, any increase is good. It's still an extra 1.3 million up for grabs, better than nothing.

I'll be the first to take NHRA to task for the inadequate payouts, but at least they are going in the right direction for once.

 

[clwill]

Isn't this still quite a bit off, with what it really takes to run these cars for a championship? How does this compare to round track cars?? Their expense VS the winning they get??? If you break it down, drag racing VS round track????

Check out NASCAR.COM - How money is distributed - Apr 28, 2008. It explains (sort of) how NASCAR does it. Just one example: Jeff Gordon got over $90k for finishing 36th in one race (and that was the 5th highest payout in that race).

But no matter what, even in NASCAR, purses don't pay to run, even in the pros (and especially in sportsman). The ONLY way to break even racing is to have a good collection of sponsors. Period.

I applaud NHRA for doing something. Not a heck of a lot, but it's moving the needle in the right direction.

 

[Toejam]

Wow, a $10/$5K increase per races for cars that cost $1.5-$5 million dollars a year to operate and the first purse increase in what 15 years? Stop the presses this is going to stop the mainstream media in their tracks, that Full Throttle sponsorship is really kicking in, this will take things to the next level

S/F
D

I hear Mike and Mike from ESPN are headed to Glendora as we speak...

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

Does anyone have a comparison of the salary increases paid to the executives over the past 20 years against the payout increases for Professional class winnings?

Maybe the Pro payouts have increased more than brass' salaries over that time?

Now, where did that Easter Bunny go again?

 

[Rich]

Isn't this still quite a bit off, with what it really takes to run these cars for a championship? How does this compare to round track cars?? Their expense VS the winning they get??? If you break it down, drag racing VS round track????

How do you make a comparison? NASCAR has a HUGE television contract worth hundreds of millions and the tracks hold tens of thousands of people. Some of the high profile sponsors pay in the neighborhood of $20 million per year to sponsor a Sprint Cup team. On the other hand $50k to win is one of the biggest purses on the World of Outlaws tour (most are $25k and $10k).

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Wow. You guys would whine if you found a $5 because it won't buy a tank of gas. Considering most businesses are tightening their belts, any increase is good. It's still an extra 1.3 million up for grabs, better than nothing.

I'll be the first to take NHRA to task for the inadequate payouts, but at least they are going in the right direction for once.

Well . . . It's better than nothing, but not by much. If my math is right, this amounts to about $54,000 per race for the winners of three or four Pro categories (depending on if PSB runs).
With the price of nitro going through the roof, this purse increase won't even cover fuel costs for the winning TF or FC team. It does nothing for teams who do not win. The other 17 FC or 13 TF teams will just go further in the red.

 

[TAFC 5 81]

Maybe the Glendora Gang could not fit anymore in their mattresses (or they know they will get it back on their sole source nitro). I guess every little bit helps.

 

[kd]

Wow. You guys would whine if you found a $5 because it won't buy a tank of gas. Considering most businesses are tightening their belts, any increase is good. It's still an extra 1.3 million up for grabs, better than nothing.

I'll be the first to take NHRA to task for the inadequate payouts, but at least they are going in the right direction for once.

JIM YOUNG - QUOTE 10.
nuff said.

 

[kd]

How do you make a comparison? NASCAR has a HUGE television contract worth hundreds of millions and the tracks hold tens of thousands of people. Some of the high profile sponsors pay in the neighborhood of $20 million per year to sponsor a Sprint Cup team. On the other hand $50k to win is one of the biggest purses on the World of Outlaws tour (most are $25k and $10k).

THE nhra PAYS ESPN (PAYS!!!!!) to air their shows.

Powerade...nothing deal.
Full throttle...Glad handing...

GIVE me the Vitamin water deal at Coca Cola...1 BILLION.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Powerade budget this year...........................10 Million (all in!!!!)

Dont fight me ...Those #'s came from JON ASHER. !!!

PS-RCR has 5 sponsors and 4 cars for nxt yr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL-I say WE (us drag guys) BUY RICHARD CHILDRESS A FUELER and see what HE can DO!!! ( Rich uses his WALLET for personal use only!!!!)