59 replies to this topic

[714d]

Very inconsistent from year to year though. It wasn't long ago they were only getting 10-15. It also wasn't long ago street stocks were the ones getting 20. A lot of guys bought into the idea that it costs the same to run late model as street stock. You'll look back and see, they are the ones who showed up for a few weeks here and there, but couldn't keep it on the track when they had to start buying parts

[714d]

Now they've created a cheaper late model class which should split the steel blocks in half, and pretty much eliminate the stocks. As you can see in the classifieds, NOONE is buying a stock and going back.

[BRC27]

You're right that you're going to see a number of Steel block guys dropping down into the semi late class.  That will be good for the quality of the show.  The guys that are dropping down don't belong up there anyway.  I don't see the stocks going anywhere.  The guys you saw running last year will still be there with the exception of 1 or 2 that I know of.  MCS dropped the Street Stocks, not all of those drivers bought Emods to keep racing there.  you should see a few of them come up to the bird.  You'll still have your regulars in the streets.  Brown, Howell, Fields, Chewey, hartzfeld, Animal, connor or winslow,plus a few other guys that sat out or ran a limited schedule the year before. 

 

Peach said that they intend on combining the Stocks at some point.  but they want to do it gradually.

[714d]

I love that they are splitting the lates. I agree it's much needed. I also agree the stocks need combined, but I haven't seen where they've taken any steps toward that. They need the same motor rules as the limited lates. That would be a good start. Making them lighter is a move in the WRONG direction. I guess we'll see when the pure stock rules come out.

[greaseball]

There are guys that are in the SS class that cant afford bert trans. and there are guys that have more money in there engines than most Latemodel guys.

[BRC27]

right.  When I talked to peach he said that they were planning on allowing the PureStocks to run Weight jacks.  I could see them also allowing berts and 4bbl carbs.  Just my opinion, but it appears that they are going to build the Purestocks up to the Streets.  I agree that I'd love to see the Engine rules reeled back a bit, but that's not going to happen I don't think.  If you do it that way you're punishing the guys who kept up with the times and built the big motors.  If you allow the Pure Stocks to catch up over a couple years you don't punish as many guys.  Just the guys that don't have the money to compete in the purestocks now.

[BRC27]

Greaseball you're right.  There are both sides of the coin.  IMO a Bert isn't a necessity.  It's cheaper than buying a new triple disc set up.  you can find used berts for $800 or sometimes less.  A new triple disc is $600 and up not to mention the 3speeds are getting harder to find.  But from what I've seen guys with Berts aren't running away from those guys that are still running 3 speeds.  Fuzzy Fields doesn't win just because he has a bert transmission...he wins because he can wheel a car and has been for a long time.  Rich Howell wasn't running a Bert last year and had one of the closest finishes ever with Fuzzy.

 

There are also guys out there that have less than 5k in their motors and still compete.  an engine is only half the battle.  if it doesn't hook up, who cares if you spent $25k on a motor?  I think people will be surprised when they see the 602's winning!  That will only prove my point that you don't need a big motor to win.

[greaseball]

Horsepower DOLLARS are hard to compete against ,yes they can be beat but they usually beat themselves

[714d]

Dollars are hard to compete against because they buy reliability more than just power. Low buck guys can usually run fast enough, but end up having issues. They tend to fix things AFTER they break because they can't justify the cost of fixing things BEFORE they break.

[ramsey31]

I applaud the Late Model split.    IMO that was one of the worst classes to watch.   20 cars is too much on that track, and the only way any racing gets done, is after the half way point when most of those have dropped out from wrecks.   Yellow,yellow,yellow,yellow,yellow,and wait....another yellow.

[714d]

Yup. I agree. I just hope the merger of the stocks works out. Less classes, but with the right number in each class is always the best answer.

[BRC27]

I just hope whatever they decide to do, it results in less cautions and confusion.  It'd be nice to get out around 10 or so.  It gets old getting home at midnight or later and trying to unload a car.

[jake shady]

the drivers actions make you stay late.  not the track officials.  and bert trannys save money!!

[BRC27]

That point was already made.  They still don't belong in a "Stock" car.  And no one said that the officials were to blame.  The reason we get out so late is because there are people in the Limited Latemodel class that don't belong there (Either under powered or not enough experience.)  You have people like Dylan Fenton that have very limited experience in a race car trying to learn in the top class at the track.  I give him a lot of credit.  He's better than he was, but he's still not experienced enough to run up there.  the semi-lates will help him and other people in his situation.

 

The Track officials could take action in helping move everything along quicker.  They could run the track more like Lernerville.  3 cautions and you're parked for the night.  Either hire a better safety crew or train the guys you have now.  There are more caution laps ran at that track than green flag laps.  I was at a race at the end of last year.  watched Dylan fenton and Babcock get into a wreck.  it took the safety crew 2 min to get them.  then they red flagged the field and it still took 5 minutes to get the 2 cars off the track.  And if I'm not mistaken, babcocks car was only moved to the infield.  So there is room for improvement for the track officials and safety crew.

[thebigdueceduece]

I don't see many PS cars if any at all that will be capable of keeping up with the street stocks. I feel the merger between the two classes is a bad idea. More drivers will quit than spend 14000 to keep up with them street stocks

[BRC27]

I have to disagree with that.  For example the #55 car that Bob Connor ran last year in the Streets was a Purestock the year before.  I find it hard to believe that they really spent that much money converting it to street stock.  Take a look at what's already in these cars most of them are tunneled, running triple discs, and over rail headers.  It doesn't take much to move the front shock locations, add weight jacks and 10" tires.  You might see 1 or 2 drivers quit, but for the most part you'll see drivers bite the bullet and move up, or buy a LM frame and run Semi Late.  Their motors are legal in that class.  Of course the top guys are gonna be pissed because they can't afford to cheat and win. 

 

A merger of the stocks would be the best thing for the fans and the track.  Personally I'd rather watch a race with 15 cars every week than watch 3 cars run away from the other 5.  Look at the results from last years purestocks.  only 4 different winners 2 of them had 5 wins a piece and no one else was close.

[thebigdueceduece]

The 55 had a totally diff motor in that car this year. Sooo...ya... And those cars don't have anything you just mentioned in them. That would be illegal for those cars. And I agree..I'd rather watch that too. But I feel that the 55 you are talking about was and is a way better car than most all those PS with $$$ put in it. I would bet if he had connor run that in PS it would have killed those drivers down there. As far as cheating...you're saying that they are cheating because ??? All of those cars were teched ??? I don't understand. Cause I'm pretty sure that they teched PS most season

[greaseball]

Yup big motor-bert trans-racing shocks-floater rear etc. They paid the price to move up and they WON.

Hummingbird is getting another blind man to tech this year.

[thebigdueceduece]

I agree greaseball...that is what I mean when I say I feel it's a bad idea. That's alot of money. Thry would be better off buying a ss that's for sale than to make the changes to move up. Which is why I think alot of those guys wouldn't merge at all. They would probably go elsewhere or quit all together. Didn't that challengeworth go ss and move back down to PS because it was to much $$$?? That is my point

[714d]

But you also have another guy in the class with TWO cars that win pretty consistently. I'd say some can do what they need to to move up.