Fact Is, Drag Racing Is An Entertainment Dollar Bargain

Drag racing, and in particular, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), is routinely criticized in public forums over its ticket prices, as detractors point to the cost of admission and suggest it is out of line for the value of the entertainment provided. The value derived from a live event is, of course, very subjective — one individual may find floor seats to a Taylor Swift concert to be worth the thousands of dollars it costs to acquire, while at the same time believe £50 for a National Basketball Association (NBA) game (that lasts twice as long as a concert overall) to be outrageous. The relative fame and demand of the party performing, the amount of time the performance lasts relative to its cost, the view a given seat provides, the venue, and so on, are all factors that go into one’s individual belief on what constitutes value.

nhra, drag racing, top fuel, gatornationals

Photos: NHRA/National Dragster

The most expensive reserved grandstand seat (ie. not a suite or all-inclusive area) to an NHRA drag race will generally cost you around or less than £90 all-in after fees. Compare that to the best reserved seat at virtually any sporting event, concert, or comedy act, where the primo tickets are almost universally in the hundreds of dollars, and certainly the thousands for more in-demand acts and games. As famed drag racing historian and statistician Bret Kepner confirms, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series ticket prices have trended under inflation every year since 1968.

During the 1990s, they were upwards of 20 percent higher  in price than they are today relative to the value of the dollar, and today, remain considerably under their anticipated inflation cost. Take, for example, a reserved seat at the 1996 Winternationals cost £58, and adjusted for inflation, should cost £113 today. But that ticket, at last weekend’s race, was in fact £75, or £38 cheaper than it ought to be relative to the value of today’s dollar.

Instead of effectively doubling, it has gone up just £17, or less than a dollar a year, since our 1996 example. In simple terms, the NHRA hasn’t raised prices relative to the value of the dollar in 55 years, and has in fact become cheaper relative to that dollar over the last quarter century. To put the cost of drag racing into perspective, the cheapest seat for Bruce Springsteen’s summer visit to Wrigley Field is £113, and Brooks & Dunn’s Buffalo, New York country music show will run you anywhere from £55 to £670.

Top-billed comedian Kevin Hart’s Canton, Ohio show will run you £82 to start, up to more than £1,100. A Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday Major League Baseball (MLB) game costs anywhere from £73 up to more than £1,100 for the best seat, and an Atlanta Braves Saturday ballgame has a median reserved seating ticket price of around £100. nhra, drag racing, top fuel, nhra phoenix

A Detroit Red Wings versus Pittsburgh Penguins weekend National Hockey League (NHL) game starts at £89, with many of the better seats running over £200, and peaking at more than £600. The nosebleed seats for a National Football League (NFL) team team like the low-demand Indianapolis Colts will run you more than £70, with in-demand teams considerably higher. Bear in mind when it comes to overall dollar-to-time value that the headlining act at a concert will typically play a set that lasts 90 minutes or less, a comedy act performs for just one hour, and MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL games generally only run 2.5 to 3.5 hours start to end.

If you’re the kind that prefers to get your money’s worth out of a live event — the “what do I get for my money?” type — the vast majority of drag racing events offer 10 to 12 hours of nonstop entertainment daily, and it’s not uncommon for select events to run 16-plus hours a day. Perhaps with the exception of music festivals (Lollapalooza starts at £125 a day or £375 for four days, and Bonnaroo £175 and £360), there is no other place in the live entertainment space that even comes close in overall daily runtime, or in time-to-dollar ratio, to the NHRA or to drag racing as a whole. Even if you look elsewhere in the motorsports space, drag racing stands out.

Tickets for the NASCAR Night Race at Bristol (an event in which demand has slowed to a crawl) run anywhere from £42 to £250, the World of Outlaws sprint car series charges £40 for a three to four hour race, tickets for IndyCar’s Long Beach Grand Prix range from £67 to £107, the cheapest three-day pass for the Circuit of the Americas Formula 1 Grand Prix is more than £800, and the Las Vegas Grand Prix over £1,500. For another, more specific comparison between NHRA and stick-and-ball sports, all-inclusive tickets to a weekend St. Louis Cardinals MLB game that lasts fewer than three hours costs over £350, while a Top Eliminator Club ticket at the U.S.

Nationals in Indianapolis buys you six days (over 72 hours) of on-track entertainment and four days of food and drink, for just £60 more, at £410. Before noon on a given day of the U.S. Nationals, you’ve already gotten more value for your dollar than that baseball game provided (given you don’t find baseball considerably more valuable than a drag race).

Elsewhere in our sport, PDRA tickets are just £25 on Friday, £30 on Saturday, and a mere £60 for an an entire three-day pass. NMCA events cost £25 a day or £70 for all three days of any of its events. “Street Outlaws No Prep Kings,” one of the hottest tickets in the sport right now, begins at £30 on Friday, £40 Saturday, with the most expensive and exclusive seat on the property just £159 at certain events.

