Richard: It is becoming increasingly difficult to cover one aspect of Dirt Late Model racing around this area, and no doubt all over the country, because of post-race disqualifications. So far in this young 2019 season I have already done write-ups for two Crate Late Model events in which the final results did not match the order in which the cars took the checkered flag.
In the race held at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN that ran in conjunction with that track’s Ultimate Super Late Model Series race, two of the top-5 finishers did not meet minimum weight requirements. As a result, their finishes in that feature race were disallowed.
It should be noted here that the minimum weights for that race were a bit different from the norm, but there were still known by the teams.
The following night, 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN staged racing in the Crate Late Model division as a companion to their Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series show. And just like the night before at Bulls Gap, the final finishing order did not match the order in which the cars crossed the finish line. In that case the race winner had his car protested following the race. Eventually, it was deemed the engine in that machine did not conform to the rules set forth for the Crate Late Models competing at 411.
If these were the only times situations like this had occurred in Crate Late Model racing, I would consider that it was just a mere coincidence. However, this type of thing has happened before … multiple times.
And to be clear, this is not meant as a condemnation of any particular racer because I have had to do re-writes or place an * denoting that a final determination had not been made with multiple drivers and teams having been involved.
So all of that brings me to my point. With there being so many issues in this class, I am wondering where the primary problem is coming from. Either there is something wrong with the rules and the understanding of the rules. Or, there is something wrong with the pre and post-race inspection process that leads to the seemingly excessive number of penalties. Or, there is simply a fundamental problem with the class that leads to drivers and teams seeking that “competitive edge” but ultimately crossing the line.
How do you see the Crate Late Model class?
Michael: I believe the biggest part of the problem is drivers looking for that edge. Those types of things will happen when the box they can operate in is a bit narrower than similar classes.
The Crate Late Model division was created to make Late Model racing more affordable. But like in any other form of racing, racers will spend whatever it takes to be competitive or even try to find that edge. And we see a lot of that in this particular class, even with engines that are not supposed to have anything done to them.
I also feel like a big problem with this class is how those over this division have opened things up a bit to allow the sealed engines and be unsealed for an engine builder to freshen it. The problem is there are many times the engine has more work done to it than just a simple freshening on the vital parts.
Cory Hedgecock was the winner in the American Crate All Stars race at Smoky Mountain
Richard: NASCAR has been criticized in the past for issuing penalties days after an event. Although they have changed that practice this season, there were fans who asked why penalties weren’t found in pre-race inspections but were found on a Tuesday in Charlotte. To some degree I liken that example to this in that fans often times have to wonder why infractions can’t be found sooner than they are.
Granted, tracks or the various series don’t have NASCAR’s budget and staff, but it can’t be good for the sport from any angle, whether it be competitors, fans or officials, for winners to be determined days after an event.
I don’t in any way shape or form think of myself as a mechanic but it seems as if there ought to be easier ways to determine the legality of a car right there at the track.
One thing I have noticed is that sanctioned Crate Late Model races tend to be regarded more highly than unsanctioned ones among the competitors. For example, this Saturday’s American Crate All Star Racing Series feature at Smoky Mountain Speedway did not have any issues. Perhaps that is because racers know ahead of time that their cars will be checked, and thus, they bring them to the track in a legal state.
What are your thoughts?
Michael: I have had a few track owners tell me, in recent years, it’s not up to them to check and police the competitors but that it’s up to the drivers to police themselves by way of protests. Like you stated earlier, this has more to do with lack of manpower to properly check the cars ahead of time than it is laziness or looking the other way. Plus, many issues in Crate Late Models can only be found by tearing down the engine.
It becomes obvious after a while which drivers are trying to be legal and those that are not by seeing which races they chose to race in. As you said, the American Crate All Star Series did not have any issues and FASTRAK has a very thorough post-race inspection. When you see drivers refusing to enter some of these events, but instead will run only in the unsanctioned races, one has to wonder how legal their cars really are.
I’m not sure how most racers feel about this, but I don’t mind waiting a couple of days to see if a driver is legal or not. As we have seen in the past, some of those routinely busted for infractions eventually have to become right and their domination comes to an end because they originally weren’t playing by the rules.
Richard: It’s not that Crate Late Models are the only class that have had issues in regard to violations. Famously, Scott Bloomquist was denied a win in the Dirt Late Model Dream in 2015 because his car did not make post-race weight requirements. However, it does seem as if this division has the most issues.
I understand too that mistakes can be made. I had one team to tell me that their car did not make weight on one occasion simply because they had not realized there was a different weight requirement for one series as opposed to the others.
I saw a driver win a race once but was disqualified because he forgot that he was supposed to be using a particular brand of fuel because that company sponsored the series.
Ultimately, the series need to clearly state their rules but it is up to the competitors to know what those rules are and to make sure their cars are in compliance. What everyone truly wants for every form of racing is a level playing field. But the first step in that is for racers to make sure they are on the right side of the gray area.
Michael: It boils down to this. If you give the competitors a small box for them to operate, they will find ways to get outside of that box. I don’t mind them getting into those gray areas where things aren’t clearly defined. But I do have a problem with those that blatantly breaks the rules no matter the class or the level of racing in which they are competing.
Respond to this post on Twitter by following @RichardAllenIDR and @MichaelRMoats or by liking the InsideDirtRacing.com Facebook page.
Also, NASCAR and pavement racing fans can check out InsideCircleTrack.com for more racing content.
