Report: Motorsports Industry Generates Billions of Dollars & Supports Over 300,000 Jobs

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) released a study that underscores the motorsports industry’s pivotal role as a key contributor to the U.S. economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, generating billions in economic activity, and delivering substantial tax revenue, according to company officials in a press release.

PRI, the leading voice for the motorsports industry in the U.S., commissioned the research, which was conducted by John Dunham & Associates, based on 2025 U.S. economy data. The study encompasses automobile, truck, motorcycle, and UTV/side-by-side racing activity.

Economic Impact of Businesses That Support Racing

Traditionally, economic impact reports about racing are focused on the impact of a single event—major race weekend events for a specific local and state economy. These are studies that examine the impact of the tourism dollars that come into the economy as a result of that single event. PRI says that its report is different because it determines the economic impact of the businesses that support the existence of racing in the first place.

PRI’s research represents the most comprehensive assessment of motorsports’ economic footprint ever undertaken to quantify the scale and significance of the business of racing to the U.S. economy, noted the press release. It evaluates the economic contributions from multiple racing businesses, including tracks and promoters, parts manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers, and incorporated race teams.

Key Findings From the Study

Here are the highlights from the report:

• The industry contributes more than $69.2 billion in annual economic impact to the American economy.
• Nationwide, the motorsports industry supports more than 318,000 American jobs.
• American workers in the motorsports industry earn more than $22.1 billion worth of wages and benefits.
• The industry generates more than $8.2 billion in tax revenue, including $5 billion in federal taxes and $3.2 billion in state and local taxes.

This economic impact study represents a bookend to PRI’s 2024 Racing Market Report, a consumer trends analysis that found that consumers spent $8 billion on track-use only parts for motorsports in 2023.

As part of this study, PRI also launched an interactive economic impact map, enabling users to explore motorsports-related data by state and county, highlighting the industry’s reach and relevance in communities of all sizes across the country. The website also offers downloadable infographics that can be shared with policymakers and other businesses to show the impact motorsports has on individual states and communities.

Valuable Data for Policymakers, Industry Stakeholders & the Public

Company officials state that the PRI Economic Impact Study provides valuable data about the economic footprint of the motorsports industry in the United States. PRI undertook this effort to provide policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public with credible, data-driven insights into racing’s role as a major driver of economic activity, employment and tax revenue. The study not only affirms the industry’s significance but also serves as a foundational resource to inform advocacy, investment and long-term planning.

“Racing holds a special place in American life, and this milestone report highlights the broad scope of the motorsports industry as an economic driver at the local, state and federal levels,” said PRI president Michael Good. “Using these results as a foundation, PRI will continue to seek ways to foster the motorsports industry, from racetracks to manufacturers, and from small businesses to major national employers, to ensure motorsports continues to touch every part of the country and bring together people from all walks of life for competition and community. We’re proud to serve as the leading voice for the motorsports industry in the U.S. and will continue delivering the data needed to demonstrate the industry’s economic strength and value.”

In 2023, a study commissioned by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) found that the automotive aftermarket industry generates an economic impact of $337 billion annually on the American economy. While the motorsports study found small areas of overlap in the parts, repair and facilities areas, the motorsports study results are a complement to the SEMA report, according to the press release. PRI was acquired by SEMA in 2012 to connect, protect and advocate for the motorsports industry.