Car control is a skill developed in tight action, often two or three cars abreast. Photo by Todd Ridgeway
The South
This area has long been a stronghold for this type of racing with these main groups: Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series, Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series, Southern Regional Racing Series, Southeastern Late Model Sportsman Series, O'Reilly Southern All-Star Racing Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts SUPR, Mississippi State Championship Challenge, O'Reilly NARA Battle of the Bluegrass, Mid-South Racing Association, and the Arkansas Motorsports Professionals Series.
The Midwest
This area is also the home for many DLM groups: WDRL PolyDome Super Series, Mid-American Racing Series, Sunoco American Late Model Series, IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series, WISSOTA Amsoil Dirt Track Series, WISSOTA Tri Star Challenge Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts MLRA, Race Brothers Show-Me Racin' Series, Northern Late Model Racing Association, Northern Allstars Late Model Series, and O'Reilly NCRA.
The West
Although Dirt Late Model racing in the West has not yet reached the levels of other parts of the country, the interest continues to increase. Included are the following groups that are in that area of the country: Colorado Late Model Association, Budweiser I-5 Challenge Series, Western Dirt Racing Association, Western Allstars, NAPA-MDA Late Model Series, and Southwest Dirt Racing Association.
The Drivers
A distinct characteristic of the dirt stock car scene is the enthusiasm and dedication of its fans, possibly the most passionate in motorsports. That cult-like dedication to favorite drivers is amazing, and you will see that affection displayed with the wearing of racing T-shirts and hats. There is also a growing interest in die-cast models of the cars of favorite drivers.
The careers of a major number of these drivers are very long, sometimes reaching 30 to 40 years in length. For example, Rick Bond, an Ohio competitor, is a great-grandfather and still going strong and winning.
Photo by Jeff Huneycutt
Unlike the movement of Sprint Car drivers to NASCAR over the past decade, few of the Dirt Late Model drivers have turned in that direction. Most will tell you that they like it right where they are, with many $10,000-to-win races.
Through the years, there have been several high-profile stars of this class, and the 21st century is no different. The names of Donnie Moran, Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, and others bring instant recognition with the fans.
In earlier years, drivers such as Jeff Purvis, Rodney Combs, and Ernie Irvan carried their successful DLM efforts into NASCAR racing.
The Technology
One of the main reasons for the popularity of these low-slung, super-wide, high-powered machines is that speed can now be purchased from manufacturers providing turnkey cars. For that reason, the eventual winner doesn't have to start on the front row anymore, as he can come from deep in the field.
Performance is available from a number of aftermarket engine manufacturers producing high-compression V-8s capable of as much as 800 hp to push the 2,350-pound haulers. A number of the significant engine builders include the likes of Draime, Malcuit, Baker, Cornette, Custom, Fisher, ProPower, Jay Dickens, K-Motion, Gaerte, and others.
Besides the expected monopoly of Chevy-based mills, there are also some Fords and Mopars on the scene. Engine builders understand that these cars compete under rough conditions, so they build the engines for durability. The engines are generally capable of running 1,000-1,500 laps before a major teardown is required.
Transmissions are mostly two-speeds, with a majority using either the Brinn or Bert brands. Rearends are quick-change units, with Franklin and Winters being the main suppliers.
It's a sport for the young and the young at heart. Johnny Johnson, in the No. 99 car, is past 70 and still competing in a Dirt Late Model. Photo by Tony Hammett
There is also a major competition for customers between the major chassis manufacturers. The high-tech machines are built by such builders as Warrier, MasterSbilt, Shaw, GRT, Rocket, Swartz, Rayburn, and others.
With the high-contact aspect of the sport, it isn't practical to have rounded, stock-appearing bodies that are too difficult to keep repaired. Therefore, the generic body shape is a squared-off configuration with flat sides and tops that can be replaced quickly. However, the modern cars carry stock-appearing front-end decals.
Many times, handling is the difference between winning and losing with these cars. Shock and spring companies are constantly researching to improve the suspension system. Coilover shock suspensions are the standard for today's cars.
Dirt Late Model Variations
These cars have a number of different names-Limited Late Models, Sportsman Cars, Late Model Stocks, Super Sportsman Cars, Crate Late Models, and others. These cars are located all over the country and compete in relative obscurity compared with the top-gun Super Late versions.
Many of these cars are almost identical to the Dirt Late Models, with the exception of the powerplant, which produces considerably less horsepower. It's not uncommon to see teams switch between Limited engines and full-up Dirt Late Model engines and race the same car in both classes.
Dirt stock car racing at local tracks is often constrained by money, but the cost for the competitor can be greatly reduced by a used Dirt Late Model frame, maybe one that's 5 years old or older. The biggest cost-cutting move, however, comes with the engine.
In recent years, an entirely new trend has started that employs an inexpensive factory crate engine in these cars. It's a concept whose time has apparently come. It has been considered for a number of years and is currently showing promise in several venues, in traveling series, and at certain tracks.
Traveling crate engine series currently include the Fastrak Racing Series, StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series, Indiana Crate Series, Crate American Racing Series (CARS), and IMCA Crate Models.
National Aspects
With the national Dirt Late Model series, there are a number of national sponsors, including Lucas Oil, Budweiser, PolyDome, O'Reilly, Sunoco, and Amsoil.
Also, there are a dozen or so big races nationally that bring huge money for these cars. Many of them are unsanctioned events. The biggest include the Dirt Track World Championship at KC Speedway, in Ohio ($50,000 to win), the Show-Me 100 at West Plains Speedway, in Missouri ($40,000 to win), The Dream at Eldora Speedway, in Ohio, ($100,000 to win), the North/South 100 at Florence (Kentucky) Speedway ($50,000 to win), the Topless 100 at Batesville (Arkansas) Speedway ($44,000 to win), The Colossal 100 at the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway ($50,000 to win), and the granddaddy of them all, the World 100, also at Eldora ($40,000 to win). In addition, there is the aforementioned UMP Summer Nationals, which provides a complete month of high-paying races in the Midwest.