Effective Immediately, Spool/Locked Rear Ends to Receive a Weight Break
Officials with the United Super Late Model Rules Alliance (U.S.R.A) announced today their first step in building an economy package for Super Late Model racers. The U. S. R. A. is lead by officials from the ARCA/CRA Super Series powered by JEGS, the Southern Super Series (SSS) and the CARS Super Late Model Tour.
At the end of last year, key industry stakeholders gathered with a group of car owners and builders to look at areas to try and contain costs. The U.S.R.A. sanctioning bodies posted in November of last year, in their 2018 rules, that they would be reviewing cost containment options in the area of rear ends, transmissions and shocks. The first and only adjustment for 2018 was announced today. Effective immediately, cars that utilize a working spool/locked rear end will receive a 50-pound weight break (excluding Bristol). Officials will continue to research other options, with more input, for possible inclusion in the 2019 rules packages.
CRA went on to announce that the weight break would also apply to the Pro Late Models in their JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance. Other Pro Late Model groups are expected to follow soon.
Numerous car owners had shared with officials their concerns about the purchase and maintenance cost of higher quality rear end options and sought help encouraging a cheaper alternative. Earlier this month, during Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway, Chief Technical Inspector Ricky Brooks tested a similar weight break alternative, and it was met with very positive reviews.
Where Bristol is concerned, series and Hoosier Tire officials want to keep speed, weight and tire options the same for 2018. The rules package where weight and tire options where addressed were deemed successful last year, and those parties want to keep cars at the same weight and speed for the 2018 Bristol event…thus, the 50-pound weight break will NOT apply for the Short Track U.S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway in May. Officials plan to assess the new weight break, its success this year, and make a plan to include Bristol as a weight break option in 2019, following additional research and development.
The next event for Super Late Model teams will be the Southern Super Series season opener Rattler 250 the weekend of March 18th at South Alabama Speedway. The CARS Super Late Model Tour will begin their season a week later at Myrtle Beach on March 24th. The ARCA/CRA Series will kick off their season with a CRA/SSS/CARS tri-sanctioned event at Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway on April 7th.
Photo by: Rich Corbett
