Stafford Speedway Working with Johnson Chassis on New Late Model Metric Chassis Project
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway has embarked on a project in conjunction with Johnson Chassis of Concord, NC that will replace aging Late Model GM Metric Chassis with a tube Late Model chassis that will be built to the exact specifications and dimensions as the original GM Metric Chassis.
With over 500,000 GM Metric Chassis currently racing throughout North America and chassis becoming harder and harder to obtain, Stafford Motor Speedway took a proactive approach to come up with a solution that would not only aid competitors in finding chassis, but that would also not obsolete any of the current Late Model cars or provide a performance advantage over the current GM Metric Chassis cars.
“Over the course of the past several years it became apparent to us that the GM Metric Chassis was becoming more and more difficult to find,” said SMS CEO/GM Mark Arute. “It was jeopardizing the future of our Late Model division. We were forced to find an alternative chassis that would not make the existing metric chassis obsolete. Our tech staff began to research how we could come up with a solution to the chassis problem without obsolescing our current competitors’ cars. After talking with several Late Model builders in the area, we got a call from Andy Johnson of Johnson Chassis and he expressed interest in the project.”
Over the summer of 2007, Johnson Chassis, working together with the SMS Tech Staff, came up with a solution to the problem. The objective of the SMS/Johnson Chassis project is to provide competitors with a replacement chassis, not an improved chassis. The Late Model chassis project consists of low cost tubular replacements which are being prototyped to establish material weights and specifications that will meet all factory weights and dimensions. The new frame will accept all factory stock components and optional tubular replacement components.
“We’re excited about this new car that we’re working on with Andy in that the new chassis and its working parts will seamlessly integrate with the current Metric GM Chassis without the benefit of a performance advantage,” continued Arute. “This new chassis will allow our Late Model and Limited Late Model competitors to be able to race competitively on an even playing field with their current equipment and not force our teams to replace their entire cars to reap a performance advantage.”
Heading the project for Johnson Chassis is two-time Stafford Late Model track champion Jim Peterson. Peterson will put the new Tubular GM Metric Chassis through its paces at a test session at Stafford Motor Speedway before the season opening CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 25-27.
Johnson Chassis currently has some parts available. Johnson Chassis can be reached via email at aj@johnsonchassis.com for price and availability. A full catalog will be available in early 2008 when the prototype chassis has been completed. For more information about the new Tubular GM Metric Chassis, visit www.johnsonchassis.com, or contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR