Crate Engines: Saving Racing or Sending It To Hell?
An Update With Racing Engine Builder – Keith Dorton
 GM builds a variety of crate engines for circle track racing. Depending on your viewpoint, this is the American way of free enterprise and will save and improve racing. Or it is fostering a monopoly, restricting innovation and competition, and plunging a dagger into the heart of the racing aftermarket? (GM Performance photo) |
Want to liven up a race track? Announce over the track intercom system that crate engines are being mandated and will be required in all racing classes in the future. Then head for cover. Crate engines, or Spec engines as they are sometimes called, can sure polarize promoters and track owners, fans, racers, car and team owners, aftermarket manufacturers, engine builders, and OE manufacturers. Did I leave anyone out? Oh yeah, racing journalists.
All of these groups have a direct monetary interest in whether crate engines are adopted in almost any form and level of racing, and frequently they all are at odds about them. In fact, at the 2006 Performance Racing Industry show there is an open seminar on Friday, Dec. 15, at 9:00 a.m. being spearheaded by Richard Iskenderian of Isky Racing Cams to try to find some common ground among the players on this controversial issue.
If you think crate engines can’t happen here, note that NASCAR is bringing them into its Grand National East/West series (along with composite car bodies). They are an option now, but the sanctioning body is broadcasting all the usual perceived crate engine benefits, and others are countering with the devilish details of actually running them. How long will it be before there are crate engines in Nextel Cup?
I’ve been reporting on crate engines since they first started becoming prevalent a few years ago, and below are some of the comments I’ve heard about them, so far:
Crate engines increase car counts at a track.
Crate engines kill car counts at a track.
Crate engines foster a monopoly for one supplier or sanctioning group. For instance, note that in the NASCAR-sanctioned Grand National East/West series the optional crate engines are available from one supplier, Provident Auto Supply, which is owned by former NASCAR VP Gary Nelson.
Crate engines are just good ole American competition – a lower cost alternative to a custom-built engine.
Crate engines save the racer money over an “open” engine built by an engine builder of your choice. They are at a fixed cost for everyone.
