At the Track

We'll note happenings at the national and local levels of racing.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Cookin' at Club E

I love the Racing Chef. He brings tasty, simple (thankfully) recipes to the table and show us how to make them. Plus, he has the racing celebs who help with their favorite dishes.

A couple years ago, I go to be on, well, in the background of, The Racing Chef program at Richard Childress Vineyards. Would I like to be in the background of the shots, he asks? That was an easy answer - YES! I don't know how many times I've watched that segment for my brief shot, maybe a few seconds, but still, I was on the show!

I digress.

Today, Chef Nicky is showing a favorite of Dale Earnhardt's - crab cakes and his "special' sauce.



Yuuup. I'll be giving this one a try soon!


Good times I remember...

Chicago sings about "Old Days" and the good things of the past.

Among good things of the past are Schwinn bicycles (I still have my blue Hollywood model) and old cars, not to mention the music (choose your era, personally, I'm fond of the 60s and early 70s).

On Facebook the other day was a mystery post to like and share if you knew what it was. Well, it was a pair of drive-in movie speakers on a post. Like. Share. Smile.

 Here are the car shows on this weeks calendar:

April 27
COVERED BRIDGE CAR CLUB – Milton, W.Va.: April, May, June, July, August and September The cruise-ins are set for 5 p.m. until dusk the last Friday of the month at Perry Morris Square in Milton. For more information, call Andrew at 304-743-5321 or 304-654-0745 or email coveredbridgecarclub@msn.com.

April 28
ROAD ANGELS – Clear Fork, W.Va.: A car/truck and motorcycle show is set for Saturday, April 28, at Westside High School in Clear Fork, W.Va. Registration is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and awards are presented at 3 p.m. Entry fee is $15.

As the year progresses, the car shows heat up the local parking lots. Next month through August and early September are a slew of shows to catch your eyes

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Go fast, turn left...

Here's your weekly racing schedule for the weekend.

April 20
Southern Ohio Speedway, Wheelersburg, Ohio $2,000 to win Late Models plus Jordan Heating & Cooling UMP Modifieds, GCP Engines Sport Mods,and Street Stocks (Rain Date: April 21st)

April 21
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Tyler County Speedway, Middlebourne, W.Va. - 18th annual Topless 50, $4,000 to win Super Late Model Invitational. www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com.

Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus FAST Series Legend Cars http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Midvale Speedway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, McIntosh Oil Company Season Opener, Meet The Drivers Night, double points all divisions, Late Models, Modifieds, Classics, Sprint Cars http://www.midvalespeedway.com/

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio Border Wars (and celebrating the 50th year of USAC at Eldora) USAC Sprint Cars / UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stocks http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/

Kanawha Valley Motorsports Park, Southside, WV bracket races. Gates open at 10 a.m. and time trials start at noon. http://kanrace.com/

Friday, April 13, 2012

Revised April race schedule

In putting together April's race schedule, I overlooked Southern Ohio Speedway in Wheelersburg. Sorry. We're compiling a master list for tracks that can be a day trip there and back, with racing in between.

The "big leagues" as my my "adopted sons" call NASCAR, will be noted when it's close enough for a weekend trip - Kentucky (if you can get there, hahaha!), Martinsville, Richmond, Charlotte, Pocono, Rockingham.

April 14
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus Winged Spring Cars http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio 59th season opener Sunoco American Late Models / UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stock Cars http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/

Kanawha Valley Motorsports Park, Southside, WV bracket races. Gates open at 10 a.m. and time trials start at noon. http://kanrace.com/

April 20

Southern Ohio Speedway, Wheelersburg, Ohio $2,000 to win Late Models plus Jordan Heating & Cooling UMP Modifieds, GCP Engines Sport Mods,and Street Stocks (Rain Date: April 21st)

April 21
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus FAST Series Legend Cars http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Midvale Speedway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, McIntosh Oil Company Season Opener, Meet The Drivers Night, double points all divisions, Late Models, Modifieds, Classics, Sprint Cars http://www.midvalespeedway.com/

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio Border Wars (and celebrating the 50th year of USAC at Eldora) USAC Sprint Cars / UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stocks http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/

Kanawha Valley Motorsports Park, Southside, WV bracket races. Gates open at 10 a.m. and time trials start at noon. http://kanrace.com/

April 27
Southern Ohio Speedway, Wheelersburg, Ohio 2nd Annual Southern 50, $6,000 to win Late Models plus $500 to win Late Model Non-Qualifiers Race (Note: $300 has been taken off the top and redistributed through the field in the Non-Qualifiers race) and $1,000 to win Jordan Heating & Cooling UMP Modifieds (Rain Date: April 28th)