A single-day DuckX Productions event ranges from just £25 to £30, and £90 for an entire five-day admission. As an addendum, drag racing events almost universally allow one to bring their own food and drink into the track, whereas sporting and concert venues permit little, if anything, to be carried in, instead subjecting patrons to outrageously inflated food and beverage prices. This skews the affordability case for each even further.

Again, everyone’s view of value varies, but if you compare entertainment options subjectively, you’ll find that drag racing offers incredible return on your money, even at the upper end of the cost spectrum.

And it is, even at that highest spectrum, affordable — if not cheap — relative to what you’d spend for any other world-class-level form of entertainment.

While there will always be demand for tickets to see the Taylor Swift’s, the Dallas Cowboys, and New York Yankees of the world, your vote for drag racing — using your hard-earned money — helps keep our great sport alive.

very listed on couponmatrix.ukclassic-football-shirts listed on couponmatrix.ukkitbox listed on couponmatrix.ukraging-bull listed on couponmatrix.ukwagamama listed on couponmatrix.uk66fit listed on couponmatrix.uk
very listed on couponmatrix.ukThe marketplace for everything you’d want in your home, Very offers department store variety on everything from fashion to food processors. With a stocklist of thousands at your fingertips, you’ll want the latest Very discount code to maximise savings on furniture, computers, perfume and plenty more – whatever it is you need, Very probably has it! From a brand new PS5 to designer brand clothing, Very is your best bet for securing the items you want at prices you can afford.
classic-football-shirts listed on couponmatrix.ukFounded by two Manchester students way back in 2006, Classic Football Shirts has gone from built itself up from 2 staff to 25! Funded with the help of student loans and credit cards to get it up and running, the original concept of buying and selling vintage football shirts has now grown and evolved to where it is today. Thanks to that original uni lightbulb moment, now anyone and everyone can find the unique football shirts they want, wear them with pride and show true allegiance to the top teams.
kitbox listed on couponmatrix.ukPower your workouts with Kitbox, the fitness clothing and footwear brand that helps get your goals on track. The collection features high-performance leggings, T-shirts, joggers and shorts designed for any sport, and it can be affordable too with a Kitbox discount code from Groupon. Check out the great prices on sports gear in the Kitbox sale, send a gift card to the gym bunny in your life and join the community of like-minded fitness fans. There’s so much to love about Kitbox! Purchasing new gym wear can be expensive, but these prices help make fitness accessible to everyone. You can pick up some great gym basics in the Kitbox sale, including tank tops, socks and snapbacks – follow our page as we’re always hunting for the best Kitbox offers available in the sale and beyond. With Groupon’s help, you can save money on the essentials and start hitting fitness goals. Whether you favour football or weight training, Kitbox has you covered with sports clothing suitable for different workouts and options for both men and women. There’s also a nutrition section where you can stock up on protein bars and supplements to push your workout the extra mile. When you’re ready to make a purchase, a Kitbox voucher code from Groupon can swoop in to make the price even more palatable!
raging-bull listed on couponmatrix.ukWith origins in the English Rugby World Cup victory of 2003, Raging Bull has grown from sportswear through to iconic lifestyle clothing. Still sporting its original selection of high-performance gear for rugby, fans of the sports can guarantee a great deal on top-quality clothing with a Raging Bull discount code. Regardless of if you came to prepare for a game or to effortlessly stun in a new fine shirt, Raging Bull offers all you need to look and feel your best both on and off the playing field. Groupon is the best place to find discount codes for Raging Bull Clothing. We work hard to find the best discount codes and share them with our customers so they can save money on their purchase. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of jeans or a new shirt, we have Raging Bull discount codes that will help you save money on your purchase. One of Raging Bull’s bestselling threads is its phenomenal collection of sweatshirts. Great to wear both indoors and out, these cosy cotton pieces are perfect for a chilly day and are available in a variety of colours. Plus, with a Raging Bull voucher code, you snag one at an even better price! Backed by a snug selection of hoodies, every man is free to keep comfy and warm whatever the weather.
wagamama listed on couponmatrix.ukDig into a sizzling dish of delicious ingredients from Wagamama, the Japanese restaurant chain with an eye to delight. From broth-filled bowls of ramen to chicken katsu curry, you choose the mouth-watering meal you’d most like to eat for less with the help of our latest Wagamama discount code. With the option to eat-in, takeaway or even have their dishes delivered right to your door, you’re free to enjoy your Wagamama meal exactly where and how you like it.
66fit listed on couponmatrix.uk66fit is an online retailer specialising in fitness equipment and post-workout products. From exercise mats and gym balls to comfortable supports for your back and neck, you’ll find everything you need to feel your best at 66fit. You can use a 66fit discount code to save money on fitness gear and recovery equipment, so be sure to take advantage of Groupon’s promo codes to get the best deals possible, happy shopping!