Featherlite Modified Series - Winning Isn't Enough

With the NASCAR name seemingly magic in the marketplace, one would think that the chance to be involved with the same sanctioning body that brings Winston Cup racing to millions of homes weekly would be a strong selling point.

"In our series, no," Marquis says. "What people are looking for is television coverage. We've had a turnaround there and we're going to get more coverage, but the fact that it's tape delayed has shot down some of the people we've been talking to. You can't win."

For example, the September 14 Modified race at Loudon, New Hampshire, won't appear on the Speed Channel until October 21. The season-ending race on October 27 at Thompson, Connecticut, won't be shown until December 16.

"Still, we've got a lot to sell if we can get some exposure," Marquis says. "Competition-wise, the tour is great. Some people thought that the tour took a big dive when Richie Evans was killed, but I think we're well beyond that. ... We've got great competitors and some really talented youngsters on the way up. TV may not solve our problems, but it will definitely help. Look at the Busch North Series. They've got a good mix of sponsors. Some are there because of TV and others are involved because they like the racing."

When asked what a team would need to run a first-class operation on the Modified tour, Marquis has the numbers on the tip of his tongue. "A first-class team can get away for $150,000 to $200,000 in this series. I don't think that would be difficult. But our team and most of the others would be thrilled to get $50- or $75,000. That would be a big help and make someone a major sponsor."

Compared to most touring series, those numbers are reasonable. But then the question of what you get for your money comes into play. While the racing world considers the Featherlite Modified Series champion the national Modified champion, it's not like the old days when the national standings included the Allisons from Alabama, Californians Howard Kaeding and Al Pombo, and drivers from up and down the East Coast. Many now joke about the Featherlite Modified Series champion being the "National Champion of New England."

"That is a factor in getting a sponsor," Marquis says. "We're limited to one area except for a couple of trips down South. Anytime we have a combined show with the Busch or Winston Cup divisions, their guys are all watching us, because our show is so exciting, but it's a hard sell out of the Northeast. I think we need to expand, but then you get to what it costs. New England is still a work-oriented, blue-collar region where racing is not someone's number-one income. I can make a living if I have full-time rides in both series (Featherlite Modified and Busch North), but right now my Busch North deal is only part-time. I still work as a heavy equipment operator during the week to take care of my family."

While the Featherlite Modified Series media guide shows Marquis with career winnings of nearly $350,000 and Hirschman with over $800,000, the numbers are deceptive. Both made the money over many years, the totals include championship bonuses, and their personal take was only a percentage of the total.

What teams receive per race won't blow you away. "The purses depend on the size of the track," Hirschman says. "We've got about six races on the tour that are really good paying races. The rest are shaky. The New Hampshire International races were the best. We could leave there with $16- to $18,000 if we won, but they've taken some of that and put it on the back. Now it's about $12,000, which is still a good deal. We go to some other tracks and run 150 or 200 laps for $4,000 to $6,000 to win against a tire bill that will be over $2,000, plus your other expenses.

"It's easy to lose a lot of money. Stafford Motor Speedway's Spring Sizzler paid $8,000 to $10,000 to win years ago for 80 laps. Now we run 200 laps for $7,000 to win. Our expenses have gone up, but it's the same for the tracks. They can only charge so much for a ticket and they're facing big increases in insurance and operating costs. I don't know where the money will come from to get back on a level playing field. Maybe we never will."