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(Woodhull, NY) It was standing room only throughout most of the Saturday afternoon; Nov. 24 rules meetings which were held for the upcoming 2008 season at the Woodhull Raceway. The Woodhull Volunteer Fire Department was the site for the Annual Rules Meetings where over 100 drivers representing all six of Woodhull’s Regular Classes were on hand to ask questions and hear about some of the tracks plans for 2008.
The largest turnout was in the Crate Sportsman Division where 25 different drivers signed in as competitors during the upcoming season prompting track owner Vern Wasson to acknowledge that should car counts in the Crate Sportsman exceed 30 in the upcoming season that provisions would be taken to assure an extra distance B-main similar to what is used in the 358 Modified division. No real earth shattering rules changes will happen in the Crate Sportsman Division in 2008. Just a few minor issues.
The Street Stock Class has an equally respectful 24 drivers check in all with plans on attending weekly action next year. The 400 cu. in .rule will stay in pace thru 2008 when it will be eliminated. A right rear bead lock will now be allowed, but the biggest discussion was on tires which will be spelled out in the upcoming rules book. Like the Sportsman a few additional non-performance enhancing changes will occur.
The Super Stock Drivers will run a 25 lap feature in 2008 due mainly to the tremendous response of cars in 2007. It is anticipated that a full field could greet fans once again in 2008. The Class will now be called the BRP 360 Late Model Division and will adherer to the sanctioning body’s rules package. 400 cu. in. power plants are no longer allowed.
The Front Wheel Drive Division was well represented as a number of new faces will come onboard in 08 with the only real big news coming in the form of Mandatory One Way Radios in 2008. Depending on car counts which could reach 40 or more there may be the possibility of multiple features or the splitting of the class into brackets.
The Mini Stock Drivers will see very few changes in 2008 as most of the current rules were well accepted by the drivers in attendance.
The 358 Modified Class will have an option of a 604 Crate Motor complete with rev limiter in 2008. The biggest reason being the high dollar cost of the engines currently being used making it difficult for new drivers to enter the class. There will be a weight break for those who choose to run the 604 Crate motor. Sail panels can also be allowed in 2008 in the 358 Modified class to help distinguish the 358 Mods from the Crate Sportsman. Weights and Sail Panel dimensions will be spelled out in the upcoming 2008 rules book.
In other news track owner Vern Wasson vowed to each class that he will make the necessary measures to speed-up the show in 2008. With Woodhull’s average car count in excess of 125 on a regular night it means a lot of good racing, but “Everyone has to do their part of keep things moving along. There will also be some changes in the 2008 schedule of events when additional touring classes are added on to keep the total number of classes at six.
After taking a vote in each respective class it was determine that the 5 Heat Race Win Bonus Points will stay in effect for one more year. There was also discussion on the necessity of Double Point events, how many and when they should be scheduled.
The Draw/Re-draw will stay in effect with changes going into effect to “Bury” the previous weeks feature winner deep in the field. Woodhull will revert back to the
Re-draw/Invert Field format as it was in 2005 where each respective classes first qualifying heat winner will re-draw for all the qualified cars.
Sunday Rain Dates will be effect from Mid-June to late in August should a Saturday show become lost to Mother Nature. All Rain Dates will be posted on the 2008 Schedule of events card.
In closing, Wasson also indicated that he will make the necessary changes in what he considered his number one complaint the past year and that was better consistency in officiating calls. He will be meeting with his entire officiating crew prior to the 2008 race season to lay out a non-controversial game plan one which will see either Wasson or Kyle Lefelhoc move into the tower during all feature events to assist Race Director Jerry Symonds in the final decision making.
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