A late model car is an automobile which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. (An early model car, classic car, or antique car is one old enough to be of historical interest; there is no usual intermediate term.)

The precise definition of "late model" varies.

Racing

Jonathan Davenport in a Dirt Super Late Model in 2018.
Kyle Busch after winning the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond Raceway in 2013 in a Late Model Stock Car, a perimeter chassis car.
Bubba Pollard in 2019 in a Asphalt Super Late Model, a straight rail chassis car.

Late model race cars are typically the highest class of local stock car racing vehicles at many race tracks in the United States and Canada and are typically the last rung on the ladder before a driver moves up to the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, or in some cases even the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Some regional and lower national-level series race in late models. Varieties of late models (ranked from the highest vehicle performance to lowest) include super late models, late models, and limited late models. Mostly all Late Models require crate motor's to be utilized by racecars under their sanction, which often utilize GM 602, 603, and 604 engines or Harrington Enforcer's.[1] Vehicles raced on dirt tracks are significantly different from vehicles raced on asphalt.[2]

Super late models are the premier divisions of asphalt short track racing in the United States and Canada. They typically feature engines with upwards of 600 brake horsepower (450 kW), American naturally aspirated V8s, under the hood of a custom built chassis weighing around 2,750 pounds (1,250 kg; 196 st). Most bodies are coupes constructed from fiberglass and conform to the 2002 approved body configuration agreement. This standard, along with the widespread use of this style of racecar, allows teams to not only compete at local tracks but also to travel throughout the country, hitting major events nationwide. Notable big-money super late model races include the Magnolia 100 Raceway in Mississippi, Summer Showdown in Magnolia State 100, the Oxford 250 in Oxford, the All American 400 in Nashville, and the Snowball Derby in Pensacola.

Late model stock cars are a product of the Carolinas and are the premier class raced at local and regional tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. These purpose-built racecars weigh around 3,100 pounds (1,400 kg; 220 st) and utilize both factory-designed crate and custom-built racing engines. The power plants produce over 400 horsepower underneath a fiberglass body built to withstand the rigors of short track racing without the weight of stock body panels. Some of the larger late model stock car events include the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, the Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway, and the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown, a celebrity charity race held at local short tracks in Virginia, most recently held at Langley Speedway (Virginia).

Asphalt late model racing is a common stepping stone for drivers who race in regional and national touring series, including NASCAR. Racers of both dirt and asphalt late models have won the national championship of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.[3]

Almost every NASCAR Cup Series driver raced in the class while progressing their career, and many crew chiefs have also developed through this level. Many often run in late model classes during off-weeks or special races, while some drivers who did not advance through this level (such as Juan Pablo Montoya) have since raced a late model. For example, in 2007, Montoya raced the Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway, a charity event with NASCAR Cup and other notable drivers.

Late model-type cars are also prevalent as a form of cost-cutting in road racing. As many of these oval-track cars can be adjusted to become road race cars with weight balance changes, the SCCA has listed them in the GT America category, and with the affordability of a late model stock car in the category ($30,000 cars with specification engines, and frequently purchased used NASCAR wheels), these cars are prevalent in club racing. Similar rules are used in SCCA Trans-Am TA2 class racing, where the same chassis builders for Super Late Models provide chassis for TA2.[4]

Dirt track late model racing also takes place in Australia. The Australian Late Model Championship has been a feature on the Australian speedway calendar since 2002.[5]

Late model cars can also be seen in simulators such as iRacing.[6]

United States national touring series

Asphalt

Dirt

Canadian touring series

Asphalt

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Late Model race cars.

References

  1. ↑ Huneycutt, Jeff. "Crate Late Model Setup - Crates On Dirt". Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  2. ↑ Bolles, Bob (February 2009). "Dirt Track Racing - Turning Asphalt To Dirt". Circle Track magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  3. ↑ Schaefer, Paul. Where Stars Are Born: Celebrating 25 Years of NASCAR Weekly Racing. Coastal 181, Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA, 2006.
  4. ↑ "SCCA GT America rules" (PDF). nwr-scca.org.
  5. ↑ "DIRT LATE MODEL". speedwayandroadracehistory.
  6. ↑ "NASCAR Late Model Stock". iRacing.com.
  7. ↑ "HOME". SLMS. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
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