Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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There's been several purse increases in alot of world of outlaws races  lately what are some of the races everyone would like to see raise the purse for? There are two that come to mind for me first is ironman 55 20 grand is weak step it up make it 55 grand make it stand out more. 2nd one is world finals, way overhyped race for the purse need to be 25 or 30 grand to win to stand out more

Jackson Nal in June is now 100K to win on Sat night

If you increase the Finals to 30 for sprints you almost have to do that for 2 other classes so that would be an extra 60G give or take.

However I dont know how many teams show up actually thinking they are gonna get the winners purse. Maybe 6 to 8 have a constant chance. I think more money thru the field would attract more cars and more cars equals more gate.

Imo.

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

The World Finals pays $32k to win each night with $130k plus purse each night with the 3 classes. It’s already one of the best paying shows, albeit spread out over 150 plus cars. 

Ive always thought if I won the lottery, I’d have a tri-track WoO mini-series with Kokomo, Tri-State and Pevely and I’d pay the first 2 races $20k to win and the Ironman 55 $55,555 to win.

I don’t think Pevely has enough seats to justify that purse as is but it would be cool. 

I do think it’s also time for the regular base purse to $12k to win and $1k to start. 

I meant 25 or 30 to win not just purse should have clarified better

They need to pay B and C main cars more.  To pay some one $100.00 or so dollars is a little on cheap side.  Fans want to see good car counts.The non WOO drivers and crew have to pay pt fees  to my  knoledge.  That is $30-$45 dollars per person.

I agree 1000000%!!!! Everyone is worried about what the winner gets, but what about the guy who finished 10th? 18th? 24th? Or even B main cars. If the WoO wants bigger fields and have more than 24 cars at some shows, then pay more further back 

The Crowd Pleaser IS THE BEST ever!

Also agree

Winner's purse is more impressive, but we need to keep the "little guys" in business

Promoters have a lot of things to take into consideration before raising purses.  Is raising the purse going to result in more cars or are they pretty much maxed out based on their location.  No sense throwing more money at well attended events with car support if it's not going to make any difference in the quality of the event.  

Stan Meissner

I am not so sure for a regular WoO show that paying a couple hundred dollars more per car deeper in the field is actually going to draw any more cars.  Either there are local cars in the area to support a show or there are not.  

Doubt many local car owners are going to decide to complete at a WoO show just because 6th place in the B-main pays $500 rather than $250.  In fact I question if they even know or care what the B-main pays.  

Lets take the 2019 WoO show at Black Hills Speedway for example.  The promoter decided to pay $20k to win vs the normal $10k.  18 cars showed up.  18th paid $800, not a bad payoff for that spot.  Lets spread that extra $10k that went to the winner through the field so that 18th now pays $1000.  Do you honestly think any more cars would have showed up?  In fact I argue that the promoter threw away $10k because the same 18 cars would showed up anyway.

A shrewd local 360 or even 305 driver/owner might play the NASCAR start and park game. Show up, run a few hot laps, the time trials, run a couple laps in the heat, pull in and then start the main, run a few laps and pull in be scored 19th and probably be the only car that actually made a profit!

I ll never own a sprint car so take this for what it is worth but I doubt I would ever do the start and park for $800. Not even if I lived across from the track and could push my sprint to the track.

I wouldnt feel honest about it.

I'm  sure the adrenalin would take over and I'd stay out till I was black flagged for being 6 laps under the leader

There are easier and more honest ways to make a few hundred dollars left over after costs than tick off your competitors and promoter.

Who races for money???

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

Agree with the two previous posts - pains me to have to agree with Stan (j/k Stan).

Worked with a race track for several years.  Their major annual event they decided to move start money from $2,000 to $3,000 and adjusted all positions 12 - 28 to go up (added nearly $30,000 to back half of the field purse) in hopes to draw more racers to event.  The result... one (1) more car than the previous year.  Over 85% of the field was the same as the prior year.

