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Engine Rule Changes to Level Playing Field at New Smyrna
Florida Spec Engines to be Restricted
for World Series in February and Beyond
51 Sports PR Report
Super Late Model competitors can expect a new, more level playing field at New Smyrna Speedway in 2010, beginning with the 44th annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February. Officials announced today that teams utilizing the spec engine will now need to use a 390-cfm carburetor or a specific restrictor plate. The move is being made to allow all engines to be competitive at the high-banked half-mile speedway.
In recent seasons, Super Late Model racing in Florida, especially at New Smyrna, has been portrayed in a negative light by some in the short track industry. There are those that have claimed that the strength of the Florida spec engine, that is popular among Central Florida racers, out-powers other engines. In fact, New Smyrna officials feel that the engine might have kept other racers away from the big races at New Smyrna Speedway.
In a move to help strengthen Super Late Model racing at New Smyrna Speedway and Central Florida as a whole, officials from New Smyrna, as well as Progressive High Performance’s Steve McInnis and noted tech official Ricky Brooks, have developed this new rule for de-tuning the power of the Florida spec engines.
“We made the decision because we want to ensure that the World Series, the Governor’s Cup (November) and future events at New Smyrna Speedway are true Super Late Model events and to ensure that New Smyrna Speedway continues to have Super Late Model racing,” said Kim Brown, General Manager of New Smyrna Speedway. “I believe that there is a perception in other areas of the country that people can’t come here and compete and we don’t want to be put on an island all by ourselves. I just want, with the help of Ricky and Steve, to try to overcome some of these thoughts.”
The Super Late Models that are running the Florida spec motors are urged to bring a .390-carburetor with them to this year’s World Series. There will also be a restrictor plate option for the drivers that do not have that carburetor. This move is one that is supported by the top spec engine builder in the state of Florida, Steve McInnis of Progressive High Performance.
“The image of Super Late Model racing has been destroyed by word-of-mouth stuff that isn’t necessarily true,” said McInnis. “Just to hear things that are said makes it sounds like a horror story to come down here and race. That’s why I’m trying to work really close with Ricky Brooks to show him that this is a great place to race. We’re supposed to get together to get all three major spec engine builders on the dyno at the same time to make sure everything is as fair as it can be.”
Brooks, who is the lead tech official at some of the biggest Super Late Model races in the country, including the 44th Annual World Series at New Smyrna and the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, also sees the move as a chance to unify Super Late Model racers, not just in Florida, but for every SLM competitor around the country.
“I’ve been trying to get the people at New Smyrna to go along with what we’ve tried to do with the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance package that we’ve developed with R.J. (Scott, of CRA) and run at Five Flags. Now I’m excited everyone’s on board. The biggest difference was that the Progressive spec motor, and I’ve been in agreement with Steve, had to be tuned down a little bit. We’re all working together to help them build their program there at New Smyrna and also to get some of their guys to come to other areas and race.”
While the rule change to a .390-carburetor or a restrictor plate comes just a few weeks away from this year’s World Series, the rule is one that will only serve to make the competition on the track more equal for drivers that were already planning to attend the big races at New Smyrna Speedway, as well as the drivers that perhaps were in limbo on whether or not to compete at the track this season.
“I know it’s late in the ballgame, but it’s definitely going to help the competitiveness of everyone at the World Series,” added Brooks. “Then, after the World Series, the races later in the year, like the Governor’s Cup and even next year’s World Series will be even bigger and better and be closer to what they were about 10 years ago.”
The 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing kicks off with a practice day on Thursday, February 4th, while the on-track feature action officially starts on Friday, February 5th. Super Late Models, Tour-Type Modifieds, Florida (Limited) Late Models, Crate/ASA Late Models, Trucks, Winged Sprint Cars and more headline the action for nine straight nights through Saturday, February 13th. The Speedweeks action will culminate in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 Tour-Type Modified event on Friday, February 12th and the Pete Orr Memorial Super Late Model event on Saturday the 13th.
For more information on the 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, contact New Smyrna Speedway at (386) 427-4129 and visit www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org.
