Some people think racing is like throwing money out the window. If you take a look at the main photo on this page, Holmen’s Bill Niles is doing just that, only because we asked him to.

Niles, like every other driver at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, knows every dollar, whether it be his own or from sponsors, is more vital now than ever. As the cost of living seems to rise every single day, the cost of racing keeps climbing, too.

Driver Bill Niles. Erik Daily

Maybe those checkered flags should be gold and white instead of black and white as grabbing one is never cheap. But, if you take an objective look at it, what doesn’t cost money nowadays?

And if you look at racing cost vs. racing rewards, Niles still thinks it’s a bargain. Others must agree, as over the years the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway has had some of the highest car counts of any weekly short track in the country. And because of that, some of the highest average attendance.

Will that change because of today’s economy? Maybe a little, but I’d be willing to bet there will still be plenty of drivers, and plenty of fans, who will make their way to the West Salem, Wis., track this summer.

I’ll certainly be one of them.

“Going somewhere else and racing is pretty cool sometimes, but economically speaking, I couldn’t afford to do it,” Niles said. “The gas to get down there, the hotel rooms, the pit fees, then you see what you make at the end of the night and no matter how much fun you’ve had, it is not worth it.”

Let’s put one myth to rest right now: Unless you are part of the big three — Craftsman Trucks, Nationwide (formerly Busch), or Sprint Cup — you’re probably not making any money by racing. And I’d be interested to see how many of those teams actually make money instead of breaking even, or losing money.

If you jump into racing to make money, good luck. You’re odds are probably better at Majestic Pines Casino or Ho-Chunk in Baraboo, Wis.

So why do so many drivers, families and friends get into the sport and stay there? It’s fun for one thing, and the camaraderie amongst the drivers, the teams and the fans is something that’s hard to explain. Racers stick together, and for the most part, would lend a part to a competitor even if it meant that driver might beat them.

This is their hobby, their passion. Many of the drivers and pit crew members don’t hunt, they don’t fish, they don’t go camping, they don’t take vacations — at least during the summer. They don’t own a boat and cruise the Mississippi River.

They race, period.

“For me, it is a family-oriented deal,” said Cashton’s Tony Bagstad. “Sure it gets heated at times, but it’s a way of life. I’m stuck in this way of life because I enjoy it.”

Kevin Nuttleman, who is entering his 29th season of racing, agreed.

“It’s fun but it’s an awful lot of work,” Nuttleman said. “For me, it’s a family thing. It’s what we do on Saturday nights and have for a long time. I don’t know what we would do if we weren’t out here.”

So for many folks, racing is one thing: Priceless.

Jeff Brown can be reached at (608) 791-8403, or at jbrown@lacrossetribune.com

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