Using the analogy that you go fast or go home, I then say that only the feature starters get paid. I'll take it one step farther and say only feature winners get paid.

If you showed up and are happy just being there or with running second, then you shouldn't be there in the first place. No tow money and no purse money for those who weren't fast enough to make the feature or finish first.

You know the risks going in and maybe you towed 1,000 miles for an expensve visit to a race track.

Not reasonable now is it, but that is basically how it is already with some touring groups for the guys who don't qualify in the top 32 and everyone says it's not fair.

Well if it's fair for a team to support a group all year without some sort of one or two time "allowence" for an error, then I say it's fair that you load up and go home basically paying the track and sanctioning body a rental fee for wasting their time with your shoddy and disappointing performance.

Guys, I have been a fan, a team member, a car owner, and a parts supplier. I have seen this sport from many angles and the one group that gets shorted constantly are the teams themselves and especially the ones that are on the fringes. Not quite the elite or not fast enough to be consistantly competitive. Every once in a while, every team needs a break and a reward for just competing. No matter how large or small that break is. For the small teams it may be making a race at Gas City when they just missed it. You cannot imagine what that can do for a guy who is just starting to come into his own and he gets a needed confidence boost. For some teams it may be getting a chance to keep your point lead at Perris when you are in a heated battle for the National Championship.

All of that is good as long as it is done without abuse and manipulation.