Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

There's a promoter who is doing what Earl did to make Eldora famous at Mansfield right now. Throwing out large money for purses and attracting cars from all over the country without having the outlaws there. The purse doesn't pay as well on down, but still like $2k+ to start. Hopefully the SCWC continues on next year as well.

He's doing some big things with the late mdoels woo with the dirt million, something over $350+k purse right now for night two. Not half bad at all.

Looking on the Late Model side there are "crown jewel" events such as the USA Nationals at Cedar Lake near me where they have paid $50,000 to win for years.  We're about as far north as they can get so regardless of how much they change the purse it wouldn't necessarily attract more teams.  Some simply won't come up here so fans got together and created something called the "fans fund" where fans contribute to a fund and drivers they'd like to see are offered something like $1,000 (don't know the exact amount now but that's what it was) to come and race the event.  If they don't accept they move down the list to the next name.  Fans fund has a meet and greet luncheon where the drivers they invite can mingle with the fans and it's a great deal that is as fun for fans to chatter about on the message boards as it is to actually watch their guests race.

Some things to keep in mind regarding purses.  There is only one winner so if the event pays $50,000 to win the strong teams that have a realistic chance are probably going to already be there.  Secondly, what does it pay to start the Main?  That too is a gamble with the Kings Royal where cars are so evenly matched that one night they can be running for the lead in the Feature and the next night they watch it standing on the roof of the hauler.  So really, if the winner's share were raised to $100,000 would that increase the car count and bottom line proportionatley? 

I had some pointed conversations with promoters about promoting events back when I was writing and got in on some of the inside scoop.  This was in regard to a local TV show but the same principle could be applied to purses.  They were supporting a local racing television show that I was involved in on an over the air broadcast channel.  The next year they opted to drop their sponsorship as their studies showed that the show "preached to the chior" in that it didn't increase the number of fans over previous years.  In the same sense with purses you've got the distance, part time racers with work and vacation conflicts and drivers running for points at their local tracks.  They all understand the basic truth that there's only one winner and whatever it pays to start only covers the cars out of a paying spot in the Feature. 

I agree that in the eyes of the racers purses could be more but there are a lot of factors that come into play.  Their gate for the final night was less than a lot of tracks charge for a regular Outlaw stop so that price point at the gate no doubt contributes to their record crowd last night.  I don't believe that an all time event record crowd and over 50 strong cars and drivers is much incentive to increase the payout.  If I was a business owner I would handle it the same way.

Stan Meissner

Funny but how much did Tony spend to earn $50000 compared to the money spent by the 50/50 winner to get his?

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Can you imagine winning that 50/50? I'm poor enough that it would change my life!

I agree... what does it pay to start the A Main now?

"The importance of fans knowing the purse structure is overrated as it has never affected my decision on whether I should attend a race"....but that skips a step. It doesn't directly affect fans, it draws more & better teams, which in turn draws more fans. I say increase payoff for teams that finish further back, keeps the whole sport alive

They could bump ticket price up a bit and it would still be reasonable.  I went 2 years ago and I think reserved seat was like $35 for Saturday.  Could be $40 and it would still be a good deal.  Especially compared to a typical $30 gate for a regular outlaw show.  Extra $ could go to purse.  

I looked it up, couldn't find 2018 purse, but in 2016 it paid $3000 to start Feature, $2000 for best non qualifier. 
Not too shabby, but for risking their lives, I'd like to see more....

I agree.  Share the wealth down through the field, including the preliminary features.  It wouldn't hurt to bump up the winner's share slightly to keep the KR the second highest paying race during the month of money but I would rather see payouts increase across the board.

I dont understand how that 50-50 worked.  I was watching on dirtvision at home and I swear they said I could go to the website and buy a ticket for the 50-50.  I live in South Dakota BTW.  So they must have some online gaming liscense that allows them to sell across state lines?  That seems .......tricky......prob not right?  I also saw that the tickets were new technology as well.  Printed tickets like Powerball type lottery.  Not the old raffle tickets you buy from the cute girls that have the "wheel" of tickets

Most fans only pay attention to the winner's share. What did the drivers get who made the A? 

I don't think the Knoxville Nats has gone up much either, at least to the winner, but if you make the A, I think almost $11k just to start, and that's just for Saturday night. 

Highest paying?? Knoxville, Mansfield, Eldora, Jackson... 

Keep It Real

For the winner, Tuscarora 50 will now pay $51,000, supposedly going up $1,000 every year

You must have missed the part where they said "for Ohio residents only" (or some wording to that effect)

The Williams Grove National Open is $56,000 to win.

Yes sir.  Missed it. Thanks for the clarification. 

And they stopped selling tickets before the heat races were finished.  Told me their printers couldn't keep up with the demand.

Thats why the Mansfield race was so great. Didn't know who was going to win. Couldn't pencil in none of the WOO.

Last year the Tuscarora 50 paid $50k to win, and just $800.00 to start I believe. The total purse was like $105K. Not sure along with the winners share what else may have gone up wtih regards to the purse this year.

why ruin a good thing...?

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

Really? Last I knew it was $50,000 but 2-24 was still pretty much a regular outlaw purse (12 for second and like 900 to start).

A