• The evolution of modified race cars

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    • Modified race cars through the years
      1940s to mid-1960s

      What they drove: Coupes and sedans manufactured by Ford and Chevrolet, from 1936 and '37, ruled the day because of their lighter weight - Dodge and Plymouth car models wer...
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      Modified race cars through the years
      1940s to mid-1960s

      What they drove: Coupes and sedans manufactured by Ford and Chevrolet, from 1936 and '37, ruled the day because of their lighter weight - Dodge and Plymouth car models were heavier - and the frames and suspension designs were ideal to work on. The Ford rear end was a floating type that was good for racing. The popular engine was a small-block Chevy, using a carburetor or injector, depending on the rules of the home track. When the old '36 and '37 Fords became harder to find, drivers turned to the 1954-55 Chevy chassis.

      Racing report: In the early years, Ray Brown earned 43 wins at OCFS, Otto Harwi had 20 wins and Bud Marl posted 19.

      Mid-1960s to mid-1970s

      What they drove: The greatest revolution in modified racing occurred in the late '60s when Toby Tobias developed a chassis using two-by-four tubing - a concept still used today. The Tobias chassis kits, which were introduced to the public in the early '70s, simplified the construction of race cars, and drivers started to turn to the car bodies of Mustangs, Corvairs, AMC Pacers, Chevettes and Gremlins. This was the last era when modified cars even closely resembled passenger cars.

      Racing report: Frankie Schneider won the first two Eastern States races in 1962-63, and would go on to score 58 wins, second-most in OCFS history. Before he ran the Speedway as general manager, Will Cagle won 47 times, including four Eastern States. Buzzie Reutimann and Wayne Reutimann each won OCFS track and Eastern States championships.

      Mid-1970s to mid-1980s

      What they drove: Race driver Kenny Weld was highly successful on the track and became an innovator in race design - he helped pioneer a move to wider cars, which produced more down-force and allowed cars to hold the track at faster speeds. Weld moved from Missouri to Pennsylvania and influenced the design of the current modified car. Budd Olsen, Maynard Troyer and Bobby Hearn (TEO) became the founders of car-design companies that ruled the industry.

      Racing report: A brash young kid named Brett Hearn broke into racing in 1975 and has become the all-time modified race winner in DIRT history. Richie Eurich, Jeff Heotzler and Ralph Heotzler also raced to prominence as young guns. Hearn had four of his eight big-block Eastern States wins by 1984.

      Mid-1980s to present

      What they drove: DIRT Motor Sports was established in 1983, and by 1987 the car specifications were just about uniform. Front fenders became things of the past. By the mid-1980s, car parts were purpose-built and car owners no longer had to go to junkyards to find parts. Since 1996, the essential design of the modified race car has not changed. The best modified cars can turn time trial laps at 99-102 mph. Troyer, TEO and Bicknell continue to be the predominant manufacturers of modified cars.

      Racing report: Hearn continues his dominance, but the ability to buy race-ready cars has made just about everyone competitive from the get-go. Nearly 25 drivers have joined the ranks of first-time winners in the past 12 seasons.
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