I am very close to NASCAR and there is a major misconception by many on this
list about "what has happened to NASCAR" and "NHRA" and the likes. I truly
hope this thread is near ending but I believe your underlying fear of what
supposedly happened to NASCAR will happen to LSR is misplaced. Let me
explain;
There is an evolution of various sports and perhaps NASCAR is a good example.
NASCAR is a National Association of Stock Car Racing, an organization of/for
professional racers that has become very popular and large groups of people
pay to see them do their sport. Many people prosper within this sport, not
only the promoters, but also the little guy who gets a handsome salary from a
sport that provides a lot of jobs. It started out very small and has grown to
be very large. The evolution starts from a grass roots sport (in this case
auto racing) to become whatever it ends up to be or not.
HOWEVER, throughout this country, there are still thousands of small tracks,
each with hundreds of amateur racers racing each week on little to no budget,
without any sponsors and without any Big Money. They haven't been stopped from
their racing in fact because of the demand of the larger part of the sport,
they have a place to race. I know these people, they are my customers! (not
enough of them however) What little media attention they get is part of the
reason they race, building their ego just as some on this list admitted.
I doubt I could get a chance to participate in the top arena of any sport
without the credentials or money. If I wanted to own a race team in NASCAR I
could, if I wanted to race in the America's Cup I could, participate in the
top Polo Match, of fly a balloon around the world, but it all takes money.
That doesn't stop me from racing on Saturday night or participating in the
local marina race. I still drag race at the local track, it's crowded but I
race against people with little to no money. They all think they're at the
Nationals when they buckle their helmet. (and I usually loose)
The sponsorship money and the media coverage hasn't ruined Circle Track
Racing, it has promoted it to various levels of popularity. Those that have
the skills, desire and inclination, prosper and enjoy weather they race at
Daytona or some Saturday Night Dirt Track in Nowheresville.
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