Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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VINTON, Iowa – Christmas came early for Sprint Car drivers across the country, in the form of a new, joint venture between IMCA and RaceSaver.

Under terms of the agreement, RaceSaver founder French Grimes agreed to allow IMCA long-term use of RaceSaver rules for weekly, regional series and special event use.

In return, IMCA will provide administration, support existing sanctions and promote new sanctions for the Sprint Car class that will be known as RaceSaver, a division of IMCA.

“The signing of this historic partnership strengthens RaceSaver and IMCA, and secures our posi­tion as the largest sprint car sanctioning body in existence,” Grimes emphasized. “RaceSaver brings more than 1,000 Sprint Cars in 17 states and IMCA brings an organization that has sup­ported local weekly racing with a national structure.”

“RaceSaver participants, regions and tracks can now have the benefit of IMCA’s national struc­ture, insurance programs for participants, and comprehensive programs for regional and national champions,” he continued.

“French has developed one of the most cost-effective and innovative engine packages in Sprint Car racing and it fits well with our philosophy at IMCA for the past 99 years,” said IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “This agreement is great for RaceSaver, it’s great for IMCA and it’s great for Sprint Car drivers. They will receive the same benefits as 8,000-plus drivers in our other divisions.”

Sanctioning and promotion of RaceSaver will now be under the control of IMCA and drivers can compete for the national championship and not have to travel across the country.

A point fund structure is to be announced before Jan. 1.

All aspects of RaceSaver that pertain to rules, record keeping, cylinder heads, tires, engine certifica­tion hard cards, engine sealing and tech officials will remain unchanged and under control of Grimes.

“We will work closely with IMCA to bring all existing regions and tracks into the big tent now pro­vided by this partnership,” Grimes said. “The opportunities for RaceSaver to preserve its mission of accessible racing will be enhanced greatly by our association with IMCA and we look forward with great enthusiasm to the years ahead.”

“This partnership has the potential to make RaceSaver, a division of IMCA one of the largest divisions in our organization,” Root pointed out. “That’s a monumental step from where the IMCA Sprint Car division was just three short years ago.”

The original partnership agreement between IMCA and Virginia-based RaceSaver was an­nounced in February of 2012.

Weekly tracks in three states sanctioned RaceSaver Sprint Car races this season; sanctioned regional series events were held in seven states.

The second annual Sprint Car Super Nationals brought 76 race teams from across the country to Eagle Raceway during the Labor Day Weekend.

“IMCA has a long history of Sprint Car racing over the last 60 years. French Grimes and RaceSaver also have a proven history,” Root said. “This new agreement combines his expertise with our administrative resources. This new relationship makes sense for IMCA and it makes sense for RaceSaver.”

Questions about the new partnership can be addressed to Grimes and IMCA staff at booth 3709 during the PRI trade show Dec. 11-13 in Indianapolis, Ind.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Has there been any news or any announcements on what the plans are or where they want to take this?  Are they only going to inject it in strategic areas around the country?  Obviously some states or regions already have some version of 305 racing, are those areas they may try first?  anyone got any info or juicy rumors on french's intentions moving foward?

I think Racesavor has grown so big with about 1000 cars that French can no longer handle all of the book work and all the other things he has to deal with.  IMCA claims about 8000 cars and have the staff and computers to handle it.

IMCA has let their modified class get way out of control. Motors almost as good as a late models & high teck rear suspensions are just a couple things running up the costs of running a mod. Now even mod car counts are down at a lot of tracks. Lets hope they do not let that happen to the excellent racesaver class.

Keith Knack dream was cheap racing and it started wih small vega type cars,junk yard claim motors,and racing similar to 60 years ago.Each year they got nicer and faster, rules allowed different improvements that the racers wanted but at more expense.Now we have name brand chasis with motor exchange and cars that cost about same as late models and turn laps comparable so now we have B-mods for starter class which are still factory bought older cars that look and run well.Hopefully the racesaver will stick to their idea to keep racing affordable.Before wings and at the transition from super modified the lap times at Knoxville were 22seconds plus and stands were fuller than today.A past Nationals winning car owner talks of when they would buy new 327s from Chevy and put them in at Knoxville and take them back if they broke.If RaceSaver was top class and guys like Kinser Schatz Stewart McCarl,Brown,Lasoski were the drivers the race would probably be just as exciting and people would still pay to see them.The IMCA race at Boone probably brings in many times the pit gate as KnoxVille Nationals on sheer numbers.Bob Lawton along with Emmett Hahn have two of the best money making races all year and possibly the RaceSaver class will be part of Boone but the 305s didnt want to race there a year or two ago as the glamour and tradition of racing at Knoxville is strong,Moro gave them a spot and I would think it will grow.ASCS although strong has let their class get expensive too as the head rule even though they still will pass tech has been abused at racers expense.I doubt there are very many sets of heads that are direct factory bolt ons.What I am trying to say is racing will never be cheap and the racers,  engine builders and chasis buliders are part of the reason.The cheapest thing in racing is a seat in the stands but not near as much fun.The thought is great just have to remember the cheap 360 class with 2 barrel carbs that was the begining of the modern 360 that is with in a second some nights as 410s,

Interesting post in regard to the cars of the past.  The first Sprints I watched as a kid in the early 60's didn't have roll cages or wings.  They were slow in comparison to today's Sprints yet people consider many of the drivers legends and they're in the HOF.  Today there are fans who will only watch 410's yet some of those same fans hold the legends that turned 22 second laps in awe. 

