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27-613: The Vercauteren brothers, during some time off in their hotel room in Daytona Beach, Florida during Speedweeks in February 1993, came up with the concept of a new asphalt series – the Mid-American Stock Car series. “Essentially the idea was to take the concept of the steel-bodied grand national cars that had been so popular on the dirt at Chilton Fairgrounds and create a traveling series on paved tracks throughout

54-495: A dirt car compared to those on an asphalt car. Adjustments for dirt include weight changes, rear steer changes, spring changes (four corners and lift arm/pull bar), spring mounting position, J-bar height and angle, stagger, tire compound, and tread design. Across the United States, the class of late model race cars may be referred to as super late models, late model stock cars, pro late models, or limited late models, yet

81-434: A prefabricated hi-impact plastic nose. Similarly, the asphalt racers began experimenting with downforce bodies, and in 2002 a group of asphalt track promoters met with body manufacturers Aluminum Racing Products (ARP) and Five Star to develop a uniform "Approved Body Configuration". This resulted in the now widely accepted ABC Rulebook. There are two types of chassis for asphalt late models. The super late model chassis

108-712: A race was held on the 1 mile dirt oval of the Indiana State Fairgrounds . In a show of versatility, less than 24 hours later on May 26, the VERY same drivers AND cars took to the track 21 miles to the west, for 40 laps of feature racing on the pavement at the fast 5/8-mile Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Indiana. Competing at the event was retired NASCAR star, Ken Schrader . The series was sold by Gruenberg to former La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway flagman Greg Oliver in early February 2017. Oliver ran both

135-933: A traveling Super Late Model Series, named the Midwest All-Star Racing Series (MARS) in 1999. The expansion also included the Stock Car Classics in 2004 and the American Stock Car League (ASL) in 2005. The death of Vercauteran in October 2005 led to the purchase of Mid-American by longtime employees Doug and Julie Strasburg. The Strasburgs kept only the Mid American Stock Car Series while MARS and ASL were dissolved. The Stock Car Classics split into two groups (Classic Racing Series and Midwest Stock Car Classics). The Super Trucks were absorbed into

162-432: A type of auto racing that involves purpose-built cars simultaneously racing against each other primarily on oval tracks . This type of racing was early-on characterized by its participants' modification to the engines of post-World War II passenger cars, but the modern day understanding references a class that allows considerable modifications to both the engine and body, yet requires some form of front fender package. As

189-535: A variety of tracks since then. The 25th annual Vercauteran Memorial winner returned to WIR and was won by Tyler Bauknecht (whose family had traveled with the Vercauteran family in the early days of the series). ARTGO The ARTGO Challenge Series was a late model short track racing series that ran in the Midwestern United States from 1975 until 1998. Many race car drivers used

216-432: Is a common steppingstone for drivers who race in regional and national touring series. Almost every NASCAR Cup Series driver raced in the class while progressing their career, and many crew chiefs have also developed through this level. 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,

243-512: Is offset to favor the left side of the car. Significant items such as the rear end and the engine are positioned on the left, while suspensions are constructed with maximum adjustability in mind. Other asphalt late models use a perimeter rail (symmetrical) chassis, similar to a production car, where there is equal chassis on both sides of the car. Dirt late model chassis are custom built by manufacturers within standardized dimensions that apply across most classes. There are numerous adjustments on

270-598: The ARTGO series as a stepping stone to get into ASA , ARCA , and NASCAR . Art Frigo created the series with the help of Bob Roper and John McKarns. He came up with the name by taking his first full name and the last two letters of his last name, coming up with the name ARTGO. The first race was held on September 7, 1975, at the Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois . The inaugural Wayne Carter Classic

297-648: The Golden Sands Speedway, Marshfield Super Speedway, Dells Raceway Park and Road America . Dave Gruenberg took over ownership on October 22, 2014. Working with Gary Vercauteran, Doug Stasburg, and Julie Stasburg previously made this an easy transition. Teams were intrigued when series owner Dave Gruenberg revealed a 2017 schedule that would have them competing on consecutive days at a couple of very different venues. Veteran drivers and newcomers alike were sent into their respective think tanks to consider how best confront these challenges. On Thursday, May 25

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324-647: The Great Northern Sportsmen Series and Midwest Dash Series. All three series became a part of the GO Racing Promotions organization. The Mid-American Stock Car Series was sold by Oliver to former Mid-Am competitors Tim Scrogham and Cheryl Hryn in early November 2020 and rebranded the Mid-Am Racing Series. With the rebrand the series returned to dirt racing as part of an effort to diversify the schedule. 2023

351-829: The Midwest.” During the first two years the series ran in ’93 and ’94 the Vercauteren’s were able to secure dates at legendary tracks like the Milwaukee Mile and Road America in Elkhart Lake cementing itself as a formidable racing series. The Series was at one time a support class for the ARTGO Challenge Series. The Mid American corporation expanded to a traveling Supertruck Series named the Midwest Super Truck Series in 1995 and

