IMCA unveils new Sport Compact class for 2006

VINTON, Iowa (Jan. 20, 2006) ­ Aspiring racers seeking an economical way to get on the track need look no further than IMCA's new Sport Compact class.

The 4-cylinder front wheel drive division is already set to debut this season in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. De-signed with the primary goal of getting younger competitors started in the sport at the local level, the cars can be built for around $1,500.

"This is a barebones class, truly entry level like what our Hobby Stock division started out like more than 15 years ago. They're not race cars, they're cars that race," IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. "They can be purchased off the street or at a salvage yard, you can gut them, put the safety equipment in and go race."

"Our intent with this division is for younger drivers, not guys that want to get out of late models or modifieds. It's perfect for kids in high school," he added. "We have already built one of these cars (a Ford Probe) for less than $1,500 and we'll probably let anyone who wants to try it and has purchased an IMCA license race it at Benton County Speedway."

There is a minimum age of 14 for Sport Compact drivers; no one in the class can be licensed to compete in any other IMCA division.

OEM requirements are in place for the body and chassis, tires and manual or automatic transmissions.

Engines must be single cam with a 2.4 liter maximum. No turbo charged, super charged or rotary engines will be allowed.

Sport Compacts will now be sanctioned at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines, Stuart Speedway, Benton County Speedway in Vinton and at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D. They¹ll also run a limited schedule at Beatrice, Neb., Speedway.

"We had been researching rules and engines and were going to start the class in 2007. After we announced that in December to our promoters, we got calls from tracks in nine states," Root said. "It's likely that we'll sanction a couple more tracks this year and another half dozen next year. We anticipate this class developing like the SportMods did."

There will be no national point fund for the Sport Compacts this season. The $60 license fee drivers pay will cover costs of the insurance premium and newsletter subscription.

"We want to give people as many options as possible in this class,2 Root said. "It will be as bone stock as we can get it and we'll do everything we can to keep it that way."