Crate Late Models CRUSA

Technical Rules and Regulations:
It is the obligation of each participant to ensure their conduct and equipment are in compliance with all applicable rules and
procedures, as they may be amended. Any amendment(s) will supersede any previous rules regarding that aspect of competition. An
amendment is effective from the date it is added to the official rules regardless of when a competitor receives notice.
Any new components (i.e. engine, suspension, body, frame, etc.) utilized in competition must be approved by Crate Racin’ USA
officials before being allowed in competition.
Failure to receive prior approval for any component may result in disqualification, loss of points and money, and a suspension or fine
of the series choosing.
Engine Rules:
1. Chevrolet Performance Part #88958602/19258602/88858602 (CT 350) commonly referred to as “602” engine and/or
Chevrolet Performance Part #88958604/19318604 (CT400) commonly referred to as “604” engine.
2. Weights:
a. CT 350 or “602” – 2,200 lbs.
b. CT 400 or “604” – 2,300 lbs.
c. 1 lb. per lap burn off during any race (Heat, B-Main, Feature, etc.)
d. Cars MUST weight required weight with NO BURNOFF for qualifying.
3. These engines are sealed at the intake manifold, cylinder head, front cover, and oil pan with Chevrolet Performance cap
seals, which are installed at the Chevrolet Performance factory.
4. The ONLY seals allowed for competition are:
a. GM twist off bolt engines will NOT be legal in 2021
b. Chevrolet Performance cap seals
c. Crate USA Gen IV(Green) or Gen V(Black) cable seals, RUSH cable seals, IMCA cable seals allowed.
d. NO ACAS, NDRA, Crate USA Gen I (Silver), Gen II (Blue) or Gen III (Yellow) seals will be allowed.
e. To compete with ANY other seal/sealing system contact Crate Racin’ USA for approval.
5. These sealed engines must not be altered, modified, or changed from factory specs. The sealed engines must remain intact
and not tampered with.
6. Any seals that have been removed or tampered with will make the engine illegal and not eligible for competition. The
penalty for anyone tampering with seals, modifying any internal engine parts, or changing the parts from stock as delivered
sealed from the factory will be subject to expulsion from racing in any Crate Racin’ USA sanctioned event for the remainder
of the season and future seasons, as determined by officials.
7. No changes are allowed to the engine including the intake manifold, heads, valve covers, front cover, oil pan, harmonic
balancer, or any other part(s) on or in the engine.
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a. After much research, Crate Racin’ USA along with Chevrolet Performance officials determined that in some cases
the original factory cylinder heads and valve springs do not meet the required correct install height. To correct this,
shimming will be allowed to meet the correct install heights listed in the chart below. These updates are published
in the Chevrolet Performance Technical/Specification Manual.
Valve Spring Specifications – New (Unused)
Description CT350 (602) CT400 (604)
Valve Spring P/N 10212811 12551483
Diameter (A) 1.250” 1.32”
Free Height (B) 2.021” 2.145”
Installed Height (C) 1.70” 1.78”
Lbs. @ installed height (+/- 4 lbs.) (D) 80 lbs. 101 lbs.
Open Height (E) 1.270” 1.300”
Open Pressure (+/- 8 lbs.) (F) 195 lbs. 260 lbs.
Coil Bind (G) 1.20” 1.21”
Wire Diameter .177” .178”
CT 400 (604) Beehive Springs for Fastburn Heads
Valvespring P/N 12625033 (Blue)
Free Height 2.122”
Installed Height 1.780”
Lbs. @ installed height (+/- 4 lbs.) 98 +/- 4.5 lbs.
Open Height 1.300”
Open Pressure (+/- 8 lbs.) 267 +/- 13 lbs.
