D1RT

Crate motors are a costly alternative to super motors in a late model chassis .........rush crate motors are saddled to an authorized rush engine builder who charges for repairs that can be done in the shop and then rush charges for replacement seals ...... it's a shell game .....NOT the driver cost savings they lay claim to ..... but young guys who have never worked on a motor are at the mercy of rush's program ........the semi-late motor program at thunder mountain/hummingbird/hidden valley is a more cost effective alternative to super late motors ........IF you know how to fix/repair/tune/choose your parts and have the knowledge to control your own motor program ...... comparison to new is penny for penny equal ........I.m always in hopes of the crate motor racing dying out in favor of good ole 350 home built motors .....crate motors are great boat anchors and mail box bases ....JMO as always

From what I have seen of the 358 lates being run at the tracks you mention and others you're 100% spot on.
Another added cost saver is the 358 lates are not handcuffed by having to run/use all the mandated "official" fuel, tires, and on and on.
Also zero "membership" fees entry, fees, etc.

How is it so difficult to figure out that if you don't like going to a track, don't like how they do things, and it makes you so miserable you have to whine about it for weeks on end that maybe your life would be a whole lot better going/doing something else.
Is it that hard??

Pretty simple really....
There's a whole lot more to the racing world than Western Pa, Rush, and WoO/WRG.

Here's a novel idea....
Quit going to tracks that support Rush and handing them your $$$!
Hell I quit going to PPMS since the Hav-Tampa race back in the 90's when PPMS drug it out damn near 12 hours and I have not been back to Lernerville and will not go back until WRG/WoO is shown the gate.
I know my few $$$ means nothing to them, but I refuse to spend my $$$$ at tracks that could give a $hit about the fans and drivers.

 
They always ran a Limited Late Model Division at Marion Center, even before the advent of Crate Late Models.  Historically, I believe they were 358 Steel Block Late Models, similar to what they run at Thunder Mountain and Hummingbird.  Cheyenne Reed comes to mind as a driver who was pretty competitive in that division.  

They have been running the open motor steel block lates for quite awhile before they closed.
They would be best if they went with the current 358 rules Thunder Mountain and Hummingbird are using as that seems to be a quickly growing division.