April 28
Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus Super Car Stock Car Series http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV OVSCA 410 Winged Sprints and racing all classes AMRA Late Model, AMRA Modified, Pure Stock, 4 Cylinder FWD, Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Midvale Speedway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, Finish Line Motors/Freedom Auto Finance Spectator Drags; Late Models, Modifieds, Classics, Sprint Cars http://www.midvalespeedway.com/

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio Saturday Night Special UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stocks / Vore's Welding FWD Compacts http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/

Kanawha Valley Motorsports Park, Southside, WV bracket races. Gates open at 10 a.m. and time trials start at noon. http://kanrace.com/

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Racing along another week

This week - Eldora opens! Columbus Motor Speedway has racing! So do Ona Speedway and Ohio Valley Speedway!

And NASCAR returns to the Rock! Not the Cup Series, the Truck Series on Sunday afternoon. The Cup and Nationwide are in Texas this week.

Not a bad weekend, don't you think?

Here's the schedule:

April 14
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus Winged Spring Cars http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio 59th season opener Sunoco American Late Models / UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stock Cars http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

HOF nominees a class of firsts

Once again, it's time to vote five new members to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

It's a list with two firsts - a woman nominee and an African-American nominee. I've been saying all along Wendell Scott needed to be at least in the nominations.

When it comes to getting my choices in the Hall, it's happening. Not as fast as I would like to see it, but it's happening.

I'll still vote for Tim Flock, but how about the other four I can cast ballots to include?

Leonard Wood? Absolutely. He's a really sweet man. After meeting him at this year's Daytona 500, my respect for the Wood Brothers increased. His brother Glen was inducted into the Hall in the last class.

Which will put me on the "family soapbox." There are families that need to be inducted together - Petty, Earnhardt, France, Jarrett. It's difficult to separate the Wood Brothers, don't you think? Yet that's exactly what happened in the last class.

Richard Childress and / or Rick Hendrick? I don't know abou that. Their biographies mention them as car owners and they have not retired from that. Retired as drivers, yes; owners, no.

Wendell Scott certainly has my vote. Being a black driver in the good-old-boys network in the South took not just skill, but guts.

So, do I include a vote for Rusty Wallace? He's deserving.

I think it's a shame to look at them alphabetically - by the time you get through the list, two among the most deserving are at the bottom of that list, in the W-section.

Well, decide for yourself. If you go to the Hall of Fame website, you can see the 25 and watch the biographies. Then, vote.

The nominees, listed alphabetically, are:

Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series titles (1956-57)

Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949

Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series

Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion

H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway

Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR premier series champion

Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others

Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband, Bill France Sr.; affectionately known as Annie B.

Rick Hendrick, 13-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series

Jack Ingram, two-time Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion and three-time Late Model Sportsman champion

Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR premier series champion

Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600

Cotton Owens, owner/driver, won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson

Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner

Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion

Les Richter, former NASCAR executive; former president of Riverside International Raceway

Fireball Roberts, 33 NASCAR premier series wins, including the 1962 Daytona 500

T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. senior VP

Wendell Scott, first African-American NASCAR premier series race winner

Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR premier series champion, 1951 and '53

Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"

Rusty Wallace, 1989 NASCAR premier series champion

Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier series champion

Leonard Wood, part-owner and former crew chief for Wood Brothers; revolutionized pit stops

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Looking for some racing? Here ya go!

If you're looking for some local, affordable racing, there are a lot of options in April.

In West Virginia and Ohio, there are a lot of options open to the motorsports enthusiast.

Now, there is something to be said for raw horsepower like NASCAR, but close to home those are relegated to Kentucky Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and on the further edges, Richmond, Martinsville and Charlotte.

Now, Kentucky is only a couple hours away and Bruton says they are in the major upgrade-fix-last-year's-debacle. Seriously. He's gonna park cars in the fields around the track they've purchased. Yes, I said fields. Like, go to demolition derby at your county fair, fields.

So, to help you find some close to home racing, here's a list for April.