Coil Bind 1.210”
Wire Diameter Ovate [4.29 x 5.37]
Retainer 19303149 (8 Pk) Mass 11.9 g
Keeper 19302868 (16 Pk) Mass 3.9 g
Spring Seat 19303150 (8 Pk)
Valve Spring Service 12499224 (16 Pk)
8. No vacuum pumps. No evac systems of any type, including but not limited to the breather system style.
9. Engine’s Chevrolet Performance serial number, and when applicable, Crate USA build certification number, must be clearly
visible to series technical inspectors.
10. Driver’s finishing in the top 5 may claim/purchase the engine of any car finishing ahead of them. Claim fee is $6,000. Engine
claimed will be just as it comes from Chevrolet Performance and WILL NOT include any accessories, carburetor, water or
fuel pump, wires, distributor, etc. Refusal of claim will result in immediate disqualification and penalized the same as an
engine that was found illegal inside the seal system (infraction penalty #1 below).
Engine Infraction Penalties:
1) Any violation of the engine rules and/or factory specs inside the sealing system of the engine will result in the driver
and/or owner being disqualified from that event and suspended from series competition for 365 days and pay a $1,000
fine. After that period, the driver can only compete in series events with an engine equipped with original CP cap seals,
or Crate USA seals from an authorized rebuilder approved and authorized by Crate Racin’ USA officials. Driver and/or
owner will be notified in writing of series’ decision, via certified mail. All official’s decisions are final.
2) Any violation of the engine rules and/or factory specs outside the sealing system of the engine will result in the driver
being disqualified from that event. Driver and/or owner may be suspended from series competition for up to but not
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more than 30 days and fined up to but not more than $500 at series’ officials’ discretion. Driver and/or owner will be
notified in writing of series decision. All decisions are final.
Engine Protests and Claims:
1. Protest fee for a complete tear down on an engine that finishes the feature event is $1,300. Complete tear down is the only
option available. The protest fee must be paid to the race director or technical director, in cash, within 10 minutes after the
checkered flag has fallen on the feature. Must finish in the top 5 to be eligible to protest. $300 will go to the series and/or
track. Remainder of the protest money ($1,000) will go to the winner of protest. Any part or parts found to be illegal will
be confiscated.
2. Driver’s finishing in the top 5 may claim/purchase the engine of any car finishing ahead of them. Claim fee is $6,000. Engine
claimed will be just as it comes from Chevrolet Performance and WILL NOT include any accessories, carburetor, water or
fuel pump, wires, distributor, etc. Refusal of claim will result in immediate disqualification and penalized the same as an
engine that was found illegal inside the seal system (infraction penalty #1 above).
Engine Claim Procedure:
• Competitor, either driver or car owner, finishing in the top five of the feature race, must hand a Crate Racin’ USA
official $6,000 cash within five (5) minutes after the checkered flag falls on the feature race.
• Engine will be removed and inspected by CRUSA officials upon being claimed. If legal, competitor claiming engine will
receive the engine and will have to have engine re-sealed by a certified rebuilder of their choice. Series will provide
seals for re-sealing. If engine is found to be illegal, driver being claimed will be penalized as outlined in infraction
penalty #1 below and claiming driver will receive refund of their claim money.
• Series will have a new Chevrolet Performance 604 engine on hand at all Touring Series events for purchase. Series will
work to insure that claim procedure is being done fairly and justly and allow competitors the opportunity to compete in
a multi-day event. This rule is not intended to eliminate someone from competition as a result of claiming their engine
on the first night of a multi-race event.
3. Any time an engine is protested, and driver/car owner accepts the protest and agrees to tear down, the engine being
protested, along with the carburetor, must be removed and/or inspected immediately. Any refusal for removal, impound,
or inspection will result in disqualification.
4. There will be NO counter/reverse protesting or claims allowed (cannot protest or claim car finishing behind you).
5. If an engine is torn down by series’ and not protested by another driver, series will provide gasket set and Crate USA engine
seals to the Certified Rebuilder of choice, of the driver being torn down.
6. Only two (2) people from the car being protested, and the driver filing the protest will be allowed in the determined tech
area during any tear down. Driver initiating the protest must be present, unless extreme circumstance and arrangement is
made with officials. All official’s decisions are final.
