IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

From the tracks Facebook page.


IRP announced new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.


Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
7h ·
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is excited to announce the formal introduction of the All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025 with an inaugural four-race series. This new, innovative form of midget racing is cost-focused (limited to Focus & Eco Tech engines, $15,000 engine claim rule, no private testing) while also highlighting the exciting wheel-to-wheel action that Pavement Midgets have supplied for decades at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

For more information on the inaugural season schedule, series rulebook, and series payouts, head to www.raceirp.com or the link in our bio!

https://i.imgur.com/P6BYnxP.jpeg

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

That is cool, and good to see they are doing something like this, I think it will go off pretty good. BUT...

I can't imagine the claim deal will happen though. If anyone does it, they will be somewhat outcast. The private testing restriction sounds great too, but you could just go to another track still...

I'd like to see the engine rule open up a little more. Think it would be cool to see someone drag out an old VW for instance

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Need to do the same with the sprints and a set of tires that will last the day and still have some grip.

Great announcement! Start slow, and grow the series, like the 500 Sprint Car Tour. Hopefully Anderson will eventually book some races. Their 1/4 mile would be perfect for this type of car.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Originally Posted by Grocery Guy:
Great announcement! Start slow, and grow the series, like the 500 Sprint Car Tour. Hopefully Anderson will eventually book some races. Their 1/4 mile would be perfect for this type of car.

while I will agree 1/4 mile is a perfect track, the management at Anderson is so piss pour these days. I'd be more interested in watching them at the Speedrome. Yup thats harsh, but outside of the little 500, you won't catch me at that track.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

The midgets at IRP was once the best racing in the world. Hoping this is a step in the right direction. Hard to believe it won't be better than what we have seen lately.

Both midget races were pretty darn good back in October, kudos for Kasey and IRP moving ahead with this. There are TONS of great pavement midgets sitting around gathering dust, might give them a new lease on life…

I felt this series race at the season finale was the best of day.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

So obviously, engine cost for a midget is a top concern. However, a purpose built pavement midget has a lot of exotic parts on it. Is there a weight rule, Aero rules, or any spec rules to help keep the costs down?

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

A fair amount

https://raceirp.com/wp-content/uploa...5-Rulebook.pdf

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Originally Posted by Jonr:
So obviously, engine cost for a midget is a top concern. However, a purpose built pavement midget has a lot of exotic parts on it. Is there a weight rule, Aero rules, or any spec rules to help keep the costs down?

Originally Posted by jdull99:
A fair amount

https://raceirp.com/wp-content/uploa...5-Rulebook.pdf

A read-thru of the above noted rules for this venture shows us:
1) That the body of the rules have been taken (almost) verbatim from other existing rules.
2) That the IRP rules writers seem not to have consulted with any sources who have already implemented engine preparation specifications and rules for "stock" based engines. As currently stated the "rules" are so minimalist that any participant, whether racer or official, can interpret those rules however it suits them.

With a bit of luck, the good folks at IRP will step back, and take the time to ask questions of, and listen to the advice from, sources such as MARA/BMARA who are running very successful "stock" based engines.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

What would be even better is if this deal would evolve into a pavement midget regional tour around Indiana and the region maybe into Ohio, Michigan, and into Illinois at Grundy with a good set of rules that eliminates the expenses of light weight parts and pieces (no titanium, ect)…

How ever many races at IRP + races at other tracks in the area Mt Lawn, Plymouth, Anderson, New Paris, Angola, Winchester, Salem, Grundy, Kalamazoo, Berlin, Kil-Kare, Toledo, Sandusky, ect…

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Originally Posted by nathans1012:
What would be even better is if this deal would evolve into a pavement midget regional tour around Indiana and the region maybe into Ohio, Michigan, and into Illinois at Grundy with a good set of rules that eliminates the expenses of light weight parts and pieces (no titanium, ect)…

How ever many races at IRP + races at other tracks in the area Mt Lawn, Plymouth, Anderson, New Paris, Angola, Winchester, Salem, Grundy, Kalamazoo, Berlin, Kil-Kare, Toledo, Sandusky, ect…

Salem and Clarksville (Sportsdrome)

Originally Posted by 767:
while I will agree 1/4 mile is a perfect track, the management at Anderson is so piss pour these days. I'd be more interested in watching them at the Speedrome. Yup thats harsh, but outside of the little 500, you won't catch me at that track.

So, I've done my share of track constructive criticisms. As you say above, what constitutes piss poor management at Anderson? They run a full schedule from April through early October, installed new lights, invested in a new track sound system, reasonable admission prices, offers fans every type of pavement racing series in the area from Little 500, 500 Sprint Car tour, Kenyon midgets, ASA super late models, CRA late models, Midwest modifieds, CRA Street Stocks, Vores Compact Series and numerous other support series. Starts on time, rarely an intermission, affordable concessions and seems to run fast programs. What am I missing that is poor management?

