Sprint cars and midgets are the iconic symbols of auto racing in America.
This exciting form of open-wheel, short-track racing has been around since the early 1920s and has produced many legendary drivers such as A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, the Unsers, Steve Kinser, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon — to name a few.
It’s the racing equivalent of baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. It’s also the training ground for great mechanics and fabricators.
In recent years, this industry has seen an influx of knock-off sprint-car parts from China. Importing cheap, low-quality parts from China or anywhere is detrimental to the sport. Not only can it be harmful to the fragile infrastructure of the industry, but it also imposes some serious safety issues.
I’ve personally seen some of these components and can honestly say the quality is poor.
The infrastructure I’m referring to is made up of small businesses across America that manufacture, service, race, sell and promote sprint cars, midgets, late models and modifieds.
It’s a close-knit world and the industry survives because of the type of individuals that run these businesses. The money spent on racing creates a revenue pool that circulates throughout the industry.
Chances are good that the Ma and Pa shop that sells parts at the track or builds components in his garage also either races a car or sponsors someone. The revenue stays in the sport and is regenerated, helping everyone at the end of the day.
When parts and components are imported from overseas by a few greedy people who are trying to make a fast buck, it takes that money out of the industry. The workers in these overseas sweat shops don’t make enough money per week to buy beer after the Saturday night feature.
The materials used are not necessarily up to spec. The craftsmanship I’ve seen was definitely inferior to what we have in America. Chassis builders like Beast, J&J, Maxim and Eagle all use 4130-condition “N” tubing that has aircraft certification. I doubt any of the Chinese-made frames have material certification.
Short-track racing in America is affordable. When I look at the quality of workmanship in the chassis and components manufactured by companies in the U.S., I’m amazed they can do it at the reasonable prices and still make ends meet, but they do. It’s quality at an affordable price and it has to be that way.
The majority of short-track racers don’t race for a living or have huge budgets. They have to shop smart and survive on the deals they make with the local parts dealers and manufacturers. When manufacturing goes out of the country, it takes revenue with it, eliminating the money that keeps the small builder in the U.S. supporting the industry.
The manufacturers and dealers in the short-track market make an average living at best. Their heart and soul is in the sport and they give back, making it possible to keep many racers coming to the tracks every weekend. The money these companies generate is very small compared to their efforts and hard work. They’re willing to make sacrifices if it helps the racing community thrive.
Spec race cars, crate engines, race car parts made in sweat shops overseas — these are all things that will damage the racing infrastructure in America if not examined and addressed.