3/27/2010 - Knoxville, Iowa - After several days of talking to engine builders and manufacturers across the country, Knoxville Raceway officials have decided to implement the following addition to the rules for the new "Open Sprint Engine." The 3.750" maximum intake face height from deck to valve cover rail is the latest criteria to be added.
According to John McCoy, Knoxville Competition Director, “With this change we feel this will help keep costs in check. We probably got this out a little too late and the perception is that there will be only a select few who will have them at the Nationals. Everyone was going berserk about what they perceived was a way to escalate engine costs, which is exactly the opposite of what we wanted."
However, it has been decided that these engines will not be allowed to run in the 50th Knoxville Nationals. "I know this will upset some of the guys who wanted to build one of these engines to comply with the rest of the rules", McCoy explained. "Unfortunately, the rumor mill got going and a lot of people were saying things that had no basis. The Knoxville Nationals is just that, a national event and we want all competitors to have time to build what is best for them and to have ample time to make that decision. Personally, I wish I could have more time and some real track time on one of these designs to show they are restricted enough not to have an advantage. We will have that for next year”.
Knoxville Raceway is still encouraging competitors to develop this engine so it can monitor its performance, make any needed changes and legalize that engine for the entire 2011 season. The rules below show the criteria for the "Knoxville Sprint Engine".
4.165” maximum Bore
4.00” maximum stroke (436.00)
15 degree maximum valve to deck angle in head
3.750” maximum intake face height from deck to valve cover rail
2 5/8” maximum injector stack diameter for at least 4 inches of the stack length
1 7/8 “maximum header size from head to collector
- Knoxville Raceway on Mar 29, 2010
- Article Date: 3/29/2010