Kevin Greven, (417) 399-5756
Contributed by Ronnie Williams
2013 NASCAR Class Rules Announced at Lebanon I-44 Speedway
(LEBANON, Mo.) –
Lebanon I-44 Speedway Officials have released racing class rules for the upcoming 2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Missouri’s only NASCAR sanctioned Asphalt oval following a drivers meeting on Saturday November 12th in Lebanon.
The 3/8ths mile Asphalt oval features the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models, Budweiser Modifieds, Monster Energy Sportsman, Hoosier Tire Road Warriors, and Coca-Cola Chargers on the weekly racing card.
The entry level class will be made up by the Coca-Cola Chargers 4 cylinder division in 2014 had quite a few new faces in attendance. The class will be placed on a Spec Hoosier tire in which drivers voted to place the tires on all 4 corners and will be allowed to only purchase 1 new tire every 4 races to keep the cost down. These will be a Bias-Ply tire and should keep the popular class even more competitive in 2014. Discussions also involved keeping the suspension parts stock.
Last season’s biggest surprise was the Street Stock type class, the Hoosier Tire Road Warriors found no rule changes for 2014 but will allow a rear spoiler on the cars. This class grew last season and features the older generation Camaros, Metric cars and even a Station Wagon which allows the fans to identify what is being raced as the class has many outstanding looking cars.
The Monster Energy Sportsman Class had several new faces in the meeting, as this class features not only the Stock Appearing Bodies, but also the wedge type bodies and even some Truck bodies featuring Stock-Stub front ends. The Speedway and Drivers both had worked together during the latter part of the 2013 season to help develop the class rules for 2014. Veteran Modified builder and racer Scotty Allen brought up some cost reductions within the Bodies on the Chassis which will help the racers in overall cost and was met very openly by all. The final adjustments were made to Chassis / Body / Weight combinations and the height of the Fuel cell clearance going from 10 inches to 8 inches.
It also sounds like the Budweiser Modifieds will have a few more racers on track in 2014 as the class had only 1 addition in the motor as the Ford Crate Motor will be allowed. The popular open-wheeled class runs a spec steel headed motor with a 500 CFM Holley carb and also allows the GM 602 and GM 604 Motor rules. The discussion of the Ford Crate Motor was very open and will be allowed with the option of adding weight should it prove to have an advantage. The Fuel cell height was also discussed and can go from 10 to 9 inches in height starting in 2014.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models which is considered as the Tier 1 NASCAR Class would also find the height of the Fuel cell going from 10 inches to 8 inches with no major changes for the 2014 season.
The Speedway also announced that they again plan to host 3 practice days before the start of the season.
Track Champions in 2013 were Cole Williams(Pro Late Models), Tyler Scott (Modifieds), Randy Besser (Sportsman), Justin Blake(Road Warriors) and Jimmy Poindexter (Chargers).
These Champions and over 40 others will be receiving their honors at the NASCAR Lebanon I-44 Awards Banquet on Saturday November 23rd in Springfield, Mo. at The Ramada Oasis Convention Center. Drivers had to compete in at least 70 percent of races offered to them in 2013 to be eligible as over $75,000 in Cash and Contingency will be handed out.
“Rules packages in some of our classes have been a two year work in progress and we now are to a point where we can keep rules per class in check for years to come. Rules stability saves our racers money and lets them plan further out as they move up in class or improve their race programs. It means a lot that the racers have been so great to work with and the growing car counts are proof on the track for the fans and the overall program” said I-44 General Manager and Promoter.
The 2014 rules can be viewed by visiting our site at WWW.I44Speedway.Net . For more information contact General Manager Kevin Greven at 417-399-5756 and be sure to check the Facebook Page for updates.
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About Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is Missouri’s only NASCAR facility and weekly Asphalt Racing Oval settled nearly 300 miles from any other and is Missouri’s only NASCAR sanctioned facility. Located in Lebanon, Missouri, along Interstate 44 on Route 66 adds easy access from any direction. Just about 45 minutes to the East of Springfield, Missouri on I-44 and just 2 hours East of St. Louis on I-44 as well as just 30 minutes south of Lake of the Ozarks.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has a history of producing great racecar drivers, and some of the biggest stars in American motorsports honed their skills on our tracks high banked 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Legends such as the great Larry Phillips, the only 5-time national champion in NASCAR’s weekly racing series, along with NASCAR stars like Mike Wallace, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and the late Tony Roper have either won races or even track championships over the years.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has perhaps the smoothest racing surface of any weekly racing facility in the nation along with new aluminum backed Monster Energy grandstand seating, Budweiser “Wild Side” tier parking that you can pull up in your car or tailgate in your pickup and enjoy all of the racing from a great view, the new Central Bank VIP Suites in the middle of the front stretch and entering turn one is the newest addition, the Budweiser Fan Deck.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway runs many special events throughout the race season as well as an exciting NASCAR weekly show that consists of Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Road Warriors and the Chargers with special appearances by the United States Super Truck Series, Pro National Baby Grand Cars, NASCAR racing special events and various Concerts.
For all of the latest information always visit
www.i44speedway.net