If you love watching races at the speedway, you have a dream job. Not only do you get to follow your favorite drivers, you also get to see some of the most exciting races. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always pay to be a fan. When it comes to earning potential, it seems like you’re either blessed or cursed based on where you sit.
The good news is, there’s a way to earn a decent living as a fan. You just have to know the right spots to look for the jobs. Let’s take a look at how much you can expect to earn as a fan at the different venues around the country.
Track Owners
If you’re a fan of one of the smaller tracks, it’s not uncommon to see the cars parked outside the ticket booths at the end of the event. While you might get roped into working the track for a while to help out with the parking lot, it’s generally safe to assume you won’t be earning rich. Even at the biggest tracks, it’s not uncommon for the fans to help out with parking.
If you’re looking for big cities with vibrant racing scenes, you might want to look elsewhere. The major metropolitan areas are typically safer bets when it comes to finding steady employment. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, Charlotte has a really big race scene but the job market there is still quite slow. There’s also Kansas City, which has quite a few gigs but you might want to be looking for work there if you aren’t from the area.
Race Car Drivers
If you’re a race car driver, you know what you’re in for. It’s a rough job market out there but you can still make decent money when compared to other professions. In fact, you might even make a decent living depending on how talented you are. For instance, Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2008 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, was making an average of $80,000 per year before taxes when he retired from racing in 2018. That’s nearly $5,000 per week, before taxes! Even Ken Jennings, the world record holder for the most game wins (74) had to retire from his dream job at age 34 due to health problems. Driving a fast car for a living isn’t for everyone but it’s still a secure and lucrative job for those who decide to do it.
Spectators
The worst job in racing is spectating, or as some would call it, sitting and watching. Especially if you’re at a race track that’s not your home, it can be very dull sitting in the stands. While you might get to witness some of the most exciting sights and sounds of a racing event, you won’t earn a single penny from it. Typically the only people who attend races are either in it for the entertainment or hope to make some money off the betting pools. It’s safe to assume you won’t be the latter since it’s illegal to do so in most places.
Security
It might not sound particularly glamorous but the security guards at the race tracks earn some decent money. In fact, the wages range from $16,000 to $30,000 per year depending on what city you work in and whether you are full or part time. In some cases, the security can get quite demanding and stressful so be sure to put in the extra hours when needed to make sure you get your shift every week. Of course, you’ll be preventing crime at the same time and helping out the local community. It can be a double-edged sword but it can also be a very rewarding job.
Overall
If you’re looking for an overall average figure, you can find jobs at almost all the race tracks in the country. The only ones that might be a little hard to come by are the ones in smaller towns due to a lack of tourism. You might also find it hard to find part time work at the bigger tracks due to the demanding schedules of the drivers and staff. The perfect scenario is to find a full time job that provides you with the same benefits of being a fan at a race track. In addition to being able to earn a decent living, you also get to enjoy the races and all the perks that come with it.
There are many different ways to enjoy a race without having to worry about paying the bills. If you’re looking for a way to make some extra cash, take a look at the jobs listed above and decide which one sounds the most exciting to you.