My Issue with the "Entry Level"

Here's my beef with so-called "low budget, entry level" racing.

For the sake of discussion I'll define that as a point where a car could be purchased with disposable income, or MINIMAL sponsorship by the overwhelming majority of people of median US Household income - if they wanted to.

My issue: there's no incentive to move up. One of the issues mentioned frequently by promoters is that the "high budget" classes aren't replenishing their ranks. People aren't raising their own game to the next level - at least not in classes that are SO easy to get into.

Here's the problem: they're not given any incentive to. Remember when the hornet/tuner/sport compact first broke onto the scene around here? Hell, for your old compact and $800, you could have that "racing experience" under the lights and in front of the fans.

It was supposed to be fun. A chance to go out and do the same thing the "big boys" did, if only just to be there. In fact, so nobody would take it too seriously, a fan from the stands could come down with a wad of money and buy that car.

Of course, sanctioning bodies had to get in to collect license fees, with some of the tax doled back as "point funds," and crowning "champions." All of a sudden people took what was supposed to be fun, and entry level...seriously. People were now building up motors, arguing over claims, taking each other out, fighting in the pits because whatever took place on the track cost them points.

Remember the first year of compacts at Eagle in 2006? An attempted car claim resulted in a...kerfuffle...and a promoter in the back of a police cruiser.

Entry level. Racin' for fun.

Uh huh. Sure.

If you want to replenish your numbers, quit rewarding your support class teams for not moving up. Give them incentive to move! So...why not give the sportmod champion an A-Mod motor and whatever it takes to get racing (I didn't say instant win) in the next level? Push the teams to move ahead and support your classes that drive FRONT GATE numbers.

Or, if you have to, give disincentive. IMCA will already not let anyone licensed in a higher division to run the compacts. Here's another: don't let drivers languish in that division. Now, maybe some people could never afford a hobby stock, sport mod, etc. Fine. Let 'em run.

But...I'd make it a little less attractive to remain.

Say, after a driver scores a lifetime total of I don't know...1500 IMCA points, they're no longer eligible for track titles, season end awards, regional, or national championships of any kind. You can let them race any night they want. Heck, give 'em a point average and line 'em up like usual, but set a limit. Or, for any driver over 18 - they can race only three seasons before having to move up, with the same limits as I just mentioned.

There should be no "multi-time champ" in ANY class deemed as "entry" level.

Why this? Because, as even IMCA says...it's, well...entry level.  I don't like people using the entry-level argument when trying to defend the class without admitting that entry level should be just that. And yes, I'm beating the term into the ground in the hopes that every time you hear it you cringe. Once you've "entered" it's time to move on. In the end, it will improve the overall quality of the show.

Now there are other issues. One, the compacts are so cheap it's tough to sell the used car and have any money to move up. A Hobby Stocker could sell off a decent car and have a fair chunk toward a modified for example. Two: I've heard from many people that the front wheel drive experience is too different from the rear wheel drive world outside. But this can be overcome by the determined racer.

The problem lies in the fact promoters allow that steady back gate money to plod its way in each week.

But if promoters are truly worried about replenishing their premier classes, they need to think further ahead and offer other incentives besides just upping the purse. It's time to create a culture of incentive and achievement, not just one of participation.