7. Failure and/or refusal to tear down any engine or refusal to allow your car to be inspected by series officials at any time
will result in a 365-day suspension and a fine in an amount to be determined by series officials.
Engine Setback Rule:
1. Engine setback will be 6” from center of top ball joint to the #1 spark plug with a 1-inch tolerance.
2. There will be a 50-pound penalty, mounted forward of the engine plate, for each 1/2” of setback beyond seven (7) inches.
3. No cars with more than an eight (8) inch engine setback will be allowed to compete.
Carburetor Rules:
1. One four (4) barrel carburetor only. Any manufacturer.
2. Must have conventional, “Holley” style boosters. No tunable boosters. No individual cylinder tuning. Willy’s Equalizer
Carburetor is legal and the Official Carburetor of Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series.
3. Engine must be naturally aspirated.
4. CT 400 (604) Engines – may use one (1) carburetor spacer (one (1) inch, one-piece with .040 tolerance maximum) and two
(2) standard paper gaskets (maximum 0.070 thick), one gasket between intake and spacer, and one gasket between spacer
and carburetor.
5. CT 350 (602) Engines – may use one (1) carburetor spacer (two (2) inch, one-piece with .040 tolerance maximum) and two
(2) standard paper gaskets (maximum 0.070 thick), one gasket between intake and spacer, and one gasket between spacer
and carburetor.
6. Spacer MUST NOT extend into intake manifold at any point.
Distributor Rules:
1. Any standard distributor type electronic ignition allowed. MSD ok.
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2. No magnetos and No crank triggers.
3. No electronic traction control devices allowed. Drivers finishing in the top 5 may protest another top 5 finishers box for
$100. Series keeps $100 protest fee.
Starter Rule:
1. All cars must have a starter in working order.
Water Pump Rules:
1. Cast or aluminum water pump permitted.
2. No electric water pumps.
Exhaust Rules:
1. Collector type headers required. Must have four (4) tube into one (1) collector.
2. Mufflers not required UNLESS track mandates them. If mandated, mufflers must have some type of internal noise
dampening characteristics i.e. baffles, extruded holes, screen, chambered, etc. Mufflers must meet local speedway’s noise
decibel requirements.
3. No tri-y headers or merged headers allowed.
4. No square tube headers.
Fuel, Fuel Cell, and Fuel Pump Rules:
1. An approved fuel cell, 32 gallon maximum, must be securely mounted in the trunk area of the car, inside a .20 gauge metal
box supported by a minimum of 2” x 1/8” steel straps.
2. Fuel cell must be completely visible from rear of car.
3. Gasoline, Racing Gas, or E-85 fuel allowed. No methanol or alcohol. None of the following chemicals are allowed in any fuel
used for competition: No nitrous oxide, propylene oxide, nitroethane, MTBE, hydrazine, or ethylhexanol.
a. Gasoline or Race Gas – specific gravity NOT to exceed .744 at 60 degrees. Any gasoline or race gas with a specific
gravity of .745 or greater will be disqualified. Fuel is subject to testing on site, or fuel samples may be taken and
sent to an independent lab for testing.
b. E-85 – specific gravity not to exceed .7855 at 60 degrees. Any E-85 with a specific gravity of .7856 or greater will be
disqualified. Fuel is subject to testing on site, or fuel samples may be taken and sent to an independent lab for
testing.
c. It is the competitor’s responsibility to know what is being put into their fuel cell.
4. VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants is the Official Fuel and Lubricant of Crate Racin’ USA. We encourage competitors to find
your local VP Racing Fuel dealer as their products are proven to be most consistent and always “Makin Power”.
5. Drivers finishing in the top 5 may protest the fuel of car or cars finishing ahead of them. Protest fee is $150. Driver filing
protest must have money with them and notify track or series official within 5 minutes of the checkered flag in that event.
Fuel sample(s) will be taken and sent to an independent lab chosen by the series for testing. All official’s decisions and lab
results are final and official.