That's what makes me scratch my head about racers.  Other than track conditiions, purse is the number one complaint from most of them.  Their costs to travel, costs for motors, cost for tires.... yet a promoter changes the purse to pay deeper throughout the field and nothing happens.  The best part, not one driver, crew member or team owner said thank you for increasing the purse... NOT ONE.  Drivers, crews and race teams say they want to be appreciated... same goes for the promoter or race track owner when they stick their neck out for the race teams.  Would have been great to have a least one driver say... "thanks for the increased purse... we appreciate it."

For the many promoters, these event are already a sellout or near sellout so why add the extra purse they are not going to recoup?  Yeah, I get that you need regional/local race teams to support the event but the days of 50, 60 plus cars at an event are done (other than the mega-events).  Why... there are so many regional and local series to choose from.  Why go race and fight with the best 23 other drivers in the country when I can run a regional event paying $5,000 to win and fight against 3 - 4 guys who have a legitimate shot to win.  With a two or three race weekend on the regional series, I walk away with more money than I would racing that one major event.

There are MANY other things promoters can do to attract more cars.  The really good promototers know this.  The races with the most cars are often the best promoted events but may not be the highest paying events.  For that you need to look to the region they race, the regional events happening around them (do the promoters work together) and the promoter himself as to what he does to help and create a great track and atomosphere for race teams and fans.

Just raising the purse DOES NOT mean more race teams or a better event.  Most promoters and fans attending these events are happy with the quality of the show as it is now.  Racing diehards want to see more... but it is easy to play with Monopoly money... it is another thing when we have to write the checks from our own account.

Respectfully,
Rich Olson
Minneapolis, MN

Obviously you don't own a sprint car. Other than OH, PA, and CA, most WoO races have several cars just hoping things go their way enough that they make the A main. If they do make the A they know their chances of passing many cars are slim to none. It's not unusual for them to race until they get lapped and then get out of the way. They know there's no use in using up what equipment they have when they have no chance to make any more money. They also don't want to be that guy that causes an issue for the guys making their living doing it.  If you want to call that dishonest that's you're puragotive. But I can promise you many many guys definitely consider the financial aspect when they make decisions. When it's your money things look a little differently.

I would rather have drivers start and park over the assholes that intentionally cause a yellow when they know they are about to be lapped. The ones who do this will get butthurt when they read this so there is no point in naming names but it has and DOES happen. I have never had a problem with a driver taking an opportunity to make money in this expensive sport where that opportunity is so rare especially when they can do so without disrupting the show.

Nice of you not to name names, I was about to get the popcorn ready.lol..

      I have a hard time believing that any local 360 or 305 driver/owner, shrewd or otherwise, would come out ahead making $800 or even $1,000 for starting and parking. On top of that, the chance of breaking or crashing makes it quite a gamble.

This happens.   I have seen it happen.   I was walking the pits at Lakeside during a WOO show in the recent past and I overheard a 360 driver talking to a friend that he was called (track/promoter/outlasws/???)  to come to the show to help fill the field.   He did what others stated, he made laps until he was about to be passed and then pulled off.   He didn't complete the heat, but transferred to the A main because of low car count.   He made his laps in the A main and then pulled off.   He used he old tires and kept expenses as low as he could.  

You can watch a green flag start and tell who wants to charge into the corner and who is going to manage the corner.   BTW  I do not fault the guy at all.   If he was paid $800 and was able to pocket $400-$500 more power to him.   When he does race his 360 competively and he does wreck it while charging the corner, he will need all of the money he can get. 

True, might not bring more cars, but at least the ones who do show up have a better chance of breaking even, or even making some $ (???!!!??)

If I was a promoter I'm looking out for my own bottom line and not likely to increase my expenses when it won't benefit my business.  The argument could be made that it might keep some teams going but again as a promoter it's not up to me to keep marginally funded teams afloat. 

Stan Meissner