This may be lengthy so please bear with me. The reason there were some many cars back then didn't have to do with division , as much as with drivers. WoO ran promoter optional races. He decided if his races would be wingless or not. As time went by it became wings only as did most of the drivers.Taking a wing off a sprint car tends to chase some guys off. They prefer to be "specialists" in the racing they do, instead of a racer in everything.

As for cost, that is a BS excuse, and I'm tired of hearing it. When Keith Ford can pay $500 to win at Paragon and 60 cars show up, it proves that racers will race. It isn't the money, it's the competition.

There are numerous things you can do to lower costs, just everyone is afraid to make the first move. Narrower and harder tires, 360 instead of 410, You run the same car on dirt as pavement. In the end it all adds up. Also mix up wing and non wing.

No it isn't 1979, but it could be as good if someone played his cards right.