A late model car is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. (An early model car or
classic car
A classic car is an older car, typically 25 years or older, though definitions vary.While other languages, such as German and Dutch, may refer to classic cars as "oldtimers", this usage is unknown in English, where "old-timer" refers to an elder ...
is a car old enough to be of historical interest; there is no usual intermediate term.)
The precise definition of "late model" varies.
Racing
Late model race cars are the highest class of local
stock car racing vehicles at many race tracks in the United States and Canada. 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. Some series require
crate motors to be utilized by racecars under their sanction, which often utilize GM 604 engines. Vehicles raced on
dirt tracks are significantly different from vehicles raced on
asphalt
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term ...
.
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 , American naturally aspirated
V8s, under the hood of a custom built
chassis
A chassis (, ; plural ''chassis'' from French châssis ) is the load-bearing framework of an artificial object, which structurally supports the object in its construction and function. An example of a chassis is a vehicle frame, the underpa ...
weighing around . 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 Kern County Classic at Kern County Raceway in California, Summer Showdown in
Evergreen Speedway, 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 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
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is a late model race held at Martinsville Speedway in the early fall each year since 1985.
History
In 1970, Martinsville Speedway added 250-lap twin features for the Late Model Sportsman and Modified classes ann ...
at
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR-owned stock car racing short track in Ridgeway, Virginia, just south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved oval tracks in ...
, 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
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and h ...
. Racers of both dirt and asphalt late models have won the national championship of the NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series
The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (formerly the Whelen All-American Series, Winston Racing Series and the Dodge Weekly Series) is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local short track motor racing around the United States and C ...
.
[Schaefer, Paul. ''Where Stars Are Born: Celebrating 25 Years of NASCAR Weekly Racing''. Coastal 181, Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA, 2006.]
Almost every
NASCAR Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. ...
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.
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.
Late model cars can also be seen in simulators such as
''iRacing''.
United States national touring series
Asphalt
*
American Canadian Tour
The American Canadian Tour (ACT) is a late model stock car racing series based in the northeastern United States, and Quebec, Canada. The current American-Canadian Tour Late Model Tour was founded in 1992 as a cost-cutting, regional touring divisi ...
*
ARCA Midwest Tour
*
CRA Super Series
*
CARS Tour
*Northwest Super Late Model Series
*
Pro All Stars Series
*Southern Super Series
*
SRL Southwest Tour Series
Dirt
*
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is a dirt late model touring series owned and operated by Lucas Oil. The series competes on dirt ovals across the United States, primarily throughout the east coast and the midwest. The cars feature a purpose ...
*
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
*
XR Super Series
*
MARS Dirt Car Series
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphe ...
Canadian touring series
Asphalt
*
CASCAR Super Series
*
APC United Late Model Series
The APC United Late Model Series is a late model stock car racing series competing at short track ovals in Ontario, Canada.
Background
The series was founded in 2015 with the purpose of revitalizing late model stock car racing at paved short ...
*
Maritime Pro Stock Tour
The Maritime Pro Stock Tour (Commonly known as the Parts For Trucks Pro Stock Tour due to a sponsorship deal with Parts for Trucks) is an annual racing tour located in the Maritime provinces of Canada.
History
The Maritime Pro Stock Tour was foun ...
*
Ontario Sportsman Series
*Quebec Sportsman Series
See also
*
National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, a United States hall of fame for dirt track late model racers
*
Australian Late Model Championship
References
{{Class of Auto racing
Auto racing by type