SEAL Committee says its banning engines with UARA seals in letter to builders

Update: Feb 11 2025: The other member tracks and series part of the S.E.A.L. committee have expressed that this was more about solidarity amongst all of them, more than just an ASA decision.

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For the time being, ASA STARS led by Track Enterprises and Bob Sargent and UARA National operated by Ricky Brooks are not on the same page regarding engine regulations.

Sargent and ASA are getting ahead of any possible confusion this week in advance of the STARS national tour opener at New Smyrna Speedway by telling its approved engine builders that it will not allow entry by any power plant with a UARA seal on it.

That group of promoters sent a letter to its approved builders on Sunday that read as follows:

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This letter is in regard to the Sealed Engine Alliance Leaders stance on the newly introduced sealed engine program.

It is the strong opinion of the S.E.A.L Committee that having an additional program is not in the best interest of the pavement short-track racing industry. It is challenging enough to move the industry forward without the possibility of dividing racers on any issues. Many series and racetracks are struggling for car count as it is. Introducing a divisive entity will definitely be detrimental to the sport and our/ your businesses.

S.E.A.L. and the United Late Model Rules Alliance WILL NOT allow unapproved seals to be installed on engines that also have S.E.A.L. seals on them.

U.A.R.A. seals will not be honored or allowed at any sanctioned event.

S.E.A.L. is STRONGLY encouraging our Approved Rebuilders to refrain from being a part of the UARA sealed engine program. Failure to comply with this request may result in possible ramifications, up to and including removal from the S.E.A.L. Program.

As partners in the S.E.A.L. Program, we are keenly aware of all that has been invested in its success. We are convinced that if we all continue to work together, this issue will be resolved in a short amount of time, and the negative impacts of the other sealed engine program will be mitigated.

Thank you for your sincere consideration of this matter.

Regards,
Sealed Engine Alliance Leaders

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The ASA side believes that UARA is telling engine builders that engines with both seals will be allowed to race in ASA events, and ASA says that is not true.

Bubba Pollard is a ASA full-time racer who also has competed in UARA races, most recently winning the first Superfest event on February 2. While everyone has generally said they wished there was greater cooperation between Brooks and Sargent, Pollard simply said ‘no one is listening.’

A relative newcomer to the Super Late Model scene, longtime ARCA and NASCAR crew chief and car owner Mark Rette eventually wants to see an independent engine inspector for the entire industry.

“I have suggested having an off-site person, that doesn’t have anything to do with Super Late Model racing to dyno these things,” Rette said. “Let’s figure it out. ASA has a relationship with NASCAR. They have a mobile dyno. It’ll cost some money but let’s get them in there. I’m sure Bob would spend that money just to get people to shut up.

“Is there a calling for that? I don’t know. I haven’t been around this deal long enough to know how to read it yet. I know where my stuff is. We build the best motors we can with the approved parts and I don’t know much about all the other stuff yet.”

Brooks has also worked in a different direction than the new approved body configuration committee, creating just a general divide between the ASA and UARA.

Ty Majeski, who frequently runs with both promoters, said in November that he just wants to see them figure it out for the betterment of the industry.

“It’s a huge problem,” Majeski said. “I don’t know if it’s bad blood or if it’s an ego thing but regardless, these two sides need to get together and we need to understand what Ricky has approved and what he didn’t approve when he was in charge.

“And now that ASA is in charge, they need to understand what those things were. Those things need to be grandfathered in. And, you know, it goes to the motor deal, the body deal, it’s convoluted right now when you have two national tours that have rules and tires and, engine rules that are all different now.

“You have to have one package that is legal for Ricky and it’s not with ASA, and vice versa, and we are hurting ourselves doing it this way. We our digging ourselves a deeper hole as we go.”

Majeski said even then that he was wary of new engine regulations purely from a cost standpoint.

“ And I’m hearing rumors about a new engine package, like they’re all going to be sealed engines with a new spec,” Majeski said. “Well, guess what? The cheapest thing is what everyone already has right now. You’re going to force teams to build a spec motor? I don’t know that this is the way we want to go.

“It reminds me of the old ASA when they ran themselves into the ground with the V6 motor and all that crap and the entire industry had to start over from that. I don’t know what the answer is, Matt, but where we’re at right now is not good in my opinion.”

Sargent and Brooks did have a very brief conversation in January at Speedfest. Sargent said he expected a phone call from Brooks to discuss some of these technical conflicts but no such phone call ever came his way.

Short Track Scene reached out to Brooks on Monday about the letter sent to S.E.A.L. engine builders and he said he wanted to take a day or two to think about any response or action.