I saw a response that got me thinking about ways to fix the current model of low car counts.

Do you think tracks are doing a good enough job of paying out through the field?  Some tracks promote a high-dollar race, like $4,000 to win, but is the rest of the field being paid out higher than a normal race?  We need to find a way to have cars come to the track.  If cars/teams are going to be losing money each week by not finishing in the top 5 (which can be tough because they are competing against teams that may have unlimited spending), will they continue to come?

Also, the sportsman division, in my opinion, needs a revamp of payouts.  $100 to take the green is simply not enough.  I am not sure if $200 is enough.  Costs have gone up, but have payouts?  

I'm excited to hear what people have to say about the topic.

T-Hem

How are you going to increase the payout deeper in the field when everybody is already gripping about the admission prieces? 

Furthermore......Advertising 10K,20K to win or whatever, is what puts fans in the seats. I'm pretty sure that if this weekends 76er was advertised as the 12 place finisher was going to receive 5K instead of 30K to win you would still have the same exact attendance.

I get what your saying but there are no easy answers. The only way to increase the purses through the field is to get more sponsor involved. Only problem with that is there are far better ways to spend say 10K advertising your local business then say just giving it to the Rodgers family for purse increases.

" the sportsman division, in my opinion, needs a revamp of payouts. " 

What about the other divisions like the Street Stocks and 4-cylinder classes? Even if you revamped all the payouts, that will not increase car counts. It still costs a lot to field a car today on top of the maintenance. Oil and gas prices on top of food inflation are on the rise. Making racing harder and harder for the average person to field a car today. 

The tracks have their own issues, expensive insurance, and staffing needs on top of property taxes. Most tracks are losing fans due to several reasons. They can not afford to increase gate fees. One track that is racing in NJ this weekend, I'm skipping because of the $27.00 gate fee while the Modifieds are not on the schedule. 

This is a classic case of "it is what it is". A lot of tracks are barely making a profit, or are losing money. $4000 to win is hardly a  big paying race these days, some tracks pay more than that to win a weekly show. To raise the purse you'd need either a lot more people in the stands weekly, or raise ticket prices, which a lot of people are complaining are too high already. All competitors  are losing money unless they have sponsorship, no real solution to this.

It costs Cale $700 just to go before he turns a lap

2 rear tires

every 2-3 races a right front

racing fuel is $16.00 a gallon

diesel fuel

pit passes

You can't raise the gate fees anymore.  Compared to big league sports the cost is cheap, but 2 seats a few weeks ago at the nimor league Lancaster Barnstomers were $31 combined.

Im my opinion, today's purses have not kept up with the cost of fielding a modified, or a sportsman (AKA crate mod) for that matter. However, I don't see how promotors can raise their ticket prices and expect not to lose some fans.  Maybe it can't be done but I feel keeping the cost factor of race car in check might lead to  increased fields. I still don't understand how the racers "that drive for a living" can exist on  $2500 to $3000 Saturday night racetracks.  I guess its possible when sponsors that supply the tow rig, the fleet of engines, and the tires.  To me, that shows there's a problem when in todays "local" racing world, you need someone behind you with deep pockets.  I know I'm dating myself, but drivers like Buzzie Reutimann, Bobby Rossell and Will Cagle raced for a living with their own cars.  Cagle and Reutimann dd have sponsors, but I don't believe the had deep pockets.  I'm convinced that fabricated chassis (Bicknell, Teo, Troyer) are here to stay, as is today's situation regarding tires.  But I think attacking the high dollar engine is a viable solution to where race tracks might get additonal hot rods without increasing their addmission.  Scott Ely  

When I ran Flemington in the street stocks the Pay out was three fifty to win. New right sides were two fifty so I figured out real fast that it wasnt worth buying new tires every week. So with that in mind I knew the pay out for the top five was petty good. Now I was racing every week due to working all over the country. So I would fly in to nj and race every other weekend . Now I would ask to start in the rear as I wasn't racing for points, save my tires and finish in the top ten or top five and go home with a hundred and fifty or so enough it pay every one pit fee and eats on the way home. I knew I couldn't wreck my stuff so I had a good motor from Bitner that was fast and reliable and Goodyears that if you took  care of them would last because the heat cycles made them harder and got better as the race went on . So sometimes the payout vs expenses is what you need to look at . If you ain't a big buck team some times it pays to race smarter not harder. Iam not counting the fun factor as as that was worth every penny.

Bowman Gray, 17,000 fans, Mod feature on regular Saturday pays like $1400.

Flemington, late 70's, early 80's.  60 Sportsmen cars trying for a 24 car feature. Many nights walked to the payout window under the grandstands to get the tow money. $20.00 used to pay for Weiner King meals on the way home.  When we made the show, ate at the Circle Diner.  Good old days for sure!

Hey Sprint the Weiner King had the best Chilli Dogs ever....Circle Diner had the best coffee...Im still looking...