COPPER HILL, VA :: Officials from NASCAR, Pro All Stars Series (PASS) and the X-1R Pro Cup Series weighed in on the UARA’s decision to suspend the 2014 racing season.  UARA made the announcement on Tuesday night citing a difficult 2013 season and family health issues.

Each series said they’d welcome UARA competitors but are already moving ahead with their season plans and can’t make significant changes to accommodate UARA competitors.  Chris Ragle, Pro Cup’s Director of Operations and Marketing, also weighed in on rumor that the series would transform in to a Late Model Stock Car racing series.

“It’s a terrible deal anytime anybody shuts down,” Ragle said.  “Whether it’s them, us, PASS or anybody, it’s not good for the sport.  It affects everyone, sponsors, teams, family.  It’s not a good deal.  It’s unfortunate but times are tough.  It sucks.

“There’s no possibility of running Late Models.  Never has been.   That’s the way our standard’s been the whole time.  We’re not looking to steal what they were doing or anything like that.  There are enough LMSC tracks enough where the fortunate thing is they’ll have places to race.  We don’t have anything that we’re doing.”

PASS’ Alan Dietz started out announcing for the UARA-STARS tour.  He stated that the PASS’ Pro Late Model division allows Perimeter Late Models and said that the Perimeter Late Model cars have won in that series.

“For me, I started announcing for UARA so I can appreciate everything they ever did for me,” Dietz stated.  “It’s unfortunate to see that series go by the wayside knowing how hard it is to get these races together especially considering the reason why dealing with issues with their parents.  PASS in general feels bad for them and they’re in our prayers.

“As for UARA cars in our Pro Late Model division, we’ve looked at different things and, at this time, it didn’t make sense to try and start another division with what we’ve got up north and down here but those UARA guys need somewhere to race and, wherever they race, they’ll have to change things with those cars.  They’ll have to change carbs in NASCAR.  As we said in our Press Release, Austin Leitner won the championship in the Pro Late Model division running a Late Model Stock Car.  It can be done and we’d welcome those guys if they run with our rules.  If we get enough interest from the Late Model guys, particularly the UARA guys, we’d probably look at upping the purse a little bit but we’d have to get enough interest and commitments from them.”

NASCAR Whelen All American Series Director Lynn Carroll also weighed in, offering his sympathies to Kerry Bodenhamer.

“It’s unfortunate any time any racing organization stops operations,” Carroll stated.  “We’re all in this business together to help the racers and get them on the track and for tracks to hold events.  I’m really sorry to see that happen.  I’m good friends with Kerry and his wife and it’s a bad situation.  I understand how the health issues could come in to play there.  It’s real unfortunate.  I hope they get things worked out and can continue on.”

Carroll says any changes in rules that could accommodate the UARA competitors would be done at the track level.  The 2014 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Rule Book is in the process of being printed.  Carroll also said there are no plans for NASCAR to start a Late Model touring series at this time.