I-MOD Director Makes Move to Save Members Money

DeMotte, IN (May 16, 2011) - The current tough economic times have affected all of us recently and its effects are no more evident than in the hobby of stock car racing. More and more local tracks are, at best, struggling if even still operating. The rising costs involved in racing are esclating to the point that many drivers and car owners are parking their rides in an effort to use that money in more important areas. Being a previous car owner, driver, and now series owner, I recogonize the need for an open mind and solutions to keep the hobby of racing available to anyone who wishes to pursue it. I'm not alone in my quest. Many of you I-MOD Association members are aware of Kankakee County Speedway Promoter Tom Smith's passion for the sport and his search for the same results as me. It was through his perserverance for a solution that energized my efforts. The I-MOD Association has a very strict set of rules that not only promote close competition but are also in place to maximize your racing budget. The single most expensive item on a race car is the engine assembly. Several tracks and santioning bodies have switched to a "crate" engine program to address this issue. The most common "crate" engines are the GM 602 and 604 assemblies. While these two choices are great for others, they absolutely would not work for our situation. They are full of parts that are illegal in our rule book and make more power than our current configuration. I saw no reason to adopt into this program which would make all of our current engines obsolete. I contacted several different engine builders to explain our situation and to get some opinions on options. I then contacted a representitive with GM Performance Parts division and gave him a rundown of our current rules. This might have been the single most important call that I've made in a long time. What if I was to tell all of you that GM Performance Parts now offers a 100% NEW long block that is 100% I-MOD legal, complete with our spec cam and correct cylinder head castings for around $2000! The GM part number for the long block is 12499529. I couldnt hardly believe it myself after talking with some of you and hearing what its been costing to just freshen up an existing engine. It even gets better as since this is a brand new assembly, there is NO core charge!

Now I know I said in a previous post that crate engines would not be allowed in the I-MOD Association. This was in reguards to the 602 and 604. With this new option from GM, not only does it give everyone another option for their car, but it does not make their current engine obsolete. Just this past week I personally installed one of these engines in a member's car. I removed the oil pan to swap it with a circle track style unit and was very impressed with its quality.

This new engine assembly is NOT mandatory, it is just another option for anyone who is the market for a new powerplant. There is no advantage or disadvantage by using this new engine option.

I've done quite a bit of research on this unit and it seems to be a viable option for our division. Contact me with any questions on this new engine.

We here at RaceStar Concepts / I-MOD association will do everything we can to bring the hobby of stock car racing to everyone who wants to experience it.


Rich Rish, Series Director
I-Mod Association