I never really had a race car, but street racing was all about the money. All it ever did was keep me going.
The whole reason I fell in love with fast cars was that first couple of seconds at the hit.I didn't fall asleep in high gear, but it was never the same.

My wife says I race to get rid of extra money

for me it's the glory and the money,,,,,,,,the glory of throwing my money down a rat hole.

For me it's for the fun. I had two things in my life that prevented being serious about it. A wife and four kids that that left little time and too many other hobbies. Early on it was for the money and the glory and it was achievable. It may just be me but it's much harder to win at most levels now as opposed to 30 years ago. IMHO no box is a harder than box to go rounds as well. Too many guys that are just too good. It's the same for motorcycles. Twice this year at big events I made it to round four of street et but when there's over 100 bikes in round 1 and big percentage have cheater clutches it's tough. Add in buy backs which means the top guys get to make a mistake and before you know you're spectating.

I race to hangout with the rock stars. Lol On a serious note , I race for the challenge, predict what it will run and do a good job at the starting line then make the right decision at the finish. Drag racing is a very humbling sport, you can do everything really good and still get beat. I’ve been part of several .000 vs .001 races along with dead on dial close races.

I've won a little money here and there, but I've never raced for the money. I've never chose an event to race at based on the purse or my perceived chance to win that purse.

I enjoy the competition, the camaraderie, the thrill of the ride, making the car better, and according to my wife "puffing my chest out" (is that the ego part?). I look for events and opportunities to maximize the fun for dollars and time spent.

I used to race for the money and glory, but now it is more about building stuff and hanging out with friends.

I just want to have fun.

Same here. Ron

Moving up from gas attendant to mechanics helper, I wanted to prove to my boss that I Knew what I was doing. I started racing and found great tension relief in a day of competition. Then, I started making lots of friends, and learning about things I never knew about, making the car faster and faster. It's been a great part of my life's journey.

The burgers and the beers in the frosted mugs have been pretty good too.

Never expected to make any money winning races, I win a little money from time to time, just enough to let me think I still know what I am doing. I have made a little money building and fixing stuff for other people, and most of that comes from being at the races and hanging out with people. I have not missed a season since 1974, I have to say a lot of my drag racing buddies are like a second family to me. I build stuff for other motorsports, mud racing, truck pulling, jet boats, restoring muscle cars. And the money is OK, but I take the most pleasure of going to an event and seeing the stuff I built going down the track, flying through the mud, seeing a car I built take home a 1st place trophy.

Last year I towed 1500 miles one way to race with friends and now.... THEIR KIDS!! Pretty sure the only money I was racing for was “outgoing”, not “incoming”. Pretty much took 18 off... hoping to get back out in 19.

I race for the adventure of it! The road trips, the camping at the track, the stories you collect. I race in the class I do because of the challenges the small tires and the stock engine pieces present. I also like helping the people I’m in direct competition with go faster. Money would ruin that.

When I raced at Charleston this year I pitted with my buddy who I have known for almost 50 years, his son that I've known since he was born and also was best man in his wedding 26 years ago, and his son who I've known since he was born. Only towed 180 miles to get there and it rained us out after the 2nd time run, but it was still a great time.

If I’d have known 30 years ago what I know now I would have bought my heads up car when I was 30 and my old man bracket car when I was 60.

Money or Glory...... brain damage is more like it

I did a massive response to this last nite THEN my phone battery went POOF and lost it all.....

I did fairly well back in the late 70's to early/mid 80's .... probably NETED about 15k$ total with a Bracket 2 car ... a 440 in a Belvedere wagon THEN my glass biz required A TON of my time.

THEN there is now ... I found a 27 Roadster on eBay - local to me Ft Lauderdale (the old Gary Harwood TRICK Comp eliminator car - supposedly weighs something like 1700 pds with a BBC) then I was waiting for a Bud that does chassis work to put in a LEGAL cage ... THEN I start spectating at the local track.

DAYummm .... in the footbrake class YOU BEST put together a package of 002-005 REGULARY ... or you don't get past second round very often !

THATS no fun !!! ... so the car sits !

My take ... if I cant AT LEAST break even on a pure race car I wont do it. My two other options are .... a dinosaur S/C FED that I picked up in Seattle jsta as a FUN CAR at test and tune OR a streeter RWD CarrotVan.

I race for the thrill of it. Made great friends along the way as well. At times if money enters into the equation I’ve won some as well.
“How do you become a millionaire Drag Racing? Start as a billionaire...”

^^^^^^^This is THE answer right here^^^^^^^^^^^