Cost To Hobby Stock Racing 

Be thankful you have a spouse that supports your “hobby”.

I used every penny pinching thing i could when my buddy and i raced hobby and street stock dirt cars for 2 seasons. I was the engine builder crew chief/ car owner/ guy who worked 5 hours a day on both cars after getting off work. Panty hose air filter and another pair for breathers , i even used vinyl kitchen cabinet liner for my numbers Collecting half quarts left over at work into gallon jugs. I had something w something combined. All external engine was everyones throwaways Still cost alot after tires, fuel, entry tickets for wife and kids . But a hexk of a good time.!! Takes alot of sweat equity and possibly home equity!!! I did win once. I cleared 10 bucks

In 1994 I built a hobby car the chassis was 1,100. The new engine was 2,500 bought power glide from transmission shop completely rebuilt for 475 and the total cost was about 7,000. Trailer was open flat bed homemade job for 300. That would equal about 14,500 today.

My first hobby stock was build from used parts from swap meets , a new air filter was fancy for me.

I really appreciate you working this out. I've hung out with my mechanic friends and you are right--they come across stuff all the time then squirrel it away for build day. The money guys are exactly as you outlined. They could get by with the $250 helmet but that $800 fancy one gets all the attention. Then the folks watching their budget have to purchase wisely and even then unforeseen things pop up. I've kind of been all three at one time or another. You are spot-on! Most of my experience is drag racing and now I have the itch to turn some dirt laps. This really hit the spot. I plan to be budget man on this one because I don't know how long I will do it or if I will like it. I'm quasi mechanic guy because I already have a good bit of the equipment, tools, hauler, etc.

Good video. I fall more into the good mechanic category. I did a full buy out from a friend. Me , him and two other guys built the car. I was the crew chef and responsible for all chances made to the car. So I got lucky to know the car inside and out before buying it. The street stock class here in Oregon is a really open class the car is a 1973 Chevelle with a 406 running in the ballpark of a little over 600 horses. Dart block and heads. My buddy spared no expense when it was built. Best of what you could buy on everything. He ran the car only a dozen nights and decided he wanted out. We put the current engine had two race nights on it. I did the complete buy out which included the car , all spare parts , a new set of scales and other setup tools for 19k. Since then I have bought all sorts of spare parts and safety equipment. All together I think I'm in it at 24k. I grew up around racing. My dad raced when I was a kid. I always wanted to do it. Thankfully I will have that chance this race season.

I too am a old guy hobby stocker. Been 20 years old for 34 years now. I fall into good mechanic guy category. Getting a real kick out of your show. Open motor I just built....yep $4000. For guys starting out good mechanic or not you can find a good used pro chassis cheaper than it is to build one without all the work.

Very Accurate Information!!! Love your Content!!!

we are currently using a 305 with 40k off of the heads

Great video. Your dead on For those looking to get into into the sport. It can be done cheaper but not a top 5 car. Cage and safety gear priority one. Alot of cheap cars may have questionable cage welds etc. Awesome video brother

Good info. I liked the way you provided the details.

Great video content 👏🏻

Hobby stocks have changed a lot over the years. My first hobby stock was called Bombers. Nothing could be changed, then they changed the name of them, and in the name of safety, allowed some things like the right front spindle. Then they allowed more things to the engine, then shocks and tires, and before you know it, they call them super stocks. all the while the cost keeps going up.

I guess I'm #1, been helping a younger guy build a new compact fwd, well this "Old Guy" made a deal for his old car, RTR! I'll try my hand at the end of August, heading out to Salt Flats next week, then Sturgis! Last time I was on a dirt track was 42 years ago!

Thanks for the video man. I know Johnny’s son and he says he charges 30k for a hobby stock brand new. Good luck this season!

Did i miss the mention of the fuel cell, radiator, seat belts, im sure i can come up with more. the little things add up.

About 35 years ago, I had a friend that had a hobby stock he hadn't run in about 3 years (long story), but he was thinking of getting into it again. I really wanted to help him to get racing it again, so I totaled up every cent I thought he would need get it on the track again. (I was a mechanic who had went back to college, so I built his engines, but had no money to add to the effort.) So I met with him and told him how much it would be. He said "Take that amount and double it." We ended up getting the car up and racing again, but he was right, it cost almost double what I expected. I say you need to add another few thousand to the "good mechanic" amount. Racing is expensive.

Awesome really glad you did this video…. I did it backwards. Got two car 1st lol then got a new truck because Grandma/my mom van i brought her new in 2011 not gonna pull it lol. Now new car trailer. Lot of saving to have cash in had. Still not race ready car yet.

