Believe me, they did not want to cut the purse. But let me explain something that might make this a little more understandable. With the TOTAL car count we had Saturday night, if you were to add up the number of pit passes sold, the number of spectators coming through the front gate and the money brought in through concessions, then deduct the total payout that was paid Saturday night PLUS Insurance (which runs over $1,000 each week we race) and then the utilities for the night, payout to employes (which is not nearly as much as you may think it is) and add in the money spent for food and drinks in the concession stand..... they come out way in the red each week. The Bagwells are not trying to make money with this track, they are simply trying to break even and they aren't even close.
We need spectators folks!!! Though the ones we have are much appreciated, we need more. I know many of you say "advertise"...... radio ads are the most expensive way of advertising there is out there. They will be advertising special events, but there is no money available for weekly advertising right now. Newspaper ads are far less expensive, and they are running a few of those on a regular basis. Plus I am sending racing coverage each week to several different newspapers. This does not cost the track anything. And I do this to try to help out as much as possible. There are lots of things we can do to draw more spectators, but each time I come across an opportunity to do so I fail to get cooperation from the drivers. I know there are times when each of you have other plans with your family or work and I fully understand that.
I hope you all understand why this purse had to be cut. I don't have any money tied up in the Late Model class, but I truly hated to see this have to happen just as much as our drivers did. But maybe if we all work together here we might can get this brought back up. If not back to full purse, at least close!!
Linda, Do you know where Bubba and Jody are going this weekend?
Thanks!!
With the way the weather looked Saturday the track was lucky to have more than 5 cars total. I live in Ruston. When it was raining at 4pm we made other plans for the night. Ruston was having the Peach Festival. Percy Sledge was in concert, they were having a rodeo. A lot of things going on in the area. I hope the purse change was not based on this past weekend.
