Cars in the Outlaw class closely...
Cars in the Outlaw class closely resemble Dirt Late Models. Phil Kunz
Winchester has been an active track for almost a century, with all the famous drivers of stock cars and open-wheel machines having raced there. CRA scheduled a number of different racing programs including, of course, CRA events, the USAC National Sprint Car Series, Modifieds, an open Winged Sprint Car Shootout, and other support racing groups. This year, CRA brought the national ARCA organization back to Winchester after an absence of several years. Then there is the legendary Winchester 400, which was the ASA's premier event for many years. CRA promoted the event in both 1999 and 2003. That is the case again in 2006, this time with the Super Series cars.
The CRA promoters admit their series is basically an economical operation. But there are certainly aspects of this organization that make it seem much bigger than it really is.
"There aren't any drivers who make a living out of this racing," says Luckett. "They're all 9-to-5 guys. But there have been several guys who have recently gone on from CRA to bigger and better things."
David Stremme, now a regular competitor in NASCAR Cup racing, ran with CRA in earlier years, while current Busch driver Joey Kauffman was champion of the CRA Super Series in 2002. Also, ARCA driver Brain Ross was a two-time CRA champion. Earlier, Ryan Newman made one of his first stock car starts with the CRA. Currently, female driver Sondi Eden will race the complete '06 season with Roush support.
In addition to the Super Series class, three CRA divisions came along later-the Street Stock class in 2005, and both the Sportsman and evolving Outlaw division this year. In a majority of the CRA shows, two of the divisions are on the same program, but there are several shows with three of the classes, and one has all four. The stature of this series can be measured by the number of drivers expected to participate in the '06 season. Estimates call for over 200 in the Super Series, 35 in Outlaw, 40-50 in Sportsman, and 80-90 in Street Stocks.
Here's a look at the CRA divisions.
The top CRA class carries the Super Series name and has the look of the top traveling national teams (i.e., ASA Late Models, Hooters Pro Cup, and others).
The cars use factory fiberglass bodies that must adhere to a template, an aftermarket straight-rail chassis, and coil-over suspension systems. In order to incorporate rules of various other series, there are several engine packages that are legal, all producing 550-600 hp.
The most common engine is the 358-cid/9:1 compression ratio small-block carrying a NASCAR-style, 390-cfm, four-barrel carburetor. The required car weight, with engine, is 2,800 pounds. These cars roll on 10-inch-wide slicks.
Next is a pair of steel-headed engines, both a Northern and a Southern version, that also have a 358 displacement limit. The difference between these engines and the above powerplant is a 10.5:1 compression ratio and a 750-cfm carburetor. As more modification is allowed on the Southern cylinder heads, cars using that engine must weigh 2,800 pounds, a hundred pounds more than the Northern version.
Finally, there is the sealed engine configuration that was introduced two years ago and provides a considerable economic advantage since it costs under $13,000. Compare that figure with the $35,000 required for the 9:1 engine. An interesting aspect of these sealed engines is that they can be rented for $7,500 per year, and there is a one-year guarantee. Racers are getting about the same performance without spending a ton of money. It could be the CRA engine of the future.
These engines are built only by McGunegill Engine Performance and sport a larger 383 displacement. They come with aluminum heads, a 750-cfm carb, and a 10.5:1 compression ratio.