[Kirk Spridgeon]

Bill Vanselow (who sometimes posts on this board) has definitely provided some very interesting information that is pretty accurate. That data does show some robust numbers, particularly in the WoO, but there is also the thought that the top of one series is still better than a certain position farther down in another.

According to his statistics, the top earner in USAC Sprint Cars (Kevin Thomas, Jr.) had a higher average race winnings amount than even Tyler Courtney in ASCoC races. That’s not an indictment on the ASCoC. They’ve put together a great series that has grown immensely in the last few seasons. But it is a difficult road through Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Justin Grant had the best year in USAC 2021, and he’s been straightforward about what his cars earn. According to BillV’s statistics, Grant’s earnings in USAC alone would line up somewhere around 9th/10th on the total earnings list of winged sprint car drivers, behind the top 6 WoO drivers, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Courtney. Brent Marks is also right there, on the strength of some big events on his win list.

Thorson was a winged sprint car driver before he ran USAC sprint cars, and his car owner has had his eyes set on that challenge of going against the most well-funded teams in dirt racing. Thomas, Jr. is taking a ride as a hired driver instead of trying to balance a budget in his own car. Everybody has their own motives.

We have seen an unprecedented stretch in USAC Sprint Car racing with drivers staying and running for the championship year after year. That’s why they have been climbing the all-time lists in feature starts and wins. When we see the deepest fields contending for championships that a series has ever seen (and this applies to Midgets too), there has to be an effect from that at some point.

The money is there for those who win, run up front, and win championships. Opportunities are there for drivers to earn a very good living in multiple arenas. That’s good news for them & for short track racing fans.