Nashville, TN – Management from Champion Racing Association, Anderson Speedway, Salem Speedway, and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway have announced a rules alliance for the 2024 season to more easily allow drivers from across the region to compete without the headache of fitting various rules. The effort brings one of the most captivating grassroots racing divisions closer to a unified set of rules allowing locals and regional traveling drivers to more easily compete in events like the prestigious CRA Five Crown Series, King of the High Banks, Salem Halloween 200, and esteemed events at Anderson and Nashville.
For several seasons, the CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS have made guest appearances at Anderson, Salem, and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedways, bringing increased purse, a high level of competition, and bragging rights to those already respected facilities. However, for the local Street Stock driver who supported those tracks weekly, the differences in rules presented a challenge to stay legal for the remainder of the regular season, and to compete in the special event. The new Street Stock Rules Alliance brings all four rule books to common ground, with the goal of increased participation at all events.
Track Enterprises President, Bob Sargent spoke on the importance of bringing the Street Stock Series rule book more in line with the tracks that they visit throughout the season.
“CRA has been fortunate in having a strong Street Stock class for many years and I think it can get even stronger with some of our staple tracks working together for unified rules,” Sargent said. “This should really help build toward having bigger car counts for their weekly events in addition to our CRA races on their schedule,” stated Sargent.
While the Street Stock Rules Alliance took some time to put together, the outcome should benefit not only the drivers, but also the tracks, and ultimately the fans as races will be easier to organize, and should produce more participation from drivers across the region. That idea was echoed by Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery owner, Nick Bohanon. Salem Speedway hosts racing for their Diesel Boys Great American Stocks (GAS) on a regular basis, including high paying shows that put GAS head-to-head with CRA like King of the High Banks and the Five Crown Firecracker 200. Plus, Salem’s staple stand alone fall special, the Halloween 200.
“Having a Street Stock Rules Alliance package is something that has been needed for a while,” Bohanon commented. “This should be a good deal for all of Street Stock racing in our region. I hope the competitors understand that this was a big undertaking and there was a lot of give and take from all sides to make this happen,” Bohanon finished.
The furthest track to the north of the alliance, but also the birthplace of Champion Racing Association, Anderson Speedway will again host street stock racing nearly weekly, plus their involvement with CRA Five Crown events offers the chance for their weekly supporters to try and spoil the party for the CRA regulars.
“We are very excited to officially bring street stocks back to Anderson Speedway as a full time division,” said Speedway VP of Operations Jared Owen. “It was important for us to have a collaborative rules package for street stock teams to be able to compete at various race tracks throughout the 2024 season,” Owen concluded.
Finally, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway makes up the fourth part of the Alliance equation. Running on a more part-time schedule, the Nashville street stocks also find themselves racing on the ¼-mile bullring and the ⅝ mile high bank track configurations. The sanctioned CRA Street Stocks races, though, race on the historic highbanks when they visit for the CRA Five Crown and during All American 400 weekend.
The new Street Stocks Rules Alliance will be on display for the first time this season when the CRA Street Stocks unload for the Short Track US Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, April 6th.
Originally posted on andersonspeedway.com