Over the past couple of racing seasons the Open Wheel Modified class has been making somewhat of a comeback around east Tennessee. In a region where there are four separate classes of Late Models (Super, Limited, Crate & Sportsman), some fans and competitors welcome the variety offered by that division at some area tracks. But the question is, has the Modified class shown the type of growth during the last two years to justify its inclusion into weekly and special events schedules of local tracks.
Brad Hall is very much invested in Modified racing in the east Tennessee region. Not only does he participate in the class as a driver but he also works for Brucebilt Performance, which builds cars for that form of racing. Considering both of those roles, the veteran racer recently offered his thoughts on the subject.
“I think Modified racing is not where anybody who is a supporter of Modified racing wants it to be right now,” Hall declared in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “It is on a comeback, but it’s not thriving. There’s a few tracks trying to run the cars and those tracks are hovering between around eight to twelve cars and occasionally as many as fifteen. But it’s on the rise and that I like to see.”
Hall notes the abundance of Late Model classes is something that is an issue for Modifieds, both positively and negatively. He also has seen drivers from other classes coming to the division.
“I see guys getting into Modified racing who are maybe tired of Steelhead(Limited) Late Model racing, or they’re just tired of Late Model racing in general,” he said. “I see guys popping up out of the Modified Street class looking into Open Wheel Modifieds. It’s a great venue, I think, for a lot of guys. And it’s not so vanilla. You can go now to some tracks in the South and see four divisions of Late Models and the average fan may or may not know the difference. The Open Wheel Modifieds at least offer a little bit of novelty to the grass roots ideal for most tracks.”
Modifieds ae attempting a comeback in east Tennessee
According to Hall, the Modified car offers the advantages of affordability and simplicity to the racer who is on a budget or just wants to have some fun on the dirt.
“The Modified is a little bit of a throwback,” Hall explained. “An esteemed Late Model driver just recently told me that a Modified is still older technology because you’re limited by the front suspension. Most people build a Modified off of a Monte Carlo front clip, which was built up to about 1988 or a Chevelle front clip which dates back to the late ’60s or early ’70s. You’re limited by that geometry in what you can do to the suspension.”
Brad Hall’s No. 47 Modified
That simplicity has been aided by the two major sanctioning bodies for this form of racing.
“The rules packages from UMP and IMCA both have kept a little bit of a hold on the Modified advancing so the technology and old school ideas are still there,” Hall pointed out. “That brings affordability into play too. We’re limited by the chassis, we’re limited by the tires, and we’re limited by the body. That puts more things back in the driver’s hands.”
As far as the expansion of Modified racing in east Tennessee goes, Hall believes many are playing a wait-and-see game. But he also believes the formula is there to bring this class back to its full potential.
“I think a lot of guys are waiting to see what happens. My dad(Gary Hall) ran them at Tazewell last year and the car count hovered around ten cars. 411 picked them up this year and guys are waiting to see what will happen. If enough guys will get going so that each time there’s a Modified race there are twelve to fifteen cars other guys will have the confidence to get their own cars because they know the division is going to stick around. Consistency is the biggest thing where the promoters stick their necks out, and it’s not the promoters fault, because the drivers have got to go participate and the promoters have got to hang with them. I think some consistency throughout a season would build the division more than anything.”