6. Penalties for any illegal fuel are as follows:
a. First Offense – $500 fine and 30-day suspension from any Crate Racin’ USA sanctioned events
b. Second Offense – $1,000 fine and 90-day suspension from any Crate Racin’ USA sanctioned events
c. Third Offense – $2,000 fine and 365-day suspension from any Crate Racin’ USA sanctioned events.
d. ALL OFFICIAL’S DECISIONS ARE FINAL, AND INDEPENDENT LAB USED WILL BE AT SERIES’ DISCRETION.
7. Mechanical fuel pump only. Cam driven or belt driven.
8. No electric fuel pumps.
Body Rules:
1. Crate Racin’ USA body rules will apply. See 2021 Body Diagram/Specifications.
2. No raised or gurney lips of any type allowed on body.
3. Doors and quarters must be flat or may have an outward roll. No doors or body panels allowed to be rolled inward.
4. No tunneling of any type allowed underneath body, along frame, or around fuel cell area.
5. Stone shield for remote oil filter or transmission is allowed. 24” x 24” maximum, located near rear engine plate.
6. Spoilers
a. 8” maximum spoiler. Must be made of solid material such as Lexan, sheet aluminum, or material of equal strength.
b. Spoiler and spoiler supports should be made of equal material and size on all areas.
c. No open spoiler supports.
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d. Spoiler height, width, and angle must always be the same for the entire area of the spoiler. No varying spoiler
heights or spoiler angles.
7. Roof supports or “C” pillars on both sides must be made of equal material.
8. Window openings are allowed but must be the same size opening on left and right side. If clear Lexan is used, it must be
used on both sides. BOTH sides have be either open or both sides must be closed.
9. Curved or arced roof supports allowed. 3” maximum arc allowed at widest point. Will be checked with straight edge
extended from roof edge to door edge.
10. No mirrors at any location on the car.
11. No Radios, or any type of two-way communication. RaceCeiver one-way communication is the ONLY communication device.
Please see Safety Rules for more info.
Frame Rules:
1. All frames must be of steel construction.
2. Square or rectangular frame must have a minimum of 2” x 2” material, .083 wall thickness.
3. Round frame tubing must have a minimum of 1 3/4″ outside diameter, .083 wall thickness.
Suspension Rules:
1. Standard Late Model suspension only. No spring loaded or shock type 4 bar rods. Only standard solid 4 bar rods.
2. Standards Late Model suspension equals one (1) shock per wheel, except on left rear. Left rear is allowed two (2) shocks:
one in front of rear end and one behind. Shocks must be mounted vertical to axle tube, not horizontal.
3. No torsion bar on front or rear suspension. Sway bar ok.
4. Standard one-piece bird cages. No split bird cages.
5. Chassis brackets must be fixed. No movement.
Shock Rule:
1. Shocks at any position on the car, including lift bar and torque arm shocks, must be constructed of magnetic steel or
aluminum.
2. Shocks of the “thru-rod” style are NOT permitted.
3. Remote reservoirs are permitted.
4. Each shock may have a maximum of two (2) external adjustment mechanisms. External reservoir may only have one (1)
external adjustment. Adjuster mechanisms may not be hidden by the rod end. All adjusters must be located on the shock
body, on the shock rod, or on the remote reservoir. Cockpit adjustable shocks NOT permitted.
5. NO remote adjustment or shocks permitted. This includes electronic adjustment whether hard wired or wireless.
6. Shock/Damper devices that are or can be referred to or defined as an “inerter” or referred to or defined as a “j-damper” are
not permitted anywhere on the car.
7. All official’s decisions are final. Rules can and may be adjusted in order to maintain fairness. New or updated devices or
suspension parts should be approved before use in competition.
Wheelbase Rule:
1. 103” minimum wheelbase.
Roll Cage Rules:
1. All cars must have a suitable and deemed safe steel roll cage protecting the driver’s compartment, including headrest.