378-615: The Modified and Sportsman division. By 1956 NASCAR had developed a plan to phase out the pre-war coupes and sedans in favor "Late Models", identified as American cars produced between 1949 and 1955. Looking to differentiate the Sportsman as a truly separate class, in 1968 NASCAR updated their rules to require 1955 and newer bodies, rebranding the class the Late Model Sportsman Series . NASCAR later reorganized

405-685: The NASCAR era, the series had identical rules to three other NASCAR regional series (Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest). In 2006, after dwindling car counts and lack of races on the schedule NASCAR finally shut down the AutoZone Elite Division. To replace the NASCAR Midwest Series, the ASA Midwest Tour was created in 2007 by Racing Speed Associates, LLC as a new touring series that was similar in format to

432-738: 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. Dirt track late model racing also takes place in Australia. The Australian Late Model Championship has been

459-763: The United States Super Trucks or USST. When the Strasburgs took over Mid American in 2006, the series was struggling with car counts and tracks willing to host races. The average car count average jumped from 20 entrants per race to 27. A season high 39 participants ran at the Milwaukee Mile during the Governor's Cup Weekend. Several tracks have renewed relationships with the Mid-American Stock Car Series such as

486-944: The car. In the late 1970s the costs for the Late Model Sportsman cars became excessive, so the "Late Model Stock Car" was born. Within a few years changes began with the carburetor, and by the mid-1980s the stock front chassis was replaced with a racing clip, for safety and availability. The Late Model that exists today is a full-blown race car with race parts. Late model race cars now include super late models which have looser rules; late model stock cars and pro late models where cars are more aerodynamically aggressive with lighter bodies and enhanced horsepower; and limited late models which have less horsepower. Vehicles built to race on dirt tracks are significantly different from vehicles raced on asphalt . The bodies on late models were constructed from fiberglass molded to resemble original equipment body panels and able to withstand

513-532: The championship points and events into the touring series that became the Xfinity Series . Earlier car models remained eligible for the Modified division, which evolved to eliminate front fenders. Since that time, the various sanctioning organizations have developed countless rule packages, but for the last half of century, the "Late Model" class distinction has had little to do with the model year of

540-452: The engine specifications may vary between sanctioning bodies. Open engines are typically American naturally aspirated V8s with upwards of 600 horsepower (450 kW). Otherwise, sanctioning bodies may require crate motors to be utilized which may limit production to 400 horsepower (300 kW) to 500 horsepower (370 kW). The sanctioning bodies often adopt GM 602, 603, and 604 engines or Harrington Enforcers. Late model racing

567-530: The factory, but their bumpers and mufflers had to be removed. Also, a car's wheelbase, length and width had to remain stock, as did the hood. Two years later NASCAR added a division for "lesser modified" cars, which they distinguished as the Sportsman. Specifications for the Sportsman cars mirrored the Modified rules as to bodies and safety, but restricted the degree of engine modifications. As NASCAR’s Grand National cars aged out (current model year and two most recent years only) they became eligible to compete in

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594-641: The former ARTGO Challenge Series. The ARTGO series had drivers like Paul Menard , Matt Kenseth (2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion), Butch Miller , Dick Trickle , Joe Shear , Jim Sauter , Eddie Hoffman, Steve Carlson, Kevin Cywinski , Jim Weber, Justin Diercks , Tim Schendel , Jason Schuler and Jeff Frederickson. This NASCAR -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Late model Late Model stock car racing , also known as late model racing and late models , refers to

621-552: The post WWII auto industry began meeting demand for new cars, auto lots were filling up with the pre-war coupes and sedans. These 1939-1941 cars, "modified" with souped up engines, were finding their way to competitions at racing ovals converted from horse racing or newly carved out in fields. In 1948 NASCAR became one of the first organizations to standardize the rules to ensure equal competition. The rulebook mandated that all cars had to be American made, and 1937 or newer, with full stock fenders, running boards and bodies if equipped by

648-406: The rigors of short track racing without the weight. The affordability and availability of sheet aluminum emboldened racers to switch to making their own bodies, as it was cheaper and faster. These individually customized bodies became extreme, and by the mid-1980s a number of dirt track promoters organized as United Midwestern Promoters , standardizing the dimensions for the body panels and requiring

675-608: Was often held as part of the Red, White, and Blue state championship event at Wisconsin International Raceway (WIR). The 2007 event at WIR was rained out, so it was held at 141 Speedway which is the track next closed to Vercauteran's hometown Chilton . The 2010 event was held at Road America . It began in Vercauteran's hometown dirt track in Chilton Fairgrounds before the series' origin. It has been held at

702-520: Was the first year for a "dirt double header" July 14-July 15 at Kankakee County Speedway and Sycamore Speedway. Mentorship from both Greg Oliver as well as the Stasburgs have been instrumental in the resurgence of the series. The following tracks are scheduled to host at least one event in 2024: Super Truck Series Race ONLY: The series honors its founder Gary Vercauteran with a race each year after beginning as an event honoring his parents. The race

729-538: Was won by Tom Reffner. Frigo sold the series to John & Sue McKarns in 1979. In 1998 the McKarns licensed the name to NASCAR and NASCAR took full control of the series. The series went through different name changes with different title sponsors, including the RE/MAX Challenge Series, International Truck & Engine Midwest Series, and finally the AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series. Under

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