Should LS engines be allowed in Dirt racing?

[homegrownson]

In the 50's, 60' & beyond it was Run what you brung, no matter if a poor guy on a budget or Rich guy throwing cash at everything until it drips off a car. Thats what made it special, having to outsmart someone outspending you and having better gear and many times a staff or crew against you and maybe your buddy or brother. A LS or any other motor that you can fit and make pass a safety inspection should be able to run. Racing is about stepping up, facing the best of the best to Be the Best of the Best, the only thing that Rich guy cant buy is the balls to run fast enough to beat you

[oldgrizz]

Loved seeing the 56 Chevy out there. Reminded me of my youth. Sad to see the stands so empty. One dirt track closed where I live but the other one is still open. There is also a really nice asphalt track near by. Racing is getting so expensive that many drives are being forced out. 4 cylinder divisions are growing. I still like the Street Stock division best it is still budget friendly old school racing.

[johngoodwin]

Fear of change is the only reason the LS platform has been blocked from more use in circle track. Schwanke had dirt packages twenty years ago. Very few listened. LS had a long run, but are now kinda old school. Get with the times dirt nation 🏁

[Shademax]

That bit with the wife seeing your location was hilarious.😂

[dawnhash]

We have known Levi since he was young. All about tradition and raising great kids!! Can’t say enough good about him and his family❤

[arkansasjon]

Hahah, my wife would be shitting too. Love seeing that old shoebox out there racing, super cool

[Splungers]

Back in the early 70's, our local tracks ran 3 classes hobby(275 ci.), limited (320 ci.)late model (430 ci.). the cars were all under the same rules, quick changes, weight, tires, etc. 100 cars in the pits every Saturday night. Older Late models were sold "down" and became Limiteds or Hobbys with only an engine change. Good times, gone forever.

[clicks]

Awesome video! I love hometown tracks… I live near All American Speedway which is located in Roseville Ca. It opened in 1957. My dad started taking us there in the late 60’s. I have seriously great memories of the early days there. It has changed a lot over the years. It’s still alive but barely. I remember the trip getting there. Nothing but golden fields in the summer. Lots of wrecking yards. Roseville is a railroad town with lots of history. Man, I wish I could go back in time. Your video reminds me of the simplicity Roseville once had. Thank you for sharing this experience and great job making it. I really enjoyed watching it. Best of luck with your shoulder!

[regdor]

If any domestic new car manufacturer produced and sold 200, 000 or more of any engine specific configuration, it should be allowed and encouraged....

[slowpoke]

I would like to throw my 2cents in here with the cost of everything skyrocketing that is probably the most cost effective way to get a race engine. I know 40 years ago I tried the local short track and could not come close to what the other fellow drivers with deep pockets they had.

[somethinburnin]

I don't care what you drop in. Bring it!! "nO cAnTeD vAlvEs, nO hEmI, nO Ls"

No, You can bring your LS, You can bring canted valve heads, you can bring Gen 3 Hemis, You can bring a fuckin inline 6 for all I care.

[michaelharrison]

Awesome video an that 56 so sexy going around is what i grew up to also in 1971 my aunt an uncle took me to my 1st dirt race my mom said did he behave my aunt said he never took his eyes off them race cars hahaha was hooked. Like the man said buy ing hot rod stuff is out of this world now i have 25k in a big block 565 yea its wicked motor but unreal what it cost. If LS keeps price down it should absolutely be allowed. Love the video brother!!

[deanstephens]

I still think that dirt track racing should be about building what you can afford. LS motors are relatively inexpensive and it doesn't take a lot of work to get ample hp from them, either. Its supposed to be fun.

[THullett]

Enjoyed you coming out the other night… come back and see us again!! Troy, announcer

[LSX]

My car is ls powered in a dirt superstock class. Factory bodies. 390 Cid max. I have received some pushback but mostly all the racers are all for it and dig my program...my motor is a cam and drop in piston 6.0ls from a junk yard.made 431hp to the tire for less than $3500.
Never seen a machine shop. Dirt cheap big power

[pisstoffcat]

I wanna see a unlimited turbo LS class,
Traction
Wars

[rebeitler]

LS is todays small block. Why aren't they legal? Probably get parts cheaper in some cases. No idea why dirt wants to pin tech to a 50's design?

[approachingtarget.]

The l.s. has made its way into b mods and other diet racing already. The cost has sky rocketed when packages are required by rules. $6500 minimum. Racers can still build first gen small blocks for half that amount.
Tracks are closing by the hundred every year. Don't make it more difficult to attract racers and drive up cost.
Another step that can be taken is to push out the older drivers and bring in new.

[jayss]

I'm all for LS power, or any power plant but it has to be brought into the fray right. Doing it right breaks down into several categories but the first two that come to my mind are:
1. Try to integrate with an existing class. Car counts for alot of classes/divisions are sparse as it is. Don't make it any worse by making a LS only division. If you have a 358 late model division have a LS combination/build in mind that falls into that division. The idea of cubic inch limits is a dinosaur mentality. Try to classify things based on head types and flow of the heads. If a guy is running double hump heads SBC heads vs 243 LS heads the LS should probably be limited to 330 cubic inches where the double hump motor should get about 358 which would keep both packages competitive.
2. This ties back to item #1, but keep the horsepower and torque levels similar to the current power packages in the divisions you will integrate into. You don't want a bunch of teams scrapping existing power plants just to stay competitive with a new engine platform. That is a surefire way to chase teams out of racing. This is an example on the extreme side of things but we'll use the A4MP program that Donny Schatz worked on with his brother. The A4MP motor was a 427 LS platform that used all OEM castings without down nozzles in the heads. The motor was competitive in testing with regular 410 engines. It cost around $25, 000 where a traditional SBC 410 at the time was $45, 000 or so. For whatever reason that program never got off the ground but you need the existing package to remain competitive.

[MrRatfink]

Great job Nathan! Yer gittin' almost professional. That 56 reminded me of the cars I watched in the 60s and 70s.