V-Tec Engines Will Not be Allowed to Compete after September 19th

 
Salem, IN (September 16, 2009) - Officials from Champion Racing Association (CRA) announced today a rule clarification for the Vore’s Welding & Steel CRA F.W.D. Compact division.  After the September 19th event at Baer Field Speedway, V-Tec Engines, as they are currently running, will not be allowed in competition.  Additionally, officials are considering not allowing JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) engines in 2010.

"The Compact division is one that has seen rapid growth this year and, with that, comes significant growing pains," commented R. J. Scott, co-owner of CRA. "As stewards of this great division, we have a responsibility to look at what is best for the group as a whole, not just what is best for a few individuals." 

Scott went on to say, "this is one of the toughest groups to tech and as we grow this together we all learn more about these cars and potential entrants.  As a result, the rulebook had some areas that weren’t as clearly defined as they should be, and we have to immediately clear as much of that up as we can, to ensure the continued strength and growth of the F.W.D. Compact division."

As a result of the rules not being clearly defined previously, all participants will retain their original positions following the Anderson event on September 12th.  Additionally, due to this late announcement, the affected teams will have until the October 4^th event to change their engines if they choose to continue to compete.  Officials are currently working on a plan to eliminate the functionality of the V-Tec engines for their last event in competition this weekend.

CRA Technical Inspectors have done extensive research in the areas of this announcement. Chief Technical Inspector Eddie Chew noted, "We want to be clear in saying that the teams currently using this package were not in violation of the rules, they just found a competitive advantage in a loophole in our rules, and it is our responsibility to the group as a whole, to close that loophole and create the most level playing field possible.  We recognize this may cause hardship for some, but our responsibility is to the larger group as a whole and not allow options that obsolete everyone else’s equipment."

More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.craracing.net.