April 7
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Columbus Motor Speedway, Columbus, Ohio running NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts http://www.columbusspeedway.com

April 14
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus Winged Spring Cars http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio 59th season opener Sunoco American Late Models / UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stock Cars http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/


April 21
Ona Speedway, Ona, WV
runs Classics, U-Cars, Hobby Stock http://www.onaspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV running AMRA Late Model - AMRA Modified - Pure Stock - 4 Cylinder FWD - Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Columbus Motor Speedway NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus FAST Series Legend Cars http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Midvale Speedway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, McIntosh Oil Company Season Opener, Meet The Drivers Night, double points all divisions, Late Models, Modifieds, Classics, Sprint Cars http://www.midvalespeedway.com/

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio Border Wars (and celebrating the 50th year of USAC at Eldora) USAC Sprint Cars / UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stocks http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/


April 28
Columbus Motor Speedway
NASCAR All American Series Stock Cars, Late Models, Columbus Modifieds, Sport Stocks and Crazy Compacts plus Super Car Stock Car Series http://www.columbusspeedway.com

Ohio Valley Speedway, Washington, WV OVSCA 410 Winged Sprints and racing all classes AMRA Late Model, AMRA Modified, Pure Stock, 4 Cylinder FWD, Mini-Wedges http://www.ohiovalleyspeedway.com/

Midvale Speedway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, Finish Line Motors/Freedom Auto Finance Spectator Drags; Late Models, Modifieds, Classics, Sprint Cars http://www.midvalespeedway.com/

Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio Saturday Night Special UMP DIRTcar Modifieds / Stocks / Vore's Welding FWD Compacts http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Rev'd up for local racing?



It’s time for Ona Speedway to open for the season.

The green flag drops on Saturday, April 7 for the first of 16 Saturday nights of racing in Classic, U-Car and Hobby Stock divisions. As of now, there are 106 cars registered, according to track co-owner Lynn Bauer.

Returning as track announcer will be Spencer Adkins of WOWK television.

Prices this year are $8 for adults and free for kids 7 and under. Pit passes are also available for $20 for ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 8 – 12 and free for age 7 and under.

The pits open at noon with pre-tech inspections at 12:30 and hot laps at 1 p.m. General admission gates open at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m.

Racing will be the first three Saturdays of each month. Well, except for June. There are four Saturday nights of racing that month, but the first is the Super Cup Series returning to Ona.

A special attraction will be June 2 when Ona hosts the Super Cup Series on WV’s only asphalt track.


Super Cup director Joe Schmaling says the series is racing the way it used to be – big, heavy, truly stock, cars, drivers, no engineers and no computers.

Other stops on the Super Cup Series will be Columbus Motor Speedway, Motordrome Speedway, Old Dominion Speedway, Midvale Speedway and Lonesome Pine Speedway.

Links of interest will be:

www.onaspeedway.com and

www.supercupstockcarseries.com/

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Who’s looking for a car show?

When the weather warms up it’s time to cruise the streets with the windows or sunroof open or the top down on whatever machine you drive.

Or, you can park the vehicle and cruise on foot between lines of shiny, chrome-laden polished so you can see yourself cars on a sunny afternoon.

Yeah, check out those classics, or better yet, those muscle cars. Yep, I’ll stop and look at a Mustang faster than you can sing Mustang Sally. Have you ever heard Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., sing Mustang Sally? Wowser! But I digress.

This has already published in The Herald-Dispatch, but in case you missed it, here’s a rundown by sponsoring car clubs.

NITRO ANTIQUE CAR CLUB – Nitro, W.Va.: Cruise-ins are the first Fridays of each month from 5 p.m. to dusk at the Putnam County Bank parking lot off the Hurricane exit of Interstate 64. Cruise-in dates are May 4, June 1, July 6 and Aug. 3. There is no entry fee for cruise-in events. For more information, call Paul Lett at 304-755-4187, Earl Taylor at 304-776-2117 or Jeary Mullins at 304-965-1594.

COVERED BRIDGE CAR CLUB – Milton, W.Va.: The cruise-ins are set for 5 p.m. until dusk the last Friday of the month at Perry Morris Square in Milton. The dates include April 27, May 25, June 29, July 27, Aug. 31 and Sept. 28. For more information, call Andrew at 304-743-5321 or 304-654-0745 or email coveredbridgecarclub@msn.com.

ROAD ANGELS – Clear Fork, W.Va.: A car/truck and motorcycle show is set for Saturday, April 28, at Westside High School in Clear Fork, W.Va. Registration is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and awards are presented at 3 p.m. Entry fee is $15.

BB's CAR CLUB – Cannonsburg, Ky.: Cruise-ins are set from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Kyova Mall in Cannonsburg, Ky. Dates include Saturday, May 19 (Cancer Awareness); Saturday, June 16 (Beach Party); Saturday, July 21 (Salute to America); Saturday, Aug. 18 (Fabulous '50s); Saturday, Sept. 15 (Family Night); and Saturday, Oct. 20 (Halloween Party).