2. Side roll bars are mandatory and must extend into the door panels. A minimum of three (3) bars must be on the left side.
3. Each bar must be at least 1 1/2″ in diameter, with a minimum material thickness of .083”.
4. Roll cages must be welded to frame.
Transmission Rules:
1. Must have at least one forward and one reverse gear in working order.
2. No straight drives or in and out boxes.
3. Drive shafts must be painted white for safety.
4. Carbon fiber drive shafts are legal.
5. Ball spline transmissions strongly recommended to run carbon fiber drive shaft only for safety.
Brake Rules:
1. Steel brake rotors only.
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2. No carbon fiber, titanium, or other exotic material brake systems allowed.
Wheel Rules:
1. Any brand or type of wheel allowed.
2. Must be mounted with lug nuts.
3. No knock-off or center-lock wheels.
4. 14” maximum wheel width.
5. Wheel covers must be securely fastened. Recommend that wheel covers have a minimum of 5 mounting points. Wheel
covers having only 3 attachment points must be bolted on at all 3 points using a minimum 1/4” or 5/16” magnetic steel hex
head bolt and fastening (nut assembly) system. Cars that lose a wheel cover may be subject to disqualification.
Tire Rules:
1. Hoosier Racing Tire D-21 stamped Crate Racin’ USA and shoulder plated.
a. D-21 must punch 46 or harder when checked cold. Series’ durometer is official durometer, and all official’s
decisions are final.
b. Any tire that fails to punch properly will be disqualified for remainder of the event. Any tire in question may be
confiscated.
c. No needling. Grooving and siping are allowed (4/15/2021). Official’s discretion will be used, and all official’s
decisions are final.
2. Hoosier Racing Tire D-55 stamped Crate Racin’ USA and shoulder plated.
a. D-55 must punch 60 or harder when checked cold. Series’ durometer is official durometer, and all official’s
decisions are final.
b. Any tire that fails to punch properly will be disqualified for remainder of the event. Any tire in question may be
confiscated.
c. Grooving and siping are allowed on the D-55 tire. No needling allowed.
3. Grinding/Buffing of tire is permitted. No visual cuts should be present on tires. Use of carbide/nail style discs is prohibited.
4. All tire sidewall markings (i.e. compound, date code, shoulder plate, Crate Racin’ USA, etc.) must be visible and not
removed or covered.
5. Tires must remain in factory manufactured condition. Any alterations from factory manufactured tire is prohibited. ALL
decisions are FINAL. Series may or may not use laboratory testing to test for any alteration of tires, and tires must meet the
factory supplied benchmark. If the inspected tire does not comply with this benchmark, the competitor will be disqualified.
Series may use any means necessary to determine if tire(s) meet Hoosier supplied benchmark, and that decision is the sole
discretion of the series. All decisions are final.
6. Warning: Crate Racin’ USA and Hoosier Racing Tire strictly forbids any chemical alteration of the tire carcass and/or tread
compound, such as but not limited to tire soaking or use of tread “softener”. Crate Racin’ USA and Hoosier Racing Tire also
forbid the physical defacement (altering, removal, or covering) of tire sidewall markings in any manner. Failure to comply
with this warning could result in premature or catastrophic tire failure and may result in serious injury or death.
7. Drivers finishing in the top 5 may protest the tire of car or cars finishing ahead of them. Protest fee is $150. Driver filing
protest must have money with them and notify track or series official within 5 minutes of the checkered flag in that event.
Tire samples will be taken and sent to an independent lab chosen by the series for testing. All official’s decisions and lab
results are final and official.
8. Penalties for illegal tires:
a. First Offense – $500 fine and 30-day suspension from any CRUSA sanctioned event
b. Second Offense – $1,000 fine and 90-day suspension from any CRUSA sanctioned event
c. Third Offense – $2,000 fine and 365-day suspension from any CRUSA sanctioned event
d. Failure to allow any tire(s) to be confiscated will result in an additional $500 per tire fine added to any other fines
and penalties. All decisions are final.