First, you have the rising cost of racing even on an entry level. It is no longer possible for a high school graduate holding down a decent full time job to campaign a successful late model program on his salary without sponsorship help. Gone are the days a couple grand would buy a decent used race car that with a freshened up engine and a few chassis tricks learned in the heat of battle could race competitively. A working man can hardly afford to campaign a Legends car these days. So there's a temptation for a young man who wants to make the big leagues, wants it with every fiber of his being more than he wants anything else out of life, to look for a shortcut to easy money.
Sponsorship deals fall through, but dreams die hard.
Of course there's the inevitable downside. It's illegal and one day the man is going to kick down your door, shut you down and lock you up. Just as young people think they are immortal, they are equally sure they're slick enough they'll be that one dealer who never gets caught. It's hard to point fingers. This is a real old story.