I realize that there are class indexes more affordable to run than others, but after watching this video I'm wondering how expensive it is to run competitively in the upper indexes

NHRA

By upper indexes do you mean higher numerically indexs, the slower classes?.

Keep in mind that Vid was a marketing tool for NHRA, there is nothing cheap about running any NHRA national event, NOTHING
I ran a stocker in NHRA division 7 for many year and I spent a lot of money on the car and race entries and travel
I know racers that spend $100,000.00+ a year to run a stocker in the upper index, higher, faster class cars
Yes it can be done cheaper than that, there is always ways to save money but if you want to be competitive and be able to go rounds there is no cheap way out like there suggesting
Probably the easiest and cheapest way to get your feet wet racing at NHRA division and national events would be in the 10.90 index class, Super Street
Think long and hard before proceeding, go to some races and spend several days there talking to the racers and watching
IHThs

How much money does it take to run stock eliminator? All of it!

And then some!

Yes, say A-D

If you want to spend a lot of money you can do it as far down as G. I know some of the AA-E cars are well north of 100K.


Get down in the lower classes and you can find some real deals. My buddy Mike sold his V/SA car turn-key with all the spares for way less than $10K, and it will still run .8 under most anywhere.

Tough question to answer as you probably know, it costs a lot less to just be able to run the index in the heat and tow with an open trailer and a pickup.

To be able to have a chance at winning class at Indy and tow with a deluxe enclosed trailer and a toter home is a much bigger number.

I think most people will tell you its cheaper to buy than to build. My suggestion would be to talk the the guys that are selling the cars you are interested in and see if they can give you a perceptive of the costs.

Another is what you are already doing, seek out others on sites like this one who have run stock eliminator.

Myron Piatek ("Locomotion" here) was a very successful IHRA racer and its now working on a NHRA Stock Eliminator car. You might get in touch with him for his views.

The car is but one expense. I spend 1000+ to attend a national event. Ad to that the 4-6 Divisional races needed to get the grade points to have the honor of being treated like crap at a National at 6-800 per divisional and just those expenses are more than enough to keep most away. So, 5 Divisionals at 600 per and two Nationals and 5000 bucks are gone. Do decent all of them with minimal sticker money and you may get 1/2 back! Now just off season updates that is another story! Plan on 1000's more out the window. I am thinking on building a NSS car. Stock racing is just financially unsound.

My question also stems from a conversation I had this morning. I've looked at stockers that are for sale and it seems like some are selling for quite a loss.

It's all kind of relative. Tow with an open and no place to stay? Or bring your living to the track which is a LOT more fun! Both scenarios take cash. I have seen a lot of good middle class cars being built and sold and I estimate you could buy a car and run all of a (pick your) division races including those Nats in your div. for about 40K assuming you have a truck and trailer. I paid 30K for my car and did Div. 7 for less than 10K with a LOT of help from friends. You know who you are...Thanks again!!! Win some races and things get a LOT easier. A gold card is freaking awesome! I've driven back and forth to hotels or friends places and stayed at the track for the last few years and I have had the best years of my life in Div. 7. Last year just working for a guy in Div. 4 was awesome as I got to spend time at places that I'd previously only read about. Tulsa, Dallas, Houston and Denver have some killer facilities. I love Phoenix and of course Las Vegas and Sonoma. I need to get out to Div. 3 if only just to spectate. Columbus, Norwalk, Joliet and unfortunately Englishtown have always been on my bucket list.

TRY divisional races FIRST. Win the division there and get a GOLD CARD - that gets you in FREE to national events

There are those who want to be near the top of the qualifying sheet....... there are those who wanna go rounds........ there are those who want both.

If you don’t care where you are on the sheet, run a lower class that doesn’t get many entries(so the likelihood of a heads up run is less), find a car that’s not real expensive to buy/build, and hone your bracket racing skills.

If you wanna qualify high on the sheet with an A-D car......... you’re going to spend some $$$$.

You can spend as much or as little as you want. Being the fastest car there is lots more than being .2 or .3 under. Being in A or B is way more than being in L or M. Buying a running car is way less than building. Pickups and open trailers are cheaper than Renegades and Gold Rushes. If it helps, everyone pays the same for entry fees.

You could buy a used pickup, open trailer and a running FWD stocker for 20K, maybe. Or you could spend 750K and have nice stuff and a fast car. Pick your poison.

some advice i got was find a class with lowest car count

Depends where you want to run. Run it in the Stock/Super Stock combos. GLSSA, Buckeye, East Coast S/S, NMCA. No one checks close if it looks the part. Entry is reasonable. Payout is good. Travel is minimal. Or build a quick N/SS car do all those and even more.
Doug

If you can find someone to work with you on your combo, and good machine shop/engine builder, will help you alot. It does cost, but i am very happy racing in stock, i run divisionals and national opens.

This looks like a pretty good deal:

https://www.racingjunk.com/Stock-Super-S...mp;np_offset=20

The big spend. But ALOT for the money:

https://www.racingjunk.com/Stock-Super-S...mp;np_offset=31

Possibly a good entry price point:

https://www.racingjunk.com/Stock-Super-S...mp;np_offset=58

Very cool...dare to be differrent:

https://www.racingjunk.com/Stock-Super-S...;np_offset=86#1

As said to run serious numbers and be fast you will spend big bucks and better have deep pockets. To run a lower class and have fun will be much less of course. Ron

There is a complete stocker operation for sale, car, trailer and truck. High quality and very competitive, $120,000.00 Not being funny. Somewhere down the road who will get to this number. Lower end of the scale is where 10 K or less will get you a competitive car. U/SA 1975 Mustang- 302/2bbl, 318-2bbl A or B body-R,T,U/SA or take your pick of front wheel drive cars. There's a Plymouth Horizon or Dodge Omni on the west coast that competes regularly and goes rounds. very low budget operation. That's what you need for stock eliminator, a cheap giant killer. if you don't win the event, you have the honor of beating cars worth 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 X's the amount.