Clay Campbell confirmed the Chevrolet “SPEC” motor will not be approved in the rules for the 2017 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 in an interview with Race22.com on Saturday night.
The motor, which was not approved by NASCAR in the 2017 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rulebook, has been the source of controversy for much of the 2017 season. When asked about the motor package, Campbell said it would not be allowed this year since it has not been approved by NASCAR when the Late Model Stock Cars head to Martinsville for the first primetime ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on September 23rd.
“We’re not running the SPEC,” Campbell told Race22.com. “I don’t have anything against the SPEC, it’s just, the problem of, when the crate motors came out years ago, we didn’t run the crates the first year that they were out because they weren’t in the rulebook. We’re a little bit different with the way we have to approach things so, if it’s not in the book, and that’s the premier race for Late Model Stocks, it would be kind of ironic if we ran something that’s not even in their book so we’re not doing it.
Campbell said he hopes NASCAR will approve the motor package next year and, if they do, it will be approved for competition at the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.
“I feel certain NASCAR will be putting it in there next year,” Campbell added. “At least I hope so. Right now, it would cause us more problems than it would help.”
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300, which is the most prestigious race in Late Model Stock Car racing, will be held on Saturday, September 23rd. This year’s race will be the first race under Martinsville’s new permanent LED lighting system.
