SALEM, Ind. -- With the Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, many folks will be heading to local lakes and rivers.

The good news: Gas prices at various marinas are not that far out of step from what motorists pay at the pump. But if your hobby is car racing, that's a different story.

Weekend racers have to take a heavy gulp before they fill up these days, WLKY television in Louisville, Ky., reported.

Sunoco racing fuel at the Salem Speedway costs an eye-popping $7.75 a gallon.

"We've seen a pretty dramatic increase ourselves. Just in the last week we saw a 40-cent increase from our supplier," said Aaron Baum of Baum Racing Supply. "But we're still a reasonable priced gas compared to other race tracks across the country. We're seeing upwards of $10 at some race tracks."

Keep in mind the stuff these engines race on is 110-octane. But when you're running a low budget, love-of-the-sport operation, it's costly.

"If I hadn't done it for 40 years, I probably wouldn't have started now," said race driver Sam Davis, who said fuel was 29 cents per gallon when he started.

And it's showing in the numbers. Most of the Winged Sprint Racers, who were featured at Salem Speedway on Saturday, come from all over the region, so just getting here is costly.

"We hear a little grumbling, but most folks, they know it ahead of time," Baum said. "They just fill the jugs up and let's not talk about it."

They may not want to talk about it, but it has hurt the numbers. Only 15 Winged Sprints made the trip this weekend. Usually that number is in the 20s.

Prices at the pump have some in this sport running on fumes.