The Upstate Carolina’s has lost another track for the time being. Travelers Rest Speedway has closed it’s doors once again. Will any promoter ever be able to keep it up and running for more than a few years? Hopefully someone will in the near future.
People can sit back and say what ever they want about any local track, but just keep in mind that not a dang one of them is or will be perfect. Could many things have been different at TR? Hell YES! Does that mean anything now? HELL NO! The hateful, crooked, underhanded, down right disgraceful stuff that has been going on from multiple sources for the last 2 years is enough to make anyone throw their hands up and walk away. Heck this is not the 1st time it has happened at TR, nor will it be the last I am afraid. 3 Promoters in 5 years will give some answers as to why no one can make a go of it there. No matter what people thought of the calls, management, track prep, etc., the fact still remains that the chances of anyone else reopening that track with a good outcome is not likely to happen as long as the same problems keep coming into play. You can get a promoter to come in and do a great job on everything and yet still fail because of the nonsense they will have to put up with and the cost associated with going through the channels laid out now as they are.
Here is what anyone running TR Speedway looks to pay out for a regular Saturday night race. These are pretty dang close estimates. I know, because I did most of the paperwork for employees and drivers, etc.
I just want people to know what it cost to run TR Speedway, or did for the 2012 / 2013 season.
Driver weekly payout on a regular night – $12000.00 (This figure is if we run all 9 of our 2013 regular classes running, and how many cars were in each class. Rookie 4, FWD, Stock 4, Rookie V8, Pure Stock, Renegade, Stock 8, Limited Sportsman, Dwarf)
Employee payout weekly – $3000.00 plus
Lease $60000.00 yearly = $1154.00 weekly
Lights $1400.00 monthly = $350.00 weekly
Trash pickup weekly $100.00
Insurance – 1200.00 to start and $575.00 weekly
Trophies – $200.00 weekly
TOTAL PAYOUT WEEKLY: $17,379.00 a week PLUS
Now this is not even counting upgrades, repairs, printer ink, printer paper, pens, toilet paper, etc., or other things that come up or taxes monthly.
Now lets just say 500 adults paid to get in the pits. That is $10,000.00 that came in to pay bills. (On a good night maybe 600 people in pits.)
Lets say 500 adults in the grandstands. That is $5000.00 that came in to pay bills. On a good night maybe 600 people in grandstands.)
Concession money and payout for food and all is separate, so it is not even something I added in here.
Now that you know all of this, Please Thank your local track promoters for all that they do.