Engine Rule Changes to Level Playing Field at New Smyrna
Florida Spec Engines to be Restricted
for World Series in February and Beyond
51 Sports PR Report
Super Late Model competitors can expect a new, more level playing field at New Smyrna Speedway in 2010, beginning with the 44th annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February. Officials announced today that teams utilizing the spec engine will now need to use a 390-cfm carburetor or a specific restrictor plate. The move is being made to allow all engines to be competitive at the high-banked half-mile speedway.
In recent seasons, Super Late Model racing in Florida, especially at New Smyrna, has been portrayed in a negative light by some in the short track industry. There are those that have claimed that the strength of the Florida spec engine, that is popular among Central Florida racers, out-powers other engines. In fact, New Smyrna officials feel that the engine might have kept other racers away from the big races at New Smyrna Speedway.
In a move to help strengthen Super Late Model racing at New Smyrna Speedway and Central Florida as a whole, officials from New Smyrna, as well as Progressive High Performance’s Steve McInnis and noted tech official Ricky Brooks, have developed this new rule for de-tuning the power of the Florida spec engines.
“We made the decision because we want to ensure that the World Series, the Governor’s Cup (November) and future events at New Smyrna Speedway are true Super Late Model events and to ensure that New Smyrna Speedway continues to have Super Late Model racing,” said Kim Brown, General Manager of New Smyrna Speedway. “I believe that there is a perception in other areas of the country that people can’t come here and compete and we don’t want to be put on an island all by ourselves. I just want, with the help of Ricky and Steve, to try to overcome some of these thoughts.”
The Super Late Models that are running the Florida spec motors are urged to bring a .390-carburetor with them to this year’s World Series. There will also be a restrictor plate option for the drivers that do not have that carburetor. This move is one that is supported by the top spec engine builder in the state of Florida, Steve McInnis of Progressive High Performance.
“The image of Super Late Model racing has been destroyed by word-of-mouth stuff that isn’t necessarily true,” said McInnis. “Just to hear things that are said makes it sounds like a horror story to come down here and race. That’s why I’m trying to work really close with Ricky Brooks to show him that this is a great place to race. We’re supposed to get together to get all three major spec engine builders on the dyno at the same time to make sure everything is as fair as it can be.”
Brooks, who is the lead tech official at some of the biggest Super Late Model races in the country, including the 44th Annual World Series at New Smyrna and the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, also sees the move as a chance to unify Super Late Model racers, not just in Florida, but for every SLM competitor around the country.
“I’ve been trying to get the people at New Smyrna to go along with what we’ve tried to do with the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance package that we’ve developed with R.J. (Scott, of CRA) and run at Five Flags. Now I’m excited everyone’s on board. The biggest difference was that the Progressive spec motor, and I’ve been in agreement with Steve, had to be tuned down a little bit. We’re all working together to help them build their program there at New Smyrna and also to get some of their guys to come to other areas and race.”
While the rule change to a .390-carburetor or a restrictor plate comes just a few weeks away from this year’s World Series, the rule is one that will only serve to make the competition on the track more equal for drivers that were already planning to attend the big races at New Smyrna Speedway, as well as the drivers that perhaps were in limbo on whether or not to compete at the track this season.
“I know it’s late in the ballgame, but it’s definitely going to help the competitiveness of everyone at the World Series,” added Brooks. “Then, after the World Series, the races later in the year, like the Governor’s Cup and even next year’s World Series will be even bigger and better and be closer to what they were about 10 years ago.”
The 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing kicks off with a practice day on Thursday, February 4th, while the on-track feature action officially starts on Friday, February 5th. Super Late Models, Tour-Type Modifieds, Florida (Limited) Late Models, Crate/ASA Late Models, Trucks, Winged Sprint Cars and more headline the action for nine straight nights through Saturday, February 13th. The Speedweeks action will culminate in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 Tour-Type Modified event on Friday, February 12th and the Pete Orr Memorial Super Late Model event on Saturday the 13th.
For more information on the 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, contact New Smyrna Speedway at (386) 427-4129 and visit www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org.
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