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WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Nov. 11) -- An increased focus on driver safety and expanded choices for budget-minded competitors highlight the 2011 rulebook published this week by the United States Racing Association for its four primary sanctioned divisions.

“Recognizing changes in technology and adjusting to economic fluctuations is an important part of the rules-making process, but maintaining stability in the rules from year to year is equally important,” said USRA President Todd Staley. “Especially at the grassroots level, racers need to know that if they build a racecar today it will still be legal and competitive in the years ahead.”

With that in mind, drivers competing in the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series will find major changes few and far between for the 2011 racing season.

“Many of the changes are actually expanded options to give drivers more choices and creative license in how they operate their racing program,” Staley added. “But most of the red ink is simply clarifying gray areas and closing loopholes in the language.”

Perhaps the most notable change in the 2011 rulebook is the addition of a crate engine option for the USRA RHS Modifieds, joining USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods as divisions offering a crate engine option for its drivers.

Based on the latest production version of the small blocks that power the Chevrolet Corvette, the GM Performance Parts CT525 crate engine has went from the research and development phase to a frequent winner on the racetrack in just two years.

The engine features an aluminum block and heads, hypereutectic aluminum pistons, nodular iron crank and hydraulic roller that fills the “need for speed" at a surprisingly affordable price.

The CT525 is available from Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny, Iowa, for $7,100. For more information, call toll-free 866-551-9188 or visit www.karlperformanceparts.com online.

For the 2011 racing season, USRA RHS Modifieds must also utilize an 8,000 RPM rev-limiting chip (7,500 RPM for CT525 crate engines), which will be distributed by the racetrack.

While only minor changes are reflected throughout the new rules for Stock Cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks, all three will see an adjustment to claiming procedures.

The first four finishers in the main event are subject to being claimed by any other driver that finishes fifth or lower and finishes on the same lap as the winner. In previous editions, the top five were claim eligible.

The cash price for claims are $650 for Stock Cars, $550 for B-Mods and $525 for Hobby Stocks. After a driver’s engine has been claimed once, however, he or she has the option to “exchange” engines instead of a cash claim for any subsequent claims made on that driver by another driver.

Unchanged from previous rulebooks, both shocks and carburetors are subject to claim in all three classes while claim-eligible items in the Modified division remain shocks and ignition boxes.

Four first-time champions emerged from the 2010 American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series campaign.

Jason Cummins of New Richland, Minn., captured the USRA RHS Modified title while Rich Gregoire of Russell, Minn., became the first champion in the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Car division utilizing a spec engine.

In the USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mod division, Hobby Stock graduate Brandon Hare of Elma, Iowa, raced to a convincing win as did Little Rock, Iowa’s Shane Klaassen in USRA Hobby Stock competition.

Points will be awarded to drivers competing in USRA-sanctioned events held from March 4, 2011, through Oct. 16, 2011, in crowning the next American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series National Champions.

Complete rules can be found on the USRA website at www.usraracing.com.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also follow the USRA on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

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USRA TITLE SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Awesome Racewear, Dart Machinery, Intercomp, Karl Chevrolet, Karl Performance Parts, Kevko Oil Pans & Components, Nitroquest, RACEceiver, RHS – Racing Head Service.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Boubin Tire & Automotive, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Day Motor Sports, SpeedNet Direct.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: COMP Cams, Eibach Springs, Forty9Designs.com, Hooker Custom Harness, Marsh Racing Wheels, QuickTime Inc, Racing Optics, Real Racing Wheels.