Stan Meissner

One other note.  I have been writing for a local racing paper up here in Minnesota since 1999 and one of the tracks I have visited over the years is Arlington Raceway.  I'm not sure what Bob Allen's capacity now but I know that he's heavily involved with IMCA and their Sprint program.  A few years ago before IMCA went to the 305's they tried some combined shows with our local 360 club UMSS.  Bob decided to take IMCA in a different direction and UMSS stuck with the 360's so there are no more combined shows.  Now that IMCA is no longer running 360's we don't see their drivers at the bigger UMSS shows anymore.  I haven't been down to Arlington for a few years but know some of the drivers that run there so I see YouTube clips from Arlington.  They look to be starting around 15 to 18 cars in their weekly Features from what I gathered in the clips.  UMSS for the local one day shows seems to be in that approximate range as well.  UMSS runs quite a few of their shows in western Wisconsin at Saint Croix Valley, a Friday track, and has a few specials at Cedar Lake as well.  IMCA is still at Arlington weekly but they are no longer running weekly at Redwood Falls so as far as I have paid attention I believe they only have the one weekly track. 

It should be interesting to see if this results in anymore IMCA Sprint racing up in our area.

Stan Meissner

it just seems they make this big announement and thats it. no information on what their intentions are moving forward.  this is the time owners are freshening engines, budgeting and planning out next season.  it would benefit drivers and owners to be in the loop on what could be happening in their respected regions, as well as imca having cars in the regions as well.  i guess my point is if a guy lives in missouri or iowa and has been running a different set of rules and just gets their engine back from the builder then a month later imca picks a track in his backyard to have a weekly show it is kind of hard to send the engine right back, buy a set of heads and get racesaver legal/certified.  

What is the racing paper you write for?

so when is IMCA cutting their purse to nothing (and making it all a back-gate event like their other classes) and make it so you can't compete without big $$$ motors like the Modified class is?  Some of the IMCA Modified guys have nicer haulers and equipment than some ASCS National Teams have (but they race for peanuts compared to even ASCS).

Its funny because in our area IMCA is actually trickling in because alot of guys see Wissota as being more expensive and the IMCA alternative is abit cheaper. Tires are abit cheaper because IMCA doesn't take as big of a royalty when selling them, motors are abit cheaper but also less powerful than a Wissota A-mod. I've heard guys say that the weekly bill to race is simply cheaper running an IMCA sport mod than if you want to run a comparable Wissota mod. 

http://gph.is/XMLGff

I believe stan writes for the midwest racing connection.  He does a very nice job from what I have read.

There have been numerous tracks in the past few months that have opted to change to the Racesaver series. Of course, a track's participation in the series is strictly their option. I think that we will see the series continue to grow and flourish throughout the country and even the rest of the world where sprint cars are run!!

I am attempting to get a complete list of the tracks where the Racesaver series is now a part of the line-up. I will post that as soon as the list is comleted. I know that 3 more tracks were spoken to at PRI as far as possible participation.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Tracks that come into the Racesaver family are announced as soon as it happens. The onus is pretty much on the track to let their teams/drivers in on their plans. When Eagle Raceway made the decision it was announced well in advance so that teams could make plans for the next season.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

You mention wissota A mod and IMCA sport mod. Don't know anything about the wissota cars but in IMCA a sport mod and A mod are 2 different classes. 

Take the wings off those racesaver cars and that would be a really fun class of cars to get going in IMCA land.

I believe in IMCA and Wissota the similar cars are A mods and the next class down is what some refer to as B Mods and in Wissota the B-mod class is called Midwest Mods and in IMCA they are called Sport Mods. 

http://gph.is/XMLGff

Down in Texas there will be a new non-wing series with the RaceSaver rules. Visit their Facebook and websites at the following two links.

www.elitesprintcars.com

https://www.facebook.com/Elitesprints

Yes, I believe the Sport Mods are the equivalent of whot some refer to ad B Mods or what WISSOTA classifies as Midwest Modifieds.  Those are the ones that go lap and spin, lap and spin, lap and spin until I get frustrated with the chaos and go sit in my lawn chair until it's time to take victory lane photos. 

Stan Meissner

The Midwest Racing Connection.  I started out with it's predecessor Minnesota's Racing Connection back in 1999 and have been with it ever since.  It's fun but it can also be a lot of work at times.  I have done some articles for Flat Out over the years as well but nothing lately.  I'm kind of doing a Steve & Sammy and slowing down a little as I get deeper into my mid 60's. 

Stan Meissner