Champion Racing Association - A Champion Concept

The economical rules of this class require a '65 or newer American-built model, 105-inch minimum wheelbase, and a 3,100-pound post-race weight, including the driver. The Street Stocks must use the front frame sections from the front steering box mount to the rear spring socket. Weight jacks are allowed, and there is a Hoosier tire rule.

No aftermarket upper/lower A-arms or externally-adjustable springs or quick-change rearends are legal. The word on the bodies is "factory," from beginning to end. Chopping the roof could result in disqualification or a weight penalty. There must be a stock firewall and floor panel. A majority of the Street Stockers are using the mid-'80s Monte Carlo bodies.

Low cost is stressed with the engine rules, as the block and heads have to be cast iron. Use of an aluminum intake manifold, headers, or roller rockers all result in weight additions. Either two- or four-barrel carburetors are allowed on these engines, which have no displacement limitation.

Several Street Stock teams indicated that the turnkey value of their cars varied from $2,000 to $8,000, making this a very economical division.

There is certainly no mistaking the look of the car in this class. For many, this 2,800-pound car has the appearance of a Dirt Late Model racer. Its shape is characterized by the straight slab sides, wedge shape, and a long protruding nosepiece.

The model is popular in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, northern Indiana, and Ohio. Without a doubt, the Outlaw car is the fastest of the four CRA classes. The rules for the class were earlier established by the Alliance, a group of track promoters who feature the class.

But the Outlaw class isn't really all that it appears externally. Actually, the rolling chassis of the Outlaw is basically a Super Series model. There is, however, a difference in the engine compartment, where there is no engine displacement limit.

"The engine has to sport a cast-iron block and use a 1,000-cfm four-barrel carb," says Scott. "The frame and suspension are the same as the Super Series car. The unique body is hand-fabricated, but the nose and roof are aftermarket pieces."

Scott says teams have actually converted their Outlaw cars to the Super Series models or vice versa.

With the superior aerodynamics of the Outlaw machine, they are considerably faster than the top-class Super Series cars, being about 0.3-.0.5 second faster at the half-mile tracks.

This division is taking baby steps in its first year with only a half-dozen races. As CRA literature states, "The rules are very accommodating, welcoming similar-performing race vehicle types that include many Sportsman, Truck, and Limited Late Models that race many places in the Midwest."

The Sportsman vehicles require a stock front clip. The use of an aftermarket unit will cost you an additional 100 pounds. Five-inch steel coil springs are required on all four corners. Aftermarket upper A-frames are allowed, along with a rearend of any style.

Eight-inch steel wheels are the only kind allowed, but certain specified compounds of Goodyear, Hoosier, and American Racer tires are allowed. No racing slicks are permitted.

The block and heads must be cast-iron in the non-restricted engines, but you can substitute aluminum heads for a 100-pound addition.

These cars are extremely economical, falling into the $17,000-18,000 range. A used version is approximately half that figure.