The Red River Timing Association invented the occupation of professional Full time drag racer

by hiring Don Garlits with $450 to unload in Wichita Falls Texas.

And that was the beginning of drag racers getting paid to match race where ever and who ever the money was good enough to travel for

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/fatal-indy-500-crash-mars-1958-american-auto-racing/#014-power-struggles-1958-two-dragsters-action-three-quarter-front