Crates: Are they really that much cheaper? – By: Dustin Leverknight

Posted Jody Shannon on March 8th, 2008 | Filed under Articles, Dustin Leverknight

As most of you know, crate late models have been the talk of just about everyone in racing industry over the past year. In my opinion, I don’t like the idea of crate late models simply because of how they are advertised to the fans as the cheap alternative to racing in a dirt late model. One thing that everyone leaves out is what I’m going to talk about, so sit back and enjoy.Just about every fan, driver, crewmember, or track staff has heard how crates, the “wave of the future”, are so much cheaper and now anyone can driver a dirt late model. That really isn’t true. After talking to a local dirt late model driver about this topic he brought up something I never realized until then about crate racing. He said that crate racing isn’t really that much cheaper than running a steel block late model or a super late model. Yes, the crate motors are cheaper than the SB or aluminum motors but motors are a fraction of the cost to build a competitive race team.

There are many factors that go into building a race team in today’s day and age than just a motor. These crate powered late models are identical to a super late model other what’s under the hood. Therefore meaning the car owner will have the identical bills as a super late model team. So think what all goes into a winning race team: you need to buy a chassis, spare parts, a shop to work and store the car, tools to work on your car, a truck and hauler to get your car to the track, fuel for both your truck and car, and lastly a motor. Also, if you wreck the crate late model, the price to repair it is going to be the same as fixing a super late.

By now you’re probably thinking this is dumb I already know all this, but now is how it all comes together. People have been saying since the first mention of crate racing that is cheaper and allows more people into the sport but on a large scale it really isn’t that much cheaper. The team will still have all the costs of a full blow super late except you’re going to save a few bucks on the motor and now you’re restricted on horse power, and the payout for crates has been terrible in my area. And are they really teched at local tracks as well as you think? Hardly. Maybe at the sanctioned races they are, but not on the local level. I’ve personally seen the mysterious bolts and heard of the ways to cheat them up and getting them by even the most experienced tech men.

All in all, the idea of crate racing (to me) is not really a cheaper alternative to racing a super late model. Yes, it may save a few in the motor department but every where else it is just the same. Remember everything here is straight up my opinion you do not have to agree with it but I’m just throwing it out there. That’s all for now until next time “Keep on racing”.