r/CARSTour • u/anabolicthrowout13 • 6d ago
Discussion Purse Discussion
Commentary has been made in plethora over the past 10 years on how purses are not enough to keep someone racing. According to Dale Jr's IG story this morning, we may actually see that trending positively in the right direction.
Say you're a midpack car and can regularly finish 15th. If you get a 2500 dollar purse for that position, that covers a fresh set of tires, fuel, gas bill to get to and from the track, 3 meals to feed a crew of 5 at 10 bucks per meal, and wherever else the remaining 1500 dollars could go to.
Doesn't make it economically feasible long term but add a few sponsors, you've got something that can sustain itself financially with the right people.
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u/88man1 4d ago
The higher purse is a good thing and I wish it increased everywhere. I don't know how some of these teams afford to race when you add up the real costs they have every week. Then throw in the fact that many of them are having to upgrade or buy better equipment in order to keep up with the top teams like the 88 and 22. I would say Mr Cleeeean's numbers are in the ballpark of what I heard this past weekend at Wake Co.
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u/mr_cleeeeean 5d ago
This just isn't correct, and does not account for a plethora of weekend costs, not to mention maintenance/wear and tear costs on equipment (not including wrecks/repairs).
Tires cost ~$900-1,000 a set. Pit passes for the Tour are $50/piece iirc. Race fuel usually averages $12-15/gallon, and again iirc the Tour requires teams to purchase at least 10 gallons per weekend. You'll burn through two sets of tires between practice, qualifying, and the race, so you're already at $2,000, assuming you only practiced on race day, not the day before. You'll burn through around 20 gallons give or take, so assuming you only buy the minimum (let's say $12/gallon to be generous) and you bought elsewhere for around $7/gallon, you're at around $200 for just race fuel for the one day. Assuming a team of 5 people (1 driver, 4 crew) you're at $250 for pit passes.
Your costs are already at $2,450, and you haven't fed anyone, accounted for drinks, haven't wrecked, haven't accounted for fuel for the tow rig and generators, nitrogen in the air bottles, or hotels.
After you factor in all those costs plus costs per lap for equipment maintenance (shocks, suspension, engine, trans, rear end, ect), it would take a low-cost guy with an all-volunteer crew at LEAST $8-10,000 per weekend, again not to mention the 6-figure up front costs they've already likely spent getting the car and equipment ready.
Most every guy on the Tour is constantly testing as well, so that also skyrockets costs. You're not going to go run the Tour and finish mid pack without being in the seat constantly or absolutely insane dumb luck (not likely), and even then it pays the exact same as the man that ran 1 lap and parked it.
To make a good effort, you're looking at at LEAST $15-20,000/weekend, and I know some dudes are spending way more than that.
I'm sure you're not in the pits or race shops, and that's perfectly okay. Costs are absolutely way higher than anybody would think. I know I'm missing plenty of costs, just wanted to throw numbers out off top from my experience. Waving the magic "find a few sponsors" wand simply doesn't make up that difference for 99% of late model guys. Most that are in the seat every weekend are insanely rich people, or are moderately rich and found a 1-in-a-million angel backer (usually skewed towards the former, but the latter does occur rarely). Hope this sheds some light.