Application in PDF form

Key officials representing major organizations involved with Pavement Crate Late Model Racing announced that the organization S.E.A.L. (Sealed Engine Alliance Leaders) would oversee, organize and implement a certified and approved re-builders list for pavement racers using crate engines for much of the country.

S.E.A.L. was an organization set up in 2008 to oversee the sealed engines used in Super Late Model racing, which has led to consistency and substantial cost savings for the racers. Racing officials from North and South made up the organization initially, and a similar group will move forward with plans to unify and nationally recognize a group of certified re-builders for pavement crate late model racing.

S.E.A.L will also oversee the sale and distribution of the approved seals, manage the database built with the information from the sealing process, and assist in providing information for technical inspectors nationally. Currently, most organizations involved in this type of racing are using engine packages commonly referred to as the GM 604, the Ford Blue Oval, and the McGunegill MEP 425.

The initial group to oversee this program for S.E.A.L. will include R. J. Scott (founder and co-owner of CRA), Eddie Chew (Chief Technical Inspector for CRA), Ricky Brooks (Chief Technical Inspector for the Snowball Derby and numerous other national events), Tim Bryant (Promoter and Co-owner of Pensacola Speedway and the Snowball Derby), and Mike "Lumpy" Lemke (Chief Technical Inspector of ASA Midwest). Lemke’s role in the group will be to serve as the independent, non affiliated participant, as ASA Midwest does not utilize crate engines in most of their racing.

An important aspect of this program is the understanding that many other organizations have expressed interest in using this list of builders for their own organizations and tracks. Building a NATIONAL program is paramount to the success for the tracks and the racers.

The group has stipulated that the revenues generated by this sealing program will be used for the EXCLUSIVE purposes of administering the program, for research and development and the traveling to do so, post event testing, and to generate tech training information with additional training for tech personnel. Most importantly, organizers want to point out that NO PROFIT from this program will be taken by any of the organizers.

The re-builders application for approval is currently available. With the application, prospective builders will be informed of the group’s goal to have a limited number of builders, with geography, history and reputation a large factor in the limiting process. Prospective builders will also be made aware of a specific list of tools they must possess.

Prospective certified re-builders will be notified of the plan calling for a non-refundable application fee, an additional annual fee for those rebuilders that are approved, and cost of the seal package for each engine. One important aspect of this new program will be a substantial fine program that each builder must agree to in writing, should their engines be found in error, of their doing, whether intentional or inadvertent. Failure to immediately pay the fine and rectify the issues will result in all competitors using that builder’s seals to carry an additional weight penalty, until the proper steps have been taken to correct the issue.

In order to give this program additional strength and legitimacy, organizers will also set a date for late in 2012 that engines must carry the seals of an approved re-builder or carry an additional 25 to 50 lb penalty.