2008 Local Track Articles

8-15-08

Madera Speedway

Media Relations

 

Crate Engine Tour Cars Join the Western Late Models at Madera Speedway

 

A tour car with a 604 Chevrolet Crate engine is currently testing at the Madera Speedway. The configuration of the tour car is at a weight of 2900 pounds, 56% left side weight, a sealed crate engine with the Madera header rule, non adjustable/non rebuild able coil over shock, and the narrower track width of the tour car.  

 

The idea of the tour cars joining the Western Late Model ranks came up in 2007 and has continued to be a major topic of discussion throughout the 2008 season.

 

Madera Speedway’s Competition Director Dave Pereira states, “The amount of interest in allowing the tour cars to compete has been very high, and we believe this combination with a certified crate engine will make a very competitive race car. There is a tremendous amount of tour car inventory just sitting in shops all over, and this should provide a good value for teams wanting to get into the late model program. We have looked at this very closely, and the cost to build a late model is basically the same as a tour car, the major difference is the shocks, engines and exhaust systems.”

 

One tour car has been invited to compete in the Western Late Model event on August 16, 2008. After this race, adjustments will be made as warranted to ensure the competition remains even and fair as possible. Officials will then open the gates to allow anyone with a tour car using a certified crate engine to compete at Madera Speedway beginning on August 30, 2008.

 

August 12, 2008

 

To our valued race teams, and race fans,

 

We at the Madera Speedway have received many phone calls from competitors from all over Northern California and the primary area of concern is with the Western Late Model Stock Cars, and the crate engine is the focal point of most concerns.

 

We at the Madera Speedway support the crate engine program, as we believe it is the heart and soul of future success at the short tracks. When we say crate engine, we mean a by the book, sealed crate engine program, not a modified, or open crate engine program, as these other versions of the crate engine will take us back where these classes came from, which was very expensive engines that made it hard on the average person to have a competitive chance, and ultimately these classes die out.

 

We believe we must provide a level playing field in which every competitor will have an honest chance, and each race team will be treated the same no matter who they are. If your race car comes in a tractor trailer, or on a hay trailer, it’s all the same to us.

 

We believe a true crate engine program will provide the best possible racing for our fans, and without the fans, short track racing will not make it. Can we lower ticket prices for the fans by putting $25,000.00 - $35,000.00 engines in our feature division, or will a $5,000.00 engine help us achieve this goal? Can we provide the fans with closer racing action by opening the engine rules up, or will the equal horsepower of the crates engines do a better job for our fans? We believe an honest crate engine program is the answer in the late models.

 

Another issue I would like to clarify is the topic of entry fees and dual pit passes. The Madera Speedway does not charge entry fees for the race car, nor do we charge double pit passes on twin races. We never charge car entry fees, or double pit passes, period. Our races are funded by sponsors and ticket sales, not the race teams.

 

We at the Madera Speedway take great pride in providing high quality door to door racing action for our fans, and providing a level playing field for our race teams. We work very hard at providing our fans with the best possible show, as we at the Madera Speedway appreciate the fact that it is our fans hard earned dollars spent on Tickets, Coors Light, Pepsi, Hot Dogs, and T-Shirts that stand side by side with our sponsors dollars in paying for the program at the Madera Speedway.

 

We will not participate in opening the crate engine program up, these open crate engines will have to compete under the open engine rule at the Madera Speedway, meaning they will compete at a higher weight than the certified crate engine.

 

By not participating in the tampering of the crate engine program, we believe we are containing the cost of racing late models, and not participating in escalating the cost of late model racing, and then ultimately destroying this class of racing, which will happen if we open up this engine program.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kenny Shepherd

President

Short Track Management, LLC