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner:
A read-thru of the above noted rules for this venture shows us:
1) That the body of the rules have been taken (almost) verbatim from other existing rules.
2) That the IRP rules writers seem not to have consulted with any sources who have already implemented engine preparation specifications and rules for "stock" based engines. As currently stated the "rules" are so minimalist that any participant, whether racer or official, can interpret those rules however it suits them.

With a bit of luck, the good folks at IRP will step back, and take the time to ask questions of, and listen to the advice from, sources such as MARA/BMARA who are running very successful "stock" based engines.

Disclaimer: I enjoy watching the races and I think it's great that the series had the bump in car counts and all that; but, this appears to be an intended different direction than the BMARA rules (I'd have to think maybe by choice, but I could be wrong). If this series wants to keep the claim part of it - there is no way you could have a $15,000 claim rule with the BMARA platform (some used engines cost that much; yes you can buy others for less; but those are not consistently running in the top 4). And, this series has a basis on the Ford Focus engine; which, I believe were around 200hp. Those would be outclassed by the BMARA engines (not saying anything bad about it, just reality). So ya, I'd think - with these rules - you could squeak a lot more HP/torque out of the ECO choice. I gather it is an attempt to bring out the Focus and ECOs that have been mothballed ("already" - Focus stuff could be like 20 years old by now though); than "just" using a stock block, head, crank at 2.4L (which, yes, has put on some great racing and can be just as fast or faster than National cars; and, although more than $15,000 in many cases, it certainly is cheaper than a National engine).

PS - again, this is not a dig, but there were no ECOTECHS consistently running in the top 4 in BMARA the last couple years. It is Hondas and Fords (not Focus Fords; but Rick Kipley's). And, of course, chassis set up and driving is just as, and in some cases, more important than HP/Torque.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Although Mr. Dull is indeed correct about the BMARA engine preparation, and the excellent results, my point in commenting on the IRP rules, as presently written, was to draw attention to the shallowness of those rules. I do not wish to suggest that preparation anything like BMARA be undertaken; I do wish to recommend that IRP undertake to provide a much more through and detailed explanation of the preparation steps that are, and are not, permitted.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Looking forward to being a part of this series. Grew up watching Thursday night thunder and look forward to actually fielding a car I own!!!

Purse looks to be double to win, and double to start than a badger purse, and 1/2 the cost on the claimer than a competitive badger engine?
Sounds like an awesome deal to me!
I sincerely wish you the best in this endeavor… Should be good!!

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

I hope no one is paying $30,000 for a bmara engine...suppose it could be within a few grand though (for a new, best of the best top of the line full dressed and tuned with fuel and ignition systems...). Whatever works I guess...

Now, I feel like the other area pavement midget series should certainly get mentioned on this thread. What was recently known as the "Midwest Mayhem Midgets", based around Grundy County Speedway many years (Rockford Speedway was their "home track" for a season or two); also known as the Illini Racing Series for a while; was started by Laverne Spencer and before last year was acquired by Aaron Willis. They have a budget minded rule book (but I cannot access it currently for better reference / to compare it to this new deal). Ideally, some of those cars and teams will be able to maybe make a couple slight changes or additions and campaign in this IRP deal. Time will tell. I think their car count almost increased every race in 2024.

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Dan Binks was experimenting with half LS engines. Had em at the Chili Bowl two years ago. One was three cylinder, the other four. Not sure where the program stands but he was aiming at less than half the Toyota's and SR11s in cost and longer lasting.

Also been running some form of LS in the Doran Pavement Sprint. and their record is sound!

Originally Posted by jdull99:
I hope no one is paying $30,000 for a bmara engine...suppose it could be within a few grand though (for a new, best of the best top of the line full dressed and tuned with fuel and ignition systems...). Whatever works I guess...

Go ahead, ask around, or call one of 2, maybe 3 builders that make hey in badger, and you’ll most likely be spending that much.
If your starting from scratch, and want to run regularly in the top 5, you’ll need that “full dressed” model. So better just go ahead bring the $30k

Folks involved with NEMA lites and the rebranded Grundy County series were among those who spearheaded the toe in the water approach last year. This didn't just get made up in a few weeks. There is experience here

Re: IRP announces new All-Star Pavement Midgets in 2025.
 

Originally Posted by Grocery Guy:
So, I've done my share of track constructive criticisms. As you say above, what constitutes piss poor management at Anderson? They run a full schedule from April through early October, installed new lights, invested in a new track sound system, reasonable admission prices, offers fans every type of pavement racing series in the area from Little 500, 500 Sprint Car tour, Kenyon midgets, ASA super late models, CRA late models, Midwest modifieds, CRA Street Stocks, Vores Compact Series and numerous other support series. Starts on time, rarely an intermission, affordable concessions and seems to run fast programs. What am I missing that is poor management?

Hay if 8 to 12 car classes are your thing, enjoy! They bring in all of the other stuff because they cannot run a consistent program. Ask the drivers there. Most of the series that come in run their portion of the program. As far as facility upgrades, those would be forced upgrades. Sounds system was terrible