Forum: Minnesota Dirt Track Racing Forum (go)
Moderators: StanM

CLS Announces 2009 Rule Changes and Other Important Updates

NASCAR Sanctioning

2008 brought several changes to the Cedar Lake Speedway; the partnership with NASCAR was by far the biggest. “Our partnership with NASCAR allowed our track the flexibility to market and operate the track differently than other area race tracks” mentioned owner Brad Both. NASCAR’s contribution to Cedar Lake Speedway has and will benefit both the track and its competitors. First, the NASCAR name alone gives the track the ability to market to casual race fans locally and in the metro area as well as a true sense of professionalism to the weekly program. Second, drivers benefit from a comprehensive participant insurance policy provided by NASCAR. Finally, under the NASCAR umbrella, Cedar Lake Speedway drivers will receive the largest individual area track point fund in history, over $25,000! In addition, NASCAR will provide additional $4,000 to Wisconsin State Champion Brent Larson, CedarLake’s Late Model division point champion. Brent will be awarded at the NASCAR banquet next week in Las Vegas for his accomplishments. CedarLakeSpeedway is proud to announce that they will again partner with NASCAR for the 2009 season and look forward to the season ahead.

Street Stocks

After discussions with fans, crews, drivers and sponsors, Cedar Lake Speedway will remove the Street Stock division from their weekly program. Dwindling car counts and skyrocketing costs have caused this class to no longer be a beginner class as initially intended. The Street Stock division at Cedar Lake Speedway has always been competitive and has had some of the nicest cars in the area. This was a tough decision and we value every competitor and their crew and look forward to them racing at CedarLake in another class or in the Street Stock division during special events. CedarLakeSpeedway’s weekly program in 2009 will consist of four classes (Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks & Midwest Modifieds). During the year CedarLake will add other divisions for special events such as Sprint Cars, Hornets, Legends, Pure Stocks & Street Stocks.

2009 USA Nationals

Cedar Lake Speedway officials have changed the dates of the USA Nationals from the previously announced dates of August 6th-8th to July 30th-August 1st. This change is being made to not conflict with other crown-jewel late model events in the country. Those who already purchased tickets or camping need to change the date on their tickets and/or camping reservations but do not need to send them back. They will be honored at the event during the new date.

"Last year this happened because of a mis-communication with other promoters", stated Bob Kaufman of Cedar Lake Speedway. "This year, we were 100% sure and on the same page as CLS owners and promoters at Knoxville (Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals) and Florence Speedway ($50k to win North/South Late Model event) all planned on pushing their events back one week as Labor day is one week later next year. Unfortunately, NASCAR released its schedule a few weeks ago and they did not push some of their events back. In particular, the Bristol race has always been the week before Labor Day. In 2009, it is 2 weeks before labor day. This change forced the Topless Late Model event in Batesville, AR to move to Saturday, Aug 15, 2009 to not conflict with the Bristol show. Then, the North/South had to move to Aug 8, 2009. With that race closer to many of the top drivers in the country, we chose to move the 22nd running of the $50,000 to win USA Nationals to one week earlier to accommodate the drivers and allow them to compete at both events."

Additional communications will go out over the coming weeks. However, please share the new date with anyone you speak with and make sure you change your vacation plans! We appreciate your understanding and look forward to an event that is as great as the 2008 USA Nationals was!

Rules

With the following modifications to our rules in 2009 Cedar Lake Speedway fans will see the most diverse group of cars in the area. All of these changes will be strictly optional and will be monitored to allow for equal competition and amended as needed in the event of competitive inequality. Watch our website for complete details on these changes very soon.

Late Models- Aluminum engines will be allowed with the addition of weight. This will allow area competitors with open engines the chance to use them not only at our specials but weekly.

Modifieds- Quick Change Rear Ends will be allowed. A 10” wheel will be allowed on the right rear only and the track is also looking to including other engine packages used on other regional modifieds during their weekly program.

Super Stocks-A rear spoiler will be allowed to help finish the look on these cars.

Midwest Modifieds- Quick change transmissions will be allowed resulting in huge savings over time.

2008 Banquet

Stan Meissner

Will "finishing the look" on the Super Stocks require a different setup when the car is raced at another track without a spoiler?

Or do most of the Super Stock racers at Cedar Lake stay home and never travel?

Just like any other track a certain percentage of racers only go to one track. As far as the spoilers on the Supers, Kopellah ran unscanctioned Supers a few years back and it was no big deal. The Super Stocks have a flat rear deck so they'd just bolt them on, they weren't built into the body work like a Late Model spoiler. Also, my guess is that the spoilers will be allowed but they're not mandantory.

Same with the 10" wheels on the right rear of the Modifieds. Bob Cook showed us the new wheel with a tire mounted. They'll be using the same size right rear that they're all using so the only difference will be the wheel and it's not mandatory. Bob explained that the tires the Mods run are actually designed to mount on a 10" wheel but Wissota requires the 8". I saw the 10" wheel with the tire mounted on it sitting next to an 8" wheel and it looks like a different tire but it's not. They're simply going to be using the wheel that the tires were designed to run on. And if a guy wants to run a Wissota track with his Mod one night and Cedar Lake on Saturday all it's going to involve is one wheel and tire or he can run the 8" if he so desires. They're making both of these changes, the spoilers on the Supers and wider rr on the Mods in an effort to make it easier for drivers to get ahold of the track hopefully resulting in fewer cautions.

But these simple changes made to try to move the show along will probably be another cause of endless p*ssing matches on the message boards. We'll have guys complaining that they have to spend $50 on spoilers and drill holes in the rear deck of their Supers. Ironically it will probably be the same guys who haven't changed sheet metal in two years. And I'm sure over on the 40 they'll be complaining about having to buy one 10" wheel when they really don't even have to if they don't want to. Oh yeah, they'll be threatening to never race at Cedar again and all that stuff. Some will race without the 10" wheel and complain all next season about the guys with the wider wheel having an unfair advantage instead of buying a wheel. The UMSS isn't the only thing that will be stirring up the masses this winter. I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't getting sick of people picking every little thing apart all winter long. If racing frustrated me that much I'd do something else. Sitting around b*tching about something that obviously causes them stress makes about as much sense as going out in the back yard and beating their heads against a tree. If it hurts, then stop doing it, it's as simple as that.

Stan Meissner