It doesn't matter the class go to a race that pays XX and look at the top 3 cars then go to a race that pays half that much and look at the top 3 cars and I bet you won't see a lot of difference. There are people that can and will spend what it takes to dominate no matter the pay. And it isn't going to make any difference if it's a open or "limited" class. People will find a way to buy as much horsepower and the tire/suspension combination allows. The tire/suspension package is the limiting factor.
What to me is killing the sport is all the cars sitting in garages, barn, fields, and listed in classified because the racer can no longer look their family in the face when they get home because of the start pay to weekly expense ratio. I believe the average racer builds the car they can afford and races for expense money. I also believe the outdated top heavy purse is killing the sport.

I firmly think the secret to saving the sport not so much worrying about the top few cars as making it where more racers can afford to make it to the track and still be able to buy groceries for the family