“Super Hi-Intensity Action Truck” class coming in 2009

“Super Hi-Intensity Action Truck” class coming in 2009
Omaha, Neb (March 31, 2008) – Track owners and promoters from Eagle Raceway, I-80 Speedway, and Junction Motor Speedway have introduced a spec, touring series of All-American pickup class that will begin racing in 2009. The class will be sanctioned by a joint body of the promoters, the name to be decided by a fan vote, to be held at the opening night of each track’s weekly season.

The Super Hi-Intensity Action Truck class will combine high-horsepower, spec motors with heavily modified, late-model pickup chassis in a tightly-controlled and highly competitive class.

In a joint statement, the promoters believe that this class will create a new example of twenty-first century racing. From the joint statement: “We need to get with the times. The pickup is the vehicle of choice amongst our fans, and it’s the only true rear-wheel-drive vehicle left on a mass-production basis. It will finally settle the question if whether or not ‘that thing’s got a hemi’ really matters.

“More importantly,” the statement continued, “we’ve looked at the state of premier classes such as Super Late Models and 360 Sprint cars. Nobody can agree to anything about the rules, the costs and so on. Why continue down this path?

“The new class will be heavily policed and monitored. It will create even more opportunities to get more racers on board with so much competition that fans will swear winning comes out of blind luck or that it's fixed. Of course, we're following the NASCAR model which has been the only way racing can really be run anymore.”

The pickups will maintain the basic designs of the Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado and Ford F-Series, with significant competition and safety modifications. Powering the rear-wheel drive trucks will be spec, manufacturer specific motors, guaranteed to dyno ‘over 700 horesepower’ according to the promoter coalition.

Also featured on the trucks will be World of Outlaws Sprint Car style wings, with a 30-square foot rule, to accommodate the larger wheelbases of the pickup trucks. Other unique features include a cut out bed to allow for open rear wheels, driven by spec-wide bodied tires, to be designed by Hoosier – a respected name in racing tires. At this point the coalition is deciding whether or not to run without roofs, to give a better view of the driver.

In the prepared statement the promoter coalition felt that the time has come to create a new class of vehicle unlike any other and one that will finally bridge the gap between open wheel and stock car fans. As a bonus the huge body panels of the truck and wing will allow for huge amounts of “rolling billboard” space for sponsors.

To begin the series, a unique blend of cooperation has come forth with each track taking a rotating schedule of shows. Also, fans will be treated with an incentive to come see the new trucks, when each track will offer free front gate admission on nights when the class is running.

According the promoter coalition, they feel they can make up lost gate revenue from fans “in pit gate fees, concessions and alcohol sales.” The first race at each track will also feature a prominent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star behind the wheel, in full competition. At the end of the evening, the NASCAR driver will donate his winnings to a lucky fan in a random draw.

More details are available here: www.heartlandracenews.com/_misc/spectruck.html