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USAC is not in the racing business, it is in the business of selling memberships. No more, no less. Like a health club, except members bring their own equipment.
A 15 year old can race? No problem for USAC or the promoter...15 year old can't drive himself to the track, he'll need mom and dad. That's three pit passes that just got sold, and at least two USAC memberships. Add in sisters and brothers and friends from school, those pit passes all add up. Up until little Johnny smacks the wall and gets hurt in front of mom, then we never see those people again, but their membership is good for the rest of the year!
We used to call them "mortgage monsters" because mom and dad would mortgage their house to fund the next Jeff Gordon.
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