Kankakee Speedway has found a new promoter and weekly Super Late Models are BACK!

[HoosierDirtFan]

Kankakee County Speedway has found a new promoter and weekly Super Late Models are BACK!

New promoter is Evan Eckhoff.
The first practice will be March 28 + 2 more practice dates.
Opening Day April 17thm 2026
16 race schedule including the DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour show.
Kankakee County Super Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar UMP Stock Cars, DIRTcar UMP Pro Mods, DIRTcar UMP Sport Compacts, & Crown Vics + Vintage Cars for 5 races


Video of announcement via tracks Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/KankakeeSpdw...35514826079833

[reid boys]

Supers with restrictor plates. Can you restrict a super down enough for a crate to be competitive in central IL? Will this help bring more cars in from shady hill? Since your in the area hoosier what are thoughts on this?

[Clayton_Wetters]

It's my understanding they're not running crates.

[reid boys]

It's my understanding they're not running crates.

I heard the samething but they had a pretty decent group of cars for crates. Do those guy try and run with the "supers" or do they go to FC?

[HoosierDirtFan]

From Kankakee Facebook page.


There has been a ton of questions about the Late Model Rules since yesterday's live video.
So, this isn't set in stone, but we have been talking with engine builders and other series promoters to come up with something.

Open aluminum dry sump engines would run a 1.20 restrictor plate
Mod type iron block engine would run a 1.35 restrictor plate
Crates 2250 no chip
Tire rule would be Hoosier 2s/3s LF, RF, LR
3 or 4 RR
All other rules would be Dirt Car/UMP Late Model rules.

Again, we are still working this, and we will post the official rules real soon.
We are open to listening to other ideas as well.
The reason for dropping the pro late model rules is because of alot of cars deciding to go in different directions.
Dirt Car lost 3 tracks this off season that ran these rules as well.
Evan needs to be successful, and we think Super Late Models may bring more fans.
Please no negative comments.

Thank You
Billy

[TheJet-09]

It's worth a try, at least. The Dirt Kings Tour in Wisconsin runs the same restrictor rule.

I wish them.luck.

[chathamracefan]

Crates just don't put butts in seats. Also, they aren't real strong on the car count side most places that run them at least in the central IL area. TBH I am kind of surprised more tracks east of the quad cities don't try on some of the IMCA rules for their weekly shows. As has been discussed on here the weekly super LM is basically dead outside of Fairbury & precious few other places. IMCA while not cheap provides more of a budget conscious option than UMP these days.

[reid boys]

Crates just don't put butts in seats. Also, they aren't real strong on the car count side most places that run them at least in the central IL area. TBH I am kind of surprised more tracks east of the quad cities don't try on some of the IMCA rules for their weekly shows. As has been discussed on here the weekly super LM is basically dead outside of Fairbury & precious few other places. IMCA while not cheap provides more of a budget conscious option than UMP these days.

What is the difference between an IMCA late model and a UMP crate? How does IMCA late models but more butts in the seats than crates?

[chathamracefan]

What is the difference between an IMCA late model and a UMP crate? How does IMCA late models but more butts in the seats than crates?

Initially it probably doesn't put more butts in seats but there seem to be a lot more IMCA cars (in the IMCA areas) than there are crates in the UMP territory. Initially if the car count goes up it leads in turn to more butts in the seats cause there is a good product being put on.

From what I have seen as a fan, crates don't seem to be that well supported at the back gate & in tracks where they are the "A" class that doesn't translate to front gate attendance either.

I know I am making some generalizations but I think the point has merit. Maybe Kankakee is too far east to pull IMCA over as it is presently not anywhere east of the quad cities.

[EvelB7]

Throw the CT525 in there (I know, I know, it's a crate). Affordable (some will disagree but with the cost of a used open motor over $30,000 it is) with another 125 HP over the 604 and is finally starting to gain traction in quite a few spots.

[golddirt]

Maybe farmer city should try this as they at times only have 6 supers. There are tracks in the south that have engine rules on slm so let’s give this a chance. Better than doing nothing at all.

[HoosierDirtFan]

FROM THE TRACKS FACEBOOK PAGE THIS MORNING.



Official Late Model Rules for this season at Kankakee.

Dirt Car/UMP Late Model Rules with the following changes.
Engines
Aluminum Wide Bore 1.20 restrictor
Aluminum Standard Bore 1.25 restrictor
Iron block less then 23-degree heads 1.25 restrictor
Iron Block 23-degree heads 1.40 restrictor
604/602/ct525 crate engines no restrictor
604/602 can run a 12-inch spoiler

Tires for all Late Models
Hoosier 2/20 or 3/30 on LF, Rf, LR
3/30 or 4/40 on RR only

This division will pay 1500.00 to win 200.00 to start weekly.

Drivers supply their own restrictors
We will be looking into getting some just in case.

We will be teching cars randomly throughout the night.

Before there is complaining Late Models run these restrictors all the time at tracks like Kankakee. I personally ran a 850 hp late model at Peoria last season and got beat by crate engines without restrictors. Our plan is to allow all engines to compete. This happens at all tracks that run super late models all the time and fans don't even realize it.

We will get the rules updated on the website soon.
We are also looking for a tech guy if anyone is interested please reach out.

Thank You

[EvelB7]

I think you will see more weekly rules packages head this way, hope it works!

[HoosierDirtFan]

Late Model Payout - $1,500 to win & $200 to start.