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In addition to making a good investment into Midsouth/Texas's Modified 2008 schedule for next fall, let's see what the cost vs. rewards are going to be for [B]this year's [/B]USMTS Texas Winter Nationals [B]starting this Thursday at Houston Raceway Park[/B] once you get to the gates. They race 3 seperate shows, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Assuming you didn't enter early for Thursday's race ([I]cutoff was Sunday[/I]) and that you do NOT have a USMTS license yet, it'll cost you $75 to enter at the gate of which you are guaranteed at least $40 back in tow money ([I]more if you have a license[/I]). Make Thursday's A main, and you get at least $150 ($200 if licensed) and it pays $1000 to win. 22 cars will qualify from the heats and B-mains ([I]heats use passing points[/I]) and then 2 series provisionals fill out the 24-car field. You might as well say Thursday's race night is in place of the practice night or [I]is[/I] the practice night. You're guaranteed a hot lap session, a heat ([I]at least 8 laps[/I]) and at least a B main ([I]at least 12 laps[/I]) as long as your car can make laps. Pit pass is $25.
Now, at USMTS events, you have until 30 minutes after the feature ends to enter the next day's event at the early entry fee rate. So Friday's entry fee will cost you $90 up until that time Thursday night of which $60 is guaranteed back in tow money. Friday pit pass is $30. Friday's A pays $200 to start for non-licensed drivers and $2000 to win to anybody -- licensed or not -- who can do it. Again 22 spots open and 2 provisionals. Couldn't be there Thursday? OK. Entry fee is just $10 more ($100). You still get hot laps, a heat and at the least, a B main. All you missed out on, was Thursday's "practice session" (and maybe, $1000 if you had a strong car!) because Thursday's results have no bearing on Friday's race or Saturday's race and Friday's has none on Saturday's. [B]They are completely new and independent shows each night with new draws each night[/B].
About the only difference in format between the 3 nights, is the length of the main events. Thursday's A may only be as little as 25 laps while Saturday's $3000 to win, may be 40 laps or more.
On Friday night, Saturday's entry fee for a non-licensed racer will be $110 of which $80 is guaranteed back. Couldn't make it Thursday or Friday? Well, we still need you. Come Saturday if you can. Entry fee at the gate Saturday is $125 but we're up to $250 to start for a one-day show! Pit pass is the same as Friday -- $30. Same 22 spots up for grabs too and of course, it's now a one-day $3000 to win race!
Is that $100 USMTS Southern Series license still worth it with just three races to go? Well, you decide. Start money goes up $50 per A-main making Thursday's A $200 to start, Friday's A $250 to start and Saturday's A, a healthy $300 just to make the A-main! Early entry fee amounts go down $10 with a license. Entering Friday's race on Thursday night costs $80 with a license and entering Saturday's show on Friday night costs $100 with one. Tow money goes up too. With a license on Thursday, you're guaranteed $50 back if you don't make the A. On Friday, you're guaranteed $75 of your $80 entry fee back ([I]assuming you enter Thursday night at the track or by Sunday night via credit card -- see www.usmts.com for more on that part[/I]).
[I]Now this will be confusing but see if you can follow me...[/I]
Another way of putting that for Friday and assuming you're just now buying a USMTS license for the first time in 2007 just to run these 3 shows is to think of Friday as a $38 entry fee race. ([I]1/3 of the license equals $33 + the $80 - the $75[/I]). Now, for that $38, it pays $175 to start the A and $2000 to win. This is "washing out" the tow money from the equation here so it's like no "B" main money or non-qualifier or tow money is being paid but it really only amounts to a $38 entry fee. Clear as mud, right? Just trust me then....
How many times have you raced for a purse that good this year ([I]one day show/$2000 to win/$175 to start[/I]) for what equates to just a $38 entry fee and a $30 pit pass?
On Saturday, with $90 guaranteed back for a licensed driver who entered on Friday night, it's like you paid a $43 entry fee for a shot at $3000 to win and $210 to start AND it's a one-day show.
Now I still got a day or two to sell you on the facility, the format and the quick and professional way USMTS runs their programs assuming you are not already "sold" but I'll save those for another post.
"[B][I]ALL[/I][/B]" I'm as asking is [B]100 Modifieds[/B]! [I]What am I? Nuts?[/I] Well, if it happens, next year everything just about doubles except the entry fees and pit passes. They won't double but most of the purse will including the win amounts making it a [B]combined $12,000 to win weekend[/B]!
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