Dave, I think you are missing the point. It is an inexpensive way to get into racing. It is still a club racing class. World Challenge and Grand Am are taking it to another level with a Pro Series aimed at getting racers noticed, and getting the manufacturers involved in racing. Theoretically one could build/buy one of these, switch from carts to cars this year regionally and go pro racing next year. Or a car owner can have somebody running regionals, one at nationals and somebody else running at one of the pro events. these are not maintenance whores, bleed the brakes change the oil every other event pads half way through the season. Not a fire breathing hand grenade that's on the dyno constantly looking for hp.
2500 for a weekend of pro racing is not that ridiculous ( can't believe I said that), especially considering it's 3 possibilities at prize and contingency money.