When Rockford Speedway introduced its 2022 rules, one rule in particular stirred up discussion. For its entry-level Original Sixers class, it penalized drivers using a racing seat. The Loves Park, Illinois, pavement oval has since rescinded that rule. David Deery, general manager and promoter of the track discussed the seat penalty.
Per the original 2022 rule amendments released on December 23, 2021, No. 22 under the Sixers stated, “If car contains racing seat you must start at the back of all ‘Original Sixer’ events. Must meet approval of tech staff.”
“Why penalize someone for something that doesn’t provide a competitive advantage?” said Zachary Wolf, who is involved in the Original Sixer division. “They are just trying to make [their car] safer for themselves.”
Deery explained the track’s thinking.
“The Original Sixers class is a heavily-inspected, totally-stock class,” Deery said. “There are no switching wheels, cutting springs, and the ride height has to be within an inch of stock. The whole idea is that for $500 you can go racing today. We are trying to keep costs way down.”
The minimal expense of the Original Sixers class attracted Gregory Whitt. His sons, Clayton, 17, and Ashton, 15, race in the division. Ashton put his car to the test when he crashed his car hard.
“I was glad that I chose to put a roll cage in the car,” said Whitt, of Beloit, Wisconsin. “The car was destroyed, but Ashton was okay. I understand the need to keep the class stock … but to punish someone for trying to be safer should never be part of the rules.”
One car last season caught the track officials’ attention. Its resale value far exceeded Deery’s vision of a $500 car.
“A guy showed up with a full cage, full-containment seat, removable steering wheel, and sold the car for $4,000 at the end of the season,” Deery said. “That’s exactly what I did not want to happen.”
The installation of safety items, such as racing seats, also concerned the track. Deery said some drivers bolted racing seats directly to the floor plan or by using wood.
“The original factory seat would be safer than that scenario,” said Deery. “The whole floor pan has to be reinforced correctly.”
In a class where most safety items are optional, Deery said that racers can continue to use racing seats, without penalty. However, he warned teams that Rockford Speedway tech officials will closely inspect their safety equipment.
“Anyone installing a roll cage or a racing seat will be thoroughly inspected by our safety inspectors to see that it was done right,” Deery said. “They won’t be set back for having a properly installed cage or seat.”
The Outside Groove Director of Photography has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
