I'll throw my 2 cents in, if it's worth that much.....the Nats have had a reputation of being the big show, albeit nowhere near as organized, as Carlisle for a while.... the more I talk to folks that go to both, they continue to lament the disorganization that the Nats have been known for, while praising the Carlisle folks for having their acts together and actually knowing what it takes to run a show of that magnitude AND being able to organize and pull it off. Sizewise, the Nats have been backsliding while Carlisle continues to grow..... I've been going to Carlisle since the first show in 1991, and can tell you how it has grown, because I have seen it firsthand. I've never been to the Nats, and from everything I've heard, I don't plan to change that anytime soon. Other than the drag strip on site, the Nats has NOTHING over Carlisle... and considering what I've heard from folks who have gone there to race (ie, Patrick himself) not much action to be had there either.... 2 runs per day for your entry fee? Hardly worth it. As far as the prices, can't holdthe Nats responsible for that.... blame eBag, Barrett Jackson, or whoever else you like, but that's an overall state of the Mopar hobby in general... Parts and Cars are priced to stupid levels, because of one of the most basic economic laws there is... supply and demand. When you couple it with a large show such as the Nats or Carlisle, everyone naturally tries to maximize their profits by tacking on that extra 10-20% that they think they can get away with because of the captive nationwide audience they have at these shows, but even that can backfire.... at Carlisle this year, where the prices on things were completely stupid on a lot of items, the vendors were complaining loud and long that things weren't selling like in years past.... jeez, any theories why? Could it be that folks were just sick of being raped for the prices on parts??? Can't imagine that things were any different at the Nats... in fact, a lot of the vendor attitudes were.. "If I don't sell it here, I will probably be able to get what I want for it at the Nats.." so much for MY rant.....