CRUZIN' ON THE PLAZA – Pullman Plaza Hotel, Huntington, W.Va.: The event is set for Friday-Monday, May 25-28, at Pullman Plaza Hotel, 1001 3rd Ave. Registration, which is $25, begins Friday, May 25, along with a meet and greet at the Visitor's Center and a movie night. Saturday, May 26, offers another registration day and the car show, children's events at Harris Riverfront Park, a car bash, crank it up contest and a concert. Sunday, May 27, features the car show, live music, a road tour and awards ceremony.

It is sponsored by the city of Huntington, the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District, the Cabell-Huntington Visitors and Convention Bureau, Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Pullman Square and the Pullman Plaza Hotel.

A portion of proceeds will be donated to Children's Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital. For more information, email questions@pullman.com, call Natalie at 304-691-5408 or go to www.cruzinontheplaza.com.

TRI-STATE STREET RODS CLUB – Huntington, W.Va.: McCruising at McDonald's and HIMG next to the restaurant is offered the first Saturday of each month from 5 p.m. to dusk at 5178 Route 60, off the 29th Street exit of Interstate 64. Dates include May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 1 and Oct. 6. For more information, call 304-416-0205.

EAST KENTUCKY GEARHEADS CAR CLUB – Paintsville, Ky.: Beginning at 4 p.m. every third Saturday of the month from May through September in downtown Paintsville, Ky. Dates include May 19 (Veterans Alley and Ladies Night), June 16 (Mopar Alley), July 21 (Ford Alley and Mustangs on Main), Aug. 18 (GM Alley) and Sept. 15 (Rat Rod and Hot Rod). For more information, go to www.ekygearheads.com.

THE OLE CAR CLUB OF GALLIPOLIS, OHIO: Aarons Rental Cruise-In is set for 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 18, in front of the Gallipolis WalMart on Eastern Avenue. Registration is by donation.

A Super Cruise-In is set for 5-8 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at the City Park in downtown Gallipolis. Registration is by donation.

The 34th annual Car Show is set for Saturday, Aug. 11, at the City Park in downtown Gallipolis, Ohio. Registration, which costs $10, is from 9 a.m. to noon. Trophies are awarded at 3 p.m.

The Gallia County Visitor's Center Cruise-in is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, on Court Street in downtown Gallipolis. Registration is by donation.
For more information, call Dave Hively at 740-446-0643 or email dlhively@att.net or call Elwood Lewis at 740-446-4064 or email lewis02@yahoo.com.

Certainly this is not an all-inclusive list. I seem to recall cruise-ins at McDonalds in Catlettsburg, Ky., and at Hardees in the west end of Huntington on a regular basis. When that information comes along, we’ll pass it on.

Until then see you at the cruise-ins – I’ll be groovin' around the Mustangs.

Monday, April 2, 2012

A lot of tech from Mineral Wells


The local racing season is ready to gear up and thus begins the flood of technical inspections and questions.

Here, submitted for your reading pleasure, are the rules and regs coming out of Mineral Wells, WV and the AMRA series, compiled by competition director Scott Wolfe.

MINERAL WELLS, WV - The American Motor Racing Association (AMRA) annual tech and inspection meeting was a success, as the organization established new guidelines concerning nose pieces and other body specifications. In most cases changes were "minor, or areas needing clarification," noted AMRA president Larry Keefer.

"Overall, if you were fully legal last year, you will be legal this year."

Nearly 25 participants and most all AMRA tracks were represented in some way at the session led by veteran inspectors Jason Roberts and Ed Venham. Venham is expected to fill the role of a roaming AMRA technical inspector. Most of the tech was directed towards the Malta Windows and Doors Modified Division.

Some rule verifications were made for the Tru-Tech Late Model series, whose rule book significantly mirrors the Lucas Oil rule book and runs under an open tire rule. There were no major changes to the late model rules, however, wheel base and engine set back are tech areas that will be regularly inspected. Snell ratings should be up-to-date in all driver helmets, as well as all lap belts and shoulder harness restraints.

Some of the main areas of concerns of the day were with the Malta Modified nose pieces. Aftermarket nose pieces will be allowed if they "do not cover the bumper" and fall within the guideline dimensions of the nose rule. "So far we have found that one aftermarket nosepiece fits the rule, and others do not. Each nose will be evaluated at tech," noted AMRA Director of Racing Scott Wolfe.

Nose pieces should fit between the legs of the bumper and be behind the front bumper rail. Noses should be flat with a 1" drop/dip tolerance in the center of the panel. They may not cover any part of the bumper.

