There are two main types of HPDE drivers. Drivers like myself that go just to have the fun of running through the gears and cornering hard, but running at 85% too 90% of max. And the guys that are just running with the red mist.
I am not a regular HPDE driver, and I drive an antique street car, so not fast as all. I do a lot of point bys foor the people in modern cars with double or way more HP, and they have all the modern bells and whistles and I have an analog car.
And for the curious, the track decals I have from left to right:
Hallett Raceway in Oklahoma
Texas International, which is now gone.
Charlotte super-speedway in Charlotte, NC
Roebling road, just outside of Savannah, GA
Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA
Indianapolis (just a follow the leader at 90 to 100 MPH)
Eagles Canyon outside of Decatur, TX
Ozark International Raceway near the lake of the Ozarks, in MO. My favorite of all. 4 miles long and 1,200 feet elevation change through a nature preserve.
Barber Motorsports in Birmingham, AL
Talladega Super-speedway. Another follow the leader. At 100 MPH I had to steer hard uphill to stay on the 33 degree banking. At 125 it was fairly neutral. AC running and my wife in the car cruising along comfortably. That was fun.
If you are looking at a track only car, the costs go way up. That means you need a tow pig, a trailer, and a race car. Several sets of tires and heavy maintenance.
I am too lazy and cheap to go that route. I just go to collect another fun track, and have fun driving fast and hard, legally.