More on “Economics-707” as it pertains to racing. We all know about the “free freight” offered by different part suppliers. I never figured out how “free-freight” costs me $6.00 (handling) to have something shipped to me? Have you? I even tried it for a while with my Trailer Toads but I think I messed up, my freight was actually free to the customer and no hidden handling charges. Wonder why I thought free meant free? What was I thinking….??
Most racers know everything from motor oil to cylinder heads to intake gaskets now cost a lot more than even two years ago. These prices have climbed faster then I ever thought
possible. Of course the cost of trucks, motor homes and trailers have not gone down either, although you see more and more new rigs all the time (more Racer Math??). Through it all, drag racing has survived and in some areas grown in leaps and bounds. When you compare overall expenses with possible winnings, you have to be “real good at Racer Math” to keep doing this.
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Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of racers do this for fun and it’s not about the money. Good for them. I would guess they either don’t race in the money class or don’t win much. I don’t want to paint an image that there are very many people making money at drag racing; there aren’t. I do know a lot of racers pretty much need to do some winning or they might have to take a month or two off to “reload” their checkbook. Of course, if you have deep pockets and what you spend on racing is an insignificant amount of your annual income you probably aren’t reading this far into this month’s DEAD-ON column anyway. I am sure it would be tough relating to something you aren’t concerned about.
I hope NHRA, IHRA and track operators will continue to keep one eye on The Weather Channel without getting too carried away. It is a tough decision they have to make and I wish them all the best in making the right decision. We need the tracks to survive by making money and we need racers to survive by not wasting fuel towing to a rained-out event. The one thing I hope all tracks will try to improve is their phone messaging systems.
Is that wishing for too much? Probably, but in a world full of “Racer Math” why not in some “Racer Weather” for a change?
Have a great racing month in May and beyond. See you next month. 
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