Modified Stock Car Racing

Modified stock car racing, modified racing, or modified, involves purpose-built cars racing on oval tracks. It emerged in the US after World War II when racers modified stock cars to achieve high speeds and better handling, thus the classification of modified. Today, ther are many different types of modified cars and races depending on the sanctioning body and/or track. Body styles and engines specifications vary accordingly.

History
Modified racing began when racers modified their cars to gain competitive advantages. What started out as minor modifications to the cars has now grown to the point that some modified classes are no longer based on any current production vehicles. Some of NASCAR's pioneers were veteran modified racers before NASCAR's inception in 1949. As time progressed, modifieds moved away stock cars and nowadays supermodifieds have more in common with Indy cars and other high end open wheel racing than NASCAR or Stock Cars.

Asphalt modified
Found predominatley in the eastern US and sanctioned by NASCAR and ASA, who use the same rules, but do not race on the same tracks. The cars are open wheel with large racing slicks and rounded roofs with large  rear spoilers.

The NSTA Top Speed Modified Tour, located in Carmel, Indiana, has been around for three decades. These asphalt race cars got their start at Mount Lawn Speedway snf was once called the USA Modified Series. This traveling series races at local short tracks in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. In 2013 they raced for the first time on a road course at Gingerman Raceway. The series changed hands for 2017, from ICAR to NSTA, after being purchased by John Robbins (nephew of the former ASA pioneers) from Dave Muzillo.

Northern Tour/Whelen Modified Tour
The only remaining NASCAR series from it's original 1948 seaon. The original style of NASCAR modifieds actually pre-dates NASCAR's existence by many years. The series originally started on dirt, and as more and more asphalt tracks opened, the series migrated to racing on the newer tracks. The series also had previously made forays into road racing with stops at Watkins Glen International. Drivers like Bobby Allison and Red Farmer got their start in the NASCAR Modified series. Many NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers have come from this series, including Ryan Preece, Jimmy Spencer, Geoff Bodine and Steve Park.

Southern Tour/Whelen Southern Modified Tour
In late 2004, NASCAR bought out the Southern Modified Auto Racing Teams (SMART), and promptly renamed it the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. The southern tour uses exactly the same set of rules as the northern tour, but races primarily in the southeast. The majority of races on the southern tour schedule occur before late April and after August as not to interfere with weekly racing at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Once per year, the northern tour and the southern tour race at Bristol Motor Speedway, in Bristol, Tennessee. The two tours were permanently merged for the 2016 season.

Dirt modified
Dirt modified is one of, if not, the most popular type of racing in the US. Almost every dirt sanctioning body has a class of modifieds.

Super DIRTcar Series modifieds have the driver sits in the middle of the car, with high-downforce and wind-channeling tunnels on either side. They have flat roofs that are tilted to catch additional air. The front suspension is usually coil-over with a torsion-bar in the rear. They utilize full tube chasis very simlar looking to a sprint car chassis.

IMCA-style modifieds are easy to identify as a whole, but distinguishing between the sanctioning bodies is all but impossible The driver sits on the left side. One of the most notable differences between the IMCA-style modifieds and other modified series cars, is the use of stock production car frame sections as part of the racing chassis. These cars also race on smaller tires than the other types of modifieds. IMCA Sportmods appear very similar to their brethren, but have distinctly different engines.

The Afco KidModz appear the same as the others, but use full tube chassis, and by rules, have to have Ford 2300 cc inline 4-cylinder engines.

Super DIRTcar Series
Founded in 1976, the Driver's Independent Race Tracks (DIRT) was acquired by Boundless Racing in June 2004 which had purchased the World of Outlaws in February of that year. In November 2004, Boundless Racing changed its name to DIRT Motorsports. In December of the same year, DIRT Motorsports bought Midwestern sanctioning body UMP. The former DIRT big block (and small block) modified series has seen many changes in their car designs since the 1970s. The ultra-fast, super nimble cars race primarily in the Northeastern US and in Canada, but have had a race added in the Midwest on the 2007 and the 2008 schedules. NASCAR and World of Outlaws Late Model driver Tim McCreadie came from this series, as did World of Outlaws Late Model drivers Tim Fuller and Vic Coffey. All of those drivers still race in the series on a part-time basis, between 10–30 times a year. Notable drivers having competed in DIRT modifieds include Bobby Allison, Tony Stewart, Andrew Ranger, Dave Blaney, Carl Edwards, JJ Yeley and David Reutimann.

IMCA/WISSOTA/UMP Modifieds
Organized in 1915, the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) is the oldest racing sanctioning body in the US. IMCA introduced the Economy Modified (E-Mod) in 1979. It has become one of the most popular dirt racing classes due to its simple design, light-weight, high power, and ability to adapt to varying track conditions easily. Most IMCA-style classes also boast a "claim rule," wherein a racer may buy a competitors engine for a small amount of money (usually around $500). This rule was intended to keep engine prices from skyrocketing. Sanctioning bodies WISSOTA and United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) also have classes almost identical to IMCA's modifieds, with a few small exceptions. The AMRA, or American Motor Racing Association also follows this popular formula. NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace own and race UMP Modifieds on off weekends from NASCAR.

