The crackdown on offsetting Late Model Stock chassis implemented by over a dozen short tracks will carry over into Saturday’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
A technical bulletin that went into effect back in August outlined weight penalties that any team with an offsetting chassis would have to endure if they wished to keep competing until the end of the 2021 season.
ValleyStar Credit Union 300 race director Lynn Carroll is used to strict inspection procedures ahead of the 200-lap feature but said that he will paying extra attention towards the design of each team’s chassis.
“Everything is going to be straight by the book,” Carroll said. “We have a way to check for any offsetting chassis. If anybody is wrong, they either have to fix the car or put 25 pounds of weight on the right side.”
Peyton Sellers’ victory at South Boston Speedway on May 29 prompted the change in technical procedures along the East Coast.
A section of frame rail on Sellers’ car was scrutinized during the ensuing post-race inspection for the thickness of its tubing. Sellers said that thicker frame rail was not a violation of the NASCAR rulebook and that many other teams had been running them following the introduction of bump stops.
Sellers was allowed to keep his victory from South Boston and NASCAR did not take any further action regarding inspection procedures until concerns started getting raised about offset in Late Model Stock chassis.
The violations stemmed from chassis builders that were maximizing every inch of the offsetting process when it came to the margins on crossmembers, a frames, spindles and hubs.
All of the parts being put together resulted in Late Model Stocks that were not compliant with NASCAR and track rules. Sellers did not see the offsetting chassis as a major issue but does not oppose the decision on requiring chassis builders to be more in line with the rulebook.
“My chassis was 100 percent legal but I’m sitting here thinking ‘man, I wish I could have done that,'” Sellers said. “They had an advantage and NASCAR told them to start doing it the right way. I think everybody is back in line now and I don’t think you’ll see any issues at Martinsville at all.”
The initial bulletin provided by the tracks announced that teams had to add 50 lbs. of weight to the right side of their cars if the chassis was offset but a later amendment reduced that amount to 25 lbs.. Other guidelines included 25 lb. weigh penalties for Late Model Stocks that used two pieces of steel to make one piece of tubing and had improperly angled steering boxes.
For Martinsville, teams will be allowed to counter the offset with wheel spacers on the left side of the car as long as the tread width on the tires stays inside of 64.5 inches.
With the penalty being a disqualification for teams that do not correct their offsetting chassis, Carroll hopes that no one tries to test any limits as they look to bring home a grandfather clock and a $32,000 race-winning paycheck.
“All we are doing is checking to make sure no cars are offset,” Carroll said. “We usually do a lot of stuff leading up to this race but we’ll have a gate set up to check the cars and make sure everyone is on the same playing field.”
Despite having to enforce the weight penalties, Carroll is confident that no controversies will occur in the days leading up to the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 as opposed to previous years.
In 2018, a last-minute rule change by Carroll to add 15 lbs. of weight to each side of a car running a Harrington Enforcer engine drew ire from many drivers and ultimately contributed to current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Todd Gilliland withdrawing from the race.
Carroll said that all teams should know what is expected out of them throughout the weekend and is looking forward to overseeing the return of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 after its one-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s business as usual for us,” Carroll said. “We’re not throwing in any gear rules or anything else like that. Everybody is pretty close to each other now but as long as no one has offset, then there won’t be any issues and we’ll have a good show.”
Carroll and the rest of the NASCAR officials will have their work cut out for them with inspection ahead of Friday and Saturday’s on-track activity, as over 80 drivers have submitted an entry to compete in this year’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300.
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