Dirt Late Model racing must veer away from NASCAR's path

[Returning to Dirt]

http://insidedirtracing.com/dirt-late-model-racing-must-veer-away-from-nascars-path/

This column is not about NASCAR drivers being involved in the sport of dirt racing. It's about the ever increasing role of engineering in regard to aerodynamics in racing.

[zyoung25]

Bring back the body rules from early 2000s. Those were my favorite cars and still are. I seem a couple drivers shared this same link on Facebook before it was here. Good read though.

[MBR Performance]

The best thing they could do is get rid of the valance and the lip. Make the nose come straight down with a height rule for both sides, fenders must set flat side to side with filler panel no drop in filler panel. Also knock back the spoiler 1 - 2 inches. But if this is to be done it must be the same for all classes of late model (crate,steelblock,limited,semi, ect.)

[Brian Gray]

^^^ agree ^^^^

[Brian Gray]

Just taking away the valance would change a lot.

[ShawnStreet]

I loathe the way they look now. Sort of like a ticked off station wagon if you ask me. If you're going to let the body styles dictate that much of the race, go full blown wedge.

Personally I'd like to see a smaller body style. Not only for the racing, but those cars just look faster on TV. I can't watch a TV race because they look like they are going 30 mph.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I cried when I saw the first noses with splitter and valence. All I could think was, "why?"

[DoubleZero]

Agreed. To a point. NASCAR may have been a worthy blue-print in the past, but hardly now. Dirt racing still has the driver element. High side, low side, middle, hang it out. Not quite the same with pavement. If the car a'int there, a'int gonna happen. You still see Kyle Larson try and look for a different groove, but it rarely is the game-changer it can be with dirt. All the aero in the world, won't make a dirt driver; the same people will still win regardless of body design.

[grt74]

the engineering is a problem with set ups not just aero,if we really want to make it easier for the local guys to compete,get rid of all the exotic spring setups and shock setup,aero is a factor on the bigger tracks but not so much at the bullrings(we just don't see the speeds that nascar sees)
if you want to run up front on the regional or national level today your going to have to be very sharp or have some help which in turn is an extra cost,hell on a local level anymore you have to be up on your game as far as setups
if you really want to fix it just go to standard spring setups,with no travel limiters on the rf,and 4" of travel or more on the rf,and let the games begin
the nascar guys are very,very sharp at wheel loads under a dynamic stance

[MBR Performance]

If you don't think aero is critical on Dirt tracks stick you hand out the window at 50 mph. Now consider the size of the front of the car at the same speed.

[Kwd1253]

If you don't think aero is critical on Dirt tracks stick you hand out the window at 50 mph. Now consider the size of the front of the car at the same speed.

Well yall bring good points but only way its not going to go nascrap is the racers "big names" put their foot down and not let that happen. but long as they getting money for out side help, and free stuff to race them parts. they are not going stand up and stop them doing that. I can see a national tour being nascrap late model and the regional sticking to their roots. because they can't afford a nascar late model.

[grt74]

If you don't think aero is critical on Dirt tracks stick you hand out the window at 50 mph. Now consider the size of the front of the car at the same speed.

i agree aero is a factor also,but i think all the other factors are missed alot,aero for the most part is cheap if you know what your doing,the other things can cost a racer alot,what kills me for the most part is they all have the rules but i rarely ever see them inforced,the dishing on the r side,most of the t bars are not straight(very easy to see)at the (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)pit and the hood,most don't notice that the bodies aren't even mounted straight anymore there offset,i see a ton of different things but most end up sliding by,they have checked us before and threw a fit, just for me to walk over to the tour guys and theres be even worse
one thing that i do like about dirt late models is that they are cutting edge for the most part and you do have a chance to come up with new innovations but its getting to a point where the cost is just getting out of control for what you can win

[Okfine]

If you don't think aero is critical on Dirt tracks stick you hand out the window at 50 mph. Now consider the size of the front of the car at the same speed.

Excellent perspective on aero....

[grt74]

i do agree that with the added aero, that equals more wheel load

[Josh Bayko]

I think going back in time is a horrible way to move forward. Could the bodies use some slimming/trimming? Sure, but it's gotta be in way that's actually progressive instead of regressive.