IMCA SportMods
IMCA designed a new lower cost class of SportMod cars in 2004 to complement their Modified division. The division is divided into Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods divisions. The Northern SportMods have a few small differences from the Southern SportMods in the body of the car. These cars are a somewhat smaller and have less powerful engines. They can be differentiated from IMCA Modifieds because the car has a break in the body that extends from the rear roof to the spoiler at the rear.

Afco KidModz
This relatively inexpensive series is aimed at getting children into racing. It closely follows UMP's Modified rules. The engine must be a 2300 cc Ford inline 4-cylinder, and the drivers can be no younger than 12, nor older than 18. Some tracks will allow kids 10 or 11 to race, depending on the track's insurance. The KidModz are also allowed to run tubular chassis, whereas the IMCA/WISSOTA/UMP Modifieds have to have sections of frames from stock production automobiles, with other sections being steel tubing. These cars are offered for sale completely assembled and ready-to-race for under $20,000. The unassembled price is lower.

GLOM
Found in the Midwestern United States, the Great Lakes Outlaw Modifieds (GLOM) are a cross between IMCA Modifieds, and UMP Late Models. These cars have nearly the same hand-made aluminum bodies as their UMP Late Model counterparts (without front fenders), feature tubular chassis, and sport unrestricted engines with aluminum engine blocks and heads. They also are allowed to utilize quick-change rear ends and aluminum wheels, whereas the IMCA modifieds are forced to race with heavier cast-iron engines, partial stock frames, steel wheels and Ford 9-inch (230 mm) rear ends.

Ark-La-Tex
One type of Outlaw Modified can be found in the Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas area, called Ark-La-Tex Winged Modifieds. These outlaw modifieds sport full tube chassis, and bodies that look like the Advanced Auto Parts Super DIRTcar racers, with the exception of the sprint car-like wing affixed to the roofs of the cars.

These cars can also be found deeper into Texas such as Dallas and Waco. Some of the Winged Modifieds use bodies called skinny bodies that are not currently being made, but some drivers still have. Winged Modified racing began at Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, LA and spread throughout the area. Soon, Heart O' Texas Speedway in Waco, TX was running them, so on Friday nights anybody from the Ark-La-Tex would go over to Waco and drive Winged Modifieds there. On Saturday night, they were at Boothill Speedway. Some of the nation biggest legends started out racing winged modifieds.

AOMRA
One type of outlaw modified in Alberta, Canada, races on both dirt and asphalt with the same cars. Started in the mid-1980s, the Alberta Outlaw Modified Racing Association (AOMRA) races in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. They look like a cross between IMCA modifieds, and old NASCAR modifieds.

Outlaw Modified Racing Series
Organized in Florida in the 1970s, they are built on tube chassis with coil over shocks. 10-inch-wide (250 mm) tires and a 76-inch (1,900 mm) track make these cars are fast and nimble. 2300 cc, Four-cylinder power plants from Fords, Toyotas and even an odd Nissan are common, however the Ford 2300's are favored. Motor rules have stayed very stable over the last 10 years with the only rule change coming in 2008 which allowed the Esslinger aluminum d-port head, due to the declining availability of the cast-iron cylinder heads. One thing that sets these cars apart from most modified racing series, is that these cars do not utilize roofs on the cars.

SuperModifieds
Another type of modified popular in the Southwestern and Northeastern parts of the USA, is the SuperModified (Super Mod). Super Mods are low-slung, almost body-less modifieds that utilize wings on its chassis to achieve enough downforce to take turns at extremely high speeds. They also feature engines that are offset to the driver's side, also, to aid in taking turns at high speed. There are 4 sanctioning bodies in America that sanction supermodified racing. The New York-based International Supermodified Association (ISMA), is the largest of the four and a true touring series. The Western States Supermodified Racing League (WSSRL) is ISMA's west coast counterpart. The ISMA SuperMods are a bit more technologically advanced, in that the wings attached to the roofs of the cars move. When racing down the straightaways, the wings are almost level. When the car gets to the corners, the back of wing tilts upward, adding downforce to the car.

Legends car racing
US Legend Cars International of Charlotte, North Carolina created the Legends series (while they were named 600 Motorsports) as a way of getting more and younger people into racing with affordable cars. The cars were designed to be 5/8-scale 1930s and 1940s coupes and sedans cars raced in the past in the NASCAR Modified Tour. They all feature a tube chassis, and spec 1250 cc Yamaha Motorcycle engines.

Dwarf cars
Dwarf cars are similar to the Legends cars, in that they are scale replicas of vintage race cars. However, Dwarf cars are true open "modified-style" cars without fenders, and a 1,250 cc (76 cu in) limitation on the engine size.The Western States Dwarf Car Association, begun in 1993, has become one of the most successful racing organizations in history, boasting an average of 80–100 Dwarf Cars at 4 National, and several regional, events a year. There is also a class of Dwarf Cars that race on dirt called the Vintage Lite Series. They race a mixed field of cars that resemble the vintage cars and some that resemble a scaled down version of the current dirt modified (these cars are often referred to as the MiniMods).

ModLites
A ModLite is a 5/8th scale of a Dirt Modifided.

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