New PASS Rule Targets Chassis Manufacturer Compliance

The Pro All Stars Series on Wednesday posted an addendum to its Super Late Model rule book that affirmed a longstanding standardization of chassis from three New England manufacturers while also targeting Hamke Race Cars for a lack of compliance.

The bulletin reads as follows:

Due to continued failed attempts to have builders and teams comply with PASS Super Late Model chassis construction parameters, effective immediately, chassis must be supplied by a current PASS approved manufacturer and have their seal of compliance.

All others must schedule an appointment for a PASS technical review prior to competition.

PASS has a long history of allowing the following builders to be taken into confidence for compliance. PASS looks forward to the possibility of qualifying additional builders in the future.

Current certified builders are:

Distance Racing
Dale Shaw Race Cars
Jeremy Davis Race Cars

There are many other chassis combinations that have passed tech and will continue to be allowed. All other cars will have to schedule the tech review prior to competition. PASS reserves the right to disallow any chassis builders when they schedule the tech review appointment.

Over time, to control costs, many series have had a spec tire, fuel, bodies, rear ends and chassis builders. PASS is leaning that way to control costs and keep competition as equal as possible.

Chassis must pass tech. There will be no weight added for infraction.

In other words, moving forward, chassis that are not pre-approved must pass a comprehensive technical process before it can be entered into an event. Non-compliant cars will no longer have the option to take a weight penalty and still take the green flag.

It’s also worth noting that Port City Race Cars just moved into a shop within 10 minutes from Oxford Plains Speedway and will likely be added to the certified builders list.

The decision was made in the aftermath of the Easter Bunny Twin 150s over the weekend at Hickory Motor Speedway -- races that were swept by Hamke Race Car customers Ryan Moore (Ryan Moore Racing) and William Byron (Donnie Wilson Motorsports).

Essentially, Hamke Race Cars have historically featured three door bars instead of the four mandated by PASS. The sanctioning body have previously enforced a 50-pound penalty for cars that do not meet compliance. The Donnie Wilson Motorsports cars over the weekend featured four door bars and were in complete compliance with PASS regulations.

The car Moore took to victory lane on Friday night was purchased over a year ago and needed a fourth bar added. However, the car also featured a halo height and width not in compliance with PASS regulations, which also resulted in a 50-pound penalty.

These are all safety requirements.

The car was also found to have its fuel cell a half inch over compliance in relation to the housing. Moore did not contest the error and it resulted in a $1,500 post-race penalty. Stephen Nasse and crew chief Chris Cater ran into similar issues when they entered the Oxford 250 last year. Cater made so many changes that he felt PASS simply didn't want Hamke Race Cars participating in the event.

During the drivers meeting before the race on Friday, PASS president Tom Mayberry suggested Hamke Race Cars were amongst the least safe in the country, something that Hamke general manager Cody Glick referenced in a post-race social media post.

Moore won that race ahead of Wilson Motorsports’ No. 53 driven by Cole Butcher -- a one-two sweep for Hamke. All told, Moore and Glick are hoping to find a resolution so Hamke cars can continue racing in the Pro All Stars Series.

Wilson Motorsports general manager Bond Suss says he is hopeful they can bring their cars back to marquee PASS events at Thompson Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Oxford Plains Raceway.

Above all, Moore just wants Mayberry to understand his conviction that Hamke Race Cars are safe.

"I've been in racing for a long time," Moore said. "I've owned some of the three chassis on the pre-approved list and I've seen all of them. I can promise you my car is safer than any of them.

"I have a lot of respect for Tom and how he calls a race, and the rules are his sandbox, but I would just say that my car is safe enough to crash at Winchester and Bristol, and it is, so why wouldn't it be safe enough to crash at Hickory or Oxford?"

A native of Scarborough, Maine, Moore has raced with Tom Mayberry since he was a kid and hopes to well in the future, hopefully with his Hamke.

"I hope everyone can get on the same page," Moore said.

Moore is also dismayed that one of the biggest wins of his career was somewhat overshadowed by a little bit of controversy.

"It’s a huge win," Moore said. "We don’t race a lot. We have a company that we have to take care of and it takes a lot to compete against teams that race every week. It’s tough to do so Hickory was really special to have gotten it done against that level of competition."

Mayberry has long been an advocate for cost containment and competitive parity. PASS events feature some of the healthiest car counts in the country. While the rules make it more challenging for racers from other parts of the country to compete, Mayberry has long stood by his rules as the reason for that level of competition.

PASS rules director Don Wentworth and Glick did not respond to requests for comment.