Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series Announced For CT 525 Engine
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Crate Racin’ USA founder and Director Mike Vaughn and Chevrolet Performance officials announced today at the 40th Annual RPM Workshop the formation and 2013 Schedule for the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series that will feature the use of the all-aluminum $7,000 Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine for a 10-race series that will pay $10,000 to the Champion.
The Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series will be the first in the history of dirt late model racing where the race cars will be powered by a production-based engine. The Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine is based on the LS engine that is used in the Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Camaro, and the new Chevrolet SS production cars.
This LS engine has been adapted for dirt late model racing by Chevrolet Performance where it has been sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. The Chevrolet Performance CT 525 has undergone an extensive on-track five-year Research and Development Program where drivers such as Ronnie Johnson, David Earl Gentry and Ross Martin have won Super Late Model races with the powerplant.
In addition to being a winning engine on the track, the Chevrolet Performance CY 525 Engine has performed trouble-free. The only maintenance competitors have had to perform is to just change the oil.
“The affordable future of super dirt late model racing is here today,” Vaughn said. “The Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series has been five years in the making, and we are proud to announce today the 2013 10-race schedule for super late models featuring the all-aluminum $7,000 Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine. It is basically the same engine one can purchase in a passenger car at their local Chevrolet dealer.”
Chevrolet Performance officials are also excited to continue their marketing relationship with Crate Racin’ USA to promote the CT 525 Engine to both competitors for their race cars, and to the fans, who can have the engine in the passenger cars they drive to the track. The race cars in the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series will be branded as a Chevrolet SS with special nose piece decals.
“This is a great opportunity to brand the new Chevrolet SS passenger car with the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series by using the same LS Engine,” Chevrolet Performance Special Projects Manager Bill Martens said. “Not only can we market the new Chevrolet SS in NASCAR, but we can now also market the engine that comes in the production car to even more race fans with the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series at dirt tracks across the country.”
The first nine races of the 2013 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series will be 50-lap $3,000-to-win, $300-to-start events. The 2013 season opener will be at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL on August 2, and will then move to East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL on August 3.
Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN will host the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series on August 10. Boyd’s Speedway will present the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series on August 16, with 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN presenting the series on August 17.
Four races are on the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series schedule for the month of September with Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS on the calendar for September 6, and Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS hosting the series on September 7.
Clarksville Speedway in Clarksville, TN on September 14 will be a special event on the 2013 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series schedule, as National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Jeff Purvis will co-promote the event in his hometown.
“Jeff Purvis was one of the driving forces in having Chevrolet Performance adapt this engine for dirt late model racing, as he told them if they built an affordable all-aluminum production engine for that type of racing, they could own the sport,” Vaughn said. “Jeff believes enough in this program that he is going to co-promote his first race in his hometown with the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series.”
Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, TN will present Round 9 of the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series on September 2.
Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL will host the season finale on October 12 with a $5,000-to-win $500-to-start 75-lap race. Ross Martin of Talladega, AL won the Ice Bowl Super Late Model Race in January using the Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine.
The Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series is the latest endeavor for Crate Racin’ USA and joins the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division, the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series, and the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division under the umbrella of the sanctioning body formed in 2005 for race cars powered by the Chevrolet Performance 604 and 602 Crate Engines.
In addition to the race cars in the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series using the all-aluminum $7,000 Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine, the Chevrolet Performance 604 and 602 Crate Engines will also be eligible to compete in the series. All of the dirt late models in the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series will be required to run on the $135 Bilstein Spec Shocks.
An all-star line-up of drivers has already thrown their respective hats in the ring to compete for the $10,000 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series Championship.
The list of drivers committed for the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series include National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN, the defending NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Champion Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA, 2011 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Rookie of the Year Chase Edge of LaFayette, AL, and the 2010 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Johnny Stokes of Columbus, MS.
“We will be launching a web site and a rulebook for the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series in the coming days,” Vaughn said. “We are confident that the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series will have the same growth for the CT 525 Engine that the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series has had with the 604 and 602 Crate Engines.”
Vaughn said he foresees the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series expanding its Touring Division schedule in the years to come, and also the development of a Weekly Racing Series around the Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine to enhance super late model racing at weekly dirt tracks.
“The excitement level for this new series is higher than it was when we began the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series in 2005 for the 604 and 602 Crate Engine,” Vaughn said. “This is just the first phase of an exciting future for the CT 525 Engine and Super Late Model racing. In addition to what we do on the track, we’re looking forward to working with and promoting local Chevrolet dealers around the tracks on our schedule.”
The Chevrolet Performance CT525 Engine is available at NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton, GA for $6,995.00 with free next day delivery anywhere in the Southeast. They also have an interchangeable Turn Key Kit that includes everything except the carburetor, fuel pump, power steering pump, or headers that is also available for $2,259.00. To place an order, call Tim Bland at 1-877-497-3624.
2013 CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES SCHEDULE
AUG 2 PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
AUG 3 EAST AL MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
AUG 10 TAZEWELL SPEEDWAY – TAZEWELL, TN 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
AUG 16 BOYD’S SPEEDWAY – RINGGOLD, GA 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
AUG 17 411 MOTOR SPEEDWAY – SEYMOUR, TN 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
SEP 7 WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK – MERIDIAN, MS 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
SEP 8 MAGNOLIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – COLUMBUS, MS 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
SEP 14 CLARKSVILLE SPEEDWAY – CLARKSVILLE, TN 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
SEP 21 CLAYHILL MOTORSPORTS – ATWOOD, TN 50 LAPS $3,000-TO-WIN
OCT 12 TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL 75 LAPS $5,000-TO-WIN
