11/16/2019
United Sprint League
WINGLESS SPRINTS OKLAHOMA ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES FOR 2020
WINGLESS SPRINTS OKLAHOMA ANNOUNCES RULE CHANGES FOR 2020
Entering its fifth season overall and third under the USAC banner in 2020, Wingless Sprints Oklahoma has made the decision to open up the series rules to allow for a true old school, “run what you brung” platform.
The series will go with an open engine rule beginning with the 2020 season. Racers can now utilize older injected 410’s (-12 engines which would be perfect and can be bought and freshened very reasonably,) as well as ASCS-style 360’s or the old school garage-built option.
“In wingless sprint car racing, when you get above that 600hp threshold, it’s not always all about the engine which, therefore, brings out driver abilities as well as team set up,” USAC WSO Director of Competition Kevin Barksdale said.
The consideration for the engine rule change is that the series felt the need to run parallel to the bordering states surrounding Oklahoma as well as wingless Sprint cars that run on a National level. The series feels this will enhance wingless Sprint car racing by allowing them to run co-sanctioned races with other wingless series in the regions as well as create greater car counts in some of the more rural area racetracks and attract new drivers.
WSO feels that this will unite and create a combined stronger group to lay a foundation in the attempt to get future national caliber races. Barksdale admits there have been some concerns from drivers and fans about the cost of an open engine rule.
“Our answer to that is, a spec engine rule is not always the cheapest way to go, especially with all the R & D and dyno time it takes to achieve the additional 20hp that is so important to a 500hp engine,” Barksdale said.
The engine rules WSO began with over the first four years have worked out well according to the series and started an excellent platform to get the series to the next level.
“This decision was a bit tough because, while most of our drivers supported it, others not so much,” Barksdale stated. “We feel this is the right time to make the change to what true wingless sprint car racing should be.”
“Our passion and love have always been a wingless sprint car that has enough horsepower to carry both front wheels down the straightaways while using an engine that has more horsepower then you could ever hook up,” Barksdale continued. “We will carry this passion, along with hard dedicated work, forward into the 2020 season with great confidence to take wingless sprint car racing to the next level.”
Other changes for the 2020 season will be the weight rule amendment to 1475lbs. and the recommended updated safety bars and axle tethers.
Article Credit: USACRACING
Submitted By: Michelle Walden