That $100 a race night sure doesn't apply to an asphalt hobby stock class race car where you buy a tire once every race and that's the max with the tire rules. No doubt racing becomes an addiction where you spend a lot of money with win very little money and if you're good a plastic trophy. Very enjoyable series that people crazy enough to try racing should see. Check out Brent Gleason's series that is more into the mechanical and body work involved in racing that a hobby stock racer has to know or learn real quick to survive.

I enjoyed the video buddy I was pretty good even though I'm not running a hobby stock they call him Street stocks here and we can run open motors but we have to run the 4412 two-barrel carb and just cuz I bought better parts I got twelve thousand plus into my motor my chassis didn't even have a season on it but I bought it from a chassis builder locally by me who happens to be a very good friend so I got it for 9 Grand roller no gear no seat or tranny and we can run the bert trani's but all-in-all with tires all that stuff 24 to 25000 into it so far luckily I got use of a trailer but I'm looking for a race trailer with a a nice box and tire rack on it and I'm still a couple weeks out yet this weekend will be our track that's closest to me will be first week cuz they got rained out last but I'm shooting for memorial weekend I'm doing a thing for one of our veterans organizations here we're donating some of whatever I make per race night to help them out because if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be able to do what we do but I've been out of racing for quite a few years driving I've helped my buddy on his for The last 5 years I caught the last two weeks of the season last year but just looking to have fun but hopefully you get your first race in this week good luck have some fun and be safe be looking forward to your next video buddy daycare

Im a Extremely used guy who wishes he was a New Guy but honestly hoping I can find a Good Mechanic guy to build me one 😂

Watching from north idaho

I clicked and subbed because of the sasquatch poster....🦍

Im one of those good mechanic guys built a 4th gen camaro from the ground up in a completely stock class other than wheels and tires was into it for 6grand

Glad the stuff made it! And your pretty darn close with those totals I’d say. Something’s get more money then others but very close. Also helps to get parts at cost 😂

You can pay double that too and more!

Bought 2 new front tires for the enduro car.. 1st night on them won $80 and paid $70 for the tires lol. atleast the tires paid for themselves. next race the car got totaled havent ran a since than. This was back in 2020.. Enduro car was $325 for the car, plus the suit I had from when I started racing, and helmet.. not to mention fuel for the car and it needed a new fuel injector. Even at the lowest end of racing noones breaking even unless your winning big races weekly and even than its a stretch.

Hammer Down!

This gives me hope. Thanks for the video. Sorry to bore but I had a life scare at 31 (now32) I am healthy and have energy I haven’t had for years. I recently got into sim racing and after recently visiting my local dirt track this is where I want to put my new life’s energy into. (shout out Pittsburgh Motor Speedway) I had to stop working for a bit because of my health so I have a long way to go monetarily. I am genuinely thinking to switch careers into some sorts of the auto world to learn and quite frankly not have my soul stollen from my past work life. The double edged sword of jumping head into what I like hopefully works out. I guess what I’m getting at is; any advice you would recommend that I could be doing to learn what I will need or any tips would be greatly appreciated. Is there a lower class of racing that may be more noob friendly and/or cheaper. I am pretty open and have no prejudices. I want to try and visit the pits next week to see if anyone is handing out some knowledge . I have an awesome and supportive wife. P.S. Any job opportunities in racing around the Pittsburgh area let me know.

I retired in 2007 when our soortsman asphalt racing effort cost 25 grand total that season not counting car prior 4 years ran pure stock won a ton of races ,snowball derby , points champion etc and did all 4 seasons for less than that first sportsman season. just got out of hand to run top 3. I thought when we got 20k sponsor for that year we were way more than covered plus some. I was not as happy at the end of the season 😅😅😅 Haha😂😅😅😅

One thing I noticed looks like you got a sweet ass corvette

Think you got pretty close not high budget but spent to years having a brand new car built and would say close to 42,000$

Is hobby stock the same as fireball? Its a new thing at the i37 speedway here in texas was wondering if you heard of it its kinda confusing me trying to get into the sport any help appreciated

Pretty close for what I can figure

The car we run that’s similar I probably have $15000 in the car.

What about broke guy

Because they stole his shares of motley corp

Nothing kills race cars faster than a wife. In 25 years of helping in this sport and can’t even remember all the guys who were good that had to give it up because of women problems Best deal with it now if your serious or don’t even bother starting It’s an unfortunate reality That modern women are not the great women of your grandfathers day.