Nose pieces should have no rearward facing louvers, or any other type of device which may create any type of opening which may be construed to be effecting air flow other than into the radiator. Nose pieces may not have any type of wing, or be shaped in a concave or convex manor. Minimum of 4 inches ground clearance. 6" car number on nose of car required. Other details of the nose can be found in the AMRA rulebook.
Only Hoosier tires which are recognized as approved by AMRA are allowed. Hoosier Racing Tires 2 ply E-Mod 26.0 & 26.5 & 27.5 x 8.0-15 in soft, medium and hard compounds, M100 and 26.5 & 27.5x8-15 in the A40, D40 & H40 compounds are the only legal sizes and compounds allowed.

Mud Plugs are now allowed on all wheels. Carbon fiber drive shafts are permitted for safety purposes.

Older tech issues reiterated were that only one shock per wheel is allowed, Aluminum shocks are allowed, but the new steel shock rule with a weight break of 50 pounds is recommended--"Any driver utilizing steel welded bearing, non-adjustable, non-Shrader-valved shocks will be given a 50 pound weight break."

It was noted that this year's East Bay Nationals winner won on a similar steel, non-adjustable shock.

It was also reiterated that all cars must run the AMRA, Hoosier Tire, Poske's Performance Parts, Wrisco Aluminum and Bazell Fuel Decals to receive inspection points and to maintain eligibility for point money. All cars must run all sponsor decals to be eligible for sponsor products. The penalty for not running sponsor packets will be "no points awarded for that night."

Keefer added, "We have a great sponsorship program. Sponsors drive racing and sponsors drive this organization. Our sponsors are among the best in the racing business and have made it possible for drivers to receive well over half a million dollars in cash and product prizes over our 19 years of existence. Most of our drivers honor this rule; however, an increasing number did not honor this fully last season."

"What's good for the whole (group) is good for everyone."

Brakes were another area of concern. O.E.M. style calipers or stock replacement calipers only. Caliper must retain stock GM slide pin mounting but may be constructed of either cast iron or aluminum. Cast iron vented brake rotors only; may not be modified; ie...drilled, scalloped, etc. Front rotors may be re-drilled for different bolt pattern and/or larger studs.

The interior of the car must be level with the top of the doors from side to side. Level with the doors with a 1" dip/ag tolerance at the midpoint of the interior left to right/door to door; or at one any point between the two door panels.

Several instances of 'switching drivers' were reported last season. Drivers may be asked to remove their helmets at the scales to ensure that the driver assigned to the car is actually driving the car.

GM602 and GM604 Crate motors will receive a 100lb weight brake at the scales and must have a certified tag and OEM seal system GM604 and GM602 Crate Engines. No counterfeit bolts or seals. If you have a crate engine, please call the AMRA office for verification prior to any racing.

The AMRA banquet is a first-class event and an event sacred to the racing community and its sponsors. If drivers or an owner representing the drivers do not come to the banquet they will not receive any point fund money. The banquet is a two way street to honor both drivers and teams; and contributing sponsors, thus teams are expected to participate.

Drivers can earn bonus points as a means of keeping drivers loyal to AMRA tracks and to keep drivers loyal to the Road Warrior Challenge. A driver may exchange 5 weeks after they reach the 15 week mark. After reaching 20 weeks drivers will receive 2 bonus points for each AMRA track they run at, example: if we have 26 weeks of racing and you race on Friday and Saturday night for the last 6 weeks, drivers would be awarded 24 points. This bonus only occurs after the 20 week mark.

Bonus points: if you race at a track four weeks in a row you will receive 25 points, up to 100 points (provided you pass tech) or you can choose to get the 25 points at a Road Warrior show, up to 100 points, these bonus points will be added to your weekly points. (100 bonus points total; not 100 plus 100)

Octane Racing Products will be on board as a sponsor of AMRA in 2012 and will add $1000 to the AMRA National Points fund, again making the modified national points' $5000 to win. Octane will add contingency awards in random drawings at the banquet to racers displaying the Octane Racing Products decals.

Malta Doors and Windows is the Title Sponsor of the AMRA Modifieds and Tru-Tech Automotive for the Late Models. Other fine sponsors of the MALTA AMRA Modified series are Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Wrisco, Hoosier Racing Tire/Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley, Carthage Auto Parts, AERO Racing Wheels, Rocket Chassis, Lincoln Welders & Lincoln Electric, Hypercoils, Bazell Race Fuels, Alky Racing Alcohol and Sunoco Race Fuels, Impact Racing, ADP Rivets, RCI, OTR Filters, MSD Ignition, Wilwood, Kluhsman Racing Components (KRC), Evans Vinyl Signs, WV Tax & Bookkeeping, Winters Performance, Bilstein Shocks, PST Drive Shafts, Schoenfeld, Killer Bee Race Bodies, The Bumper Man, and Pike Street Lanes.

Please visit www.amramodified.com.