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

Last weekend at a Dirt Late Model race, a group of our began discussing DLM and Sprint Car mega events.  We talked about formats, payouts, car counts and more.  One items of particular interest to me was the discussion we had on payouts (not just first place but through the field) and the costs associated with the events.

Related to Sprint Cars, I was shocked at what Sprint Car friends of mine were telling what teams were spending to run a "special car and motor" at Knoxville.

1.)  Is it true that some of the top teams are running a Knoxville built car to win the race?  If so, what is the cost of this car or is it the parts that bolt on to the Sprint Car?
2.)  I am hearing that special engines for Knoxville are the norm and their cost is very high and must be rebuilt after the race.  Is this true and what is the cost of these engines?  Some I am hearing are provided by the engine builders to certain drivers just to get in to victory lane - is that true?
3.)  Shocks - I was told a lot of testing by shock companies is done which is typical but in this case many do so specifcally looking to performance at Knoxville.  Have a hard time believing this is true as drivers who have found a great set-up aren't likely to deviate from that and go to a brand new shock set-up for a special event.  Anyone confirm?

Bottom line... what are the mega teams spending just to win in Knoxville and what are the mid to smaller teams spending to participate at the possibility of winning at Knoxville?

I am NOT looking for guesses or to divert this question into the cost of racing or the big guy vs. the little guy.  Just looking for honest answers into the cost to participate in this one event for the various levels of teams.

Respectfully,

Rich Olson
Minneapolis, MN

All good questions which I do not have the answers. I have heard that most teams spend between $6,000 to $10,000 for the week in accomendations, such as fuel for the rigg to get there, hotels, meals, airline tickets, etc  for the team and crew. Throw in the cost of tickets/pit passes for the team and family members and that figue seems very realistic.

If a team has a car that is working well and running up front, that's the car there unloading with new body panels. In there stops Pryor to the nats some teams have a new car and if it drives well it goes back to the shop and sits there until the nats. Few teams go in there with a untested car. Motors, that's a different story. Some show up with as you said a 1 race motor. Pricing can run from 25 to 75,000 

The top teams are absolutely running brand new engines this weekend and they are running them on the edge to the point they’ll need rebuilt after this weekend. I’d say a good chunk of teams get brand new cars and “shake them down” for a race or 2 in the weeks leading up to Knoxville. 

     I doubt if you'll see a $25,000 at the Knoxvilee Nationals.

Maybe at English Creek?  J/K....

150 gallons of fuel x $4.50 a gallon = $682.50

16 New Tires x $200 = $3200

4 crew members x $160 = $640

Week of expenses for 4 crew members(Food,Drinks,Etc) = $560

That is just at track expenses that you will spend just due to those not being in your operation before you entered the fairgrouds, add in teams rent campers, houses, cars, golf carts, etc to add to this cost.

I would say the average team that is making the A main Saturday Night, will have spent around $6500 plus when added in all expenses.

Then to answer these

1.)  Is it true that some of the top teams are running a Knoxville built car to win the race? Some do, some dont, Reutzel has over 150 shows on his frame and races just for the nationals now, while some others will put a brand new car together in the parking lot on Monday and Tuesday.

If so, what is the cost of this car or is it the parts that bolt on to the Sprint Car? The cost is just as normal as everything else is through out the season, add it all up, im sure plenty of guys are pushing or exceding $35k for everything.

2.)  I am hearing that special engines for Knoxville are the norm and their cost is very high and must be rebuilt after the race.  Is this true and what is the cost of these engines?  Some I am hearing are provided by the engine builders to certain drivers just to get in to victory lane - is that true? Most teams are running a motor that has a track record, and you know that run there, this year the Outlaws, All Stars, and the Cappy all provide a team to shake a motor down, make sure everything runs and then will take it out until the nationals. I would say for 98% of the teams, these motors have 2/3 nights on them and then will be ran until they hit a dozen and get refreshed or sold

3.)  Shocks - I was told a lot of testing by shock companies is done which is typical but in this case many do so specifcally looking to performance at Knoxville.  Have a hard time believing this is true as drivers who have found a great set-up aren't likely to deviate from that and go to a brand new shock set-up for a special event.  Anyone confirm? Shocks in late models and shocks in sprint car racing are like compairing an apple to cucumber. Shock companies are there, helping service and help teams, but as far as running trick shocks for the nationals, doesnt happen, and when it does, they never perform.

Sprint Cars are very basic machines, and the K.I.S.S. threoy works well for them.

I would like to know more about the engine the 15 yanked after Weds heat. I suspect it was a new engine,  dynoed before the install but referred to by some as short on power, or did something break? If it was weak you would think they knew that after hot laps. But still used it to qualify and in the heat. Does anyone have more info?

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

Hi Rich.  If you organize something similar to Fan's Fund to foot the bill for two investigative reporters we can go to next year's Nationals and conduct some research on these questions.  I would be game for that. 

Stan Meissner

youd Be surprised by some of motors. I know of a few sub 25,000 motors that have run well at nationals. Even qualified for the sat A