Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

358 Sprint car=count concern, Montieth and Hodnett win this week, highlight PA Sprint talking points

Yes, I'm guaranteeing a win by Montieth this week at Lincoln if it doesn't rain.

I'll be concerned about their car counts when I'm forced to sit through a b-main... :/

Opinions may vary...

Thanks for the heads up, I'll go to Hagerstown instead... :/

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I thought I read they were going from 358 to 360 rules which I assume is ASCS???????  They said it cost so much to build a 358 , but how could a 360 cost less.  I  read the 358 rules and could see nothing that would make them high cost.  Just wondering, I do not have a dime invested but like to keep up.  We do have a ASCS 360 and they are not cheep.

linbob, I believe the purse is the bigger problem vs the cost of the motor...JMO

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Selinsgrove is the only PA track to have made the move to 360's.  A new 360/358 engine currently starts in the neighborhood of $35,000.  The 358's really shot themselves in the foot by opening up the engine rules like they did.  Used to be a time when you'd see upwards of 50 cars at the 'Grove and 40 at Lincoln.  Sadly, those days are long gone.

I see two main issues, affecting both the 358/360's.

1. Many promoters and sanctioning bodies lack a strong technical understanding of the racecar and motor and are forced to rely on race teams and engine builders to help define the rule book. The problem with this scenario is, by default, the leaders tend to cater to a specific race team or small group, who, in most cases, is self-serving (not intentionally misleading or malicious, just self-serving). There's no foresight! Most lead from behind. They are reactive instead of proactive. Case in point, listening to a select few has buried the 358's.
2. Promoters and Sanctioning Bodies are in bed with the tire companies. Tire deals limit competition between companies, drive up costs, and in some cases prevent race team crossover. For example 358's are on Hoosiers; URC cars are on American Racers.

Another observation; Love him or hate him, French Grimes has done a good job of controlling the 305 class, for those groups using his rule book. He also goes after and ultimately addresses those who try to go around him. He can be full of himself, but he's doing a fine job of holding his flock accountable, especially when compared to the 358/360 leadership.

The move to 360 won't save money initially. It's the longevity that equals dollars and cents. According to some owners, a 358 blows up and it is junk. A 360 can be sent back and repaired at a reasonable cost, over and over.

I will have a column on Selinsgrove going up tonight or Thursday morning.

The 358's are on Hoosiers as well as the 360's at Selinsgrove.  As far as cost's go, URC does a good job of keeping the price of their American Racers reasonable.

358's have no head rule anymore so they cost about the same as a 360. I'm not sure which engine is more durable. I would think they would be about the same.

A