This is interesting. I am not very familiar with the RaceSaver group. I assume this means Arlington will be a 305 sprint car class, or is that not true? Will the 360s be grandfathered in?
IMCA brings a long history of Sprint Car racing, proven procedures, point
funds and contingency awards to the table. RaceSaver has grown to 650-plus
drivers competing at more than 60 tracks in 12 regions in the eastern and
southern United States since its founding 17 years ago by French Grimes.
“We have a class that works really well. The rules work really well and we
keep a tight lid on them. The people who believe in RaceSaver expect integrity,”
Grimes said. “We have followed IMCA and know they are well respected. We believe
this will be an excellent marriage.”
In addition to the common set of rules, RaceSaver requires use of
individually measured, stamped and registered cylinder heads.
Grimes had talked with Eagle Raceway promoter Roger Hadan, who expressed
concerns about costs of the winged class. Smiley Sitton, who built RaceSaver’s
flagship region in Texas and helped develop two other regions encompassing 10
tracks, encouraged Grimes to contact IMCA.
Details of the new partnership were then ironed out with IMCA Vice President
of Operations Brett Root, Sprint Car Division Director Bob Allen and Director of
Track Relations Jim Stannard.
“RaceSaver will provide the best and most cost effective rules in the country
and allow us to do our job as a sanctioning body,” explained Stannard. “We want
to help take RaceSaver nationwide and secure new tracks.”
One of those facilities will be Grimes’ Fork Mountain Raceway in
Martinsville, Va., home to the RaceSaver Nationals since 1999.
“IMCA Sprint Cars are very strong in the Midwest and we need a presence
there,” Grimes said. “Our goal is to get RaceSaver to the point where it is the
standard Sprint Car group in the country.”
“I’m trying to be like Johnny Appleseed. I want to see RaceSaver across the
country as a good Sprint Car class,” he continued. “I want it to propagate and
continue to be a class that blue collar guys have a chance to race in. They can
come and race with us, bring the whole family and have fun, and even if they
don’t win, they’ll be treated with respect.”
No changes will be made in procedures or the familiar 40-point scoring
system. IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car national, state and track champions and the
national rookie of the year will be recognized at the annual banquet in Lincoln,
Neb., in November.
For more information, contact Grimes at 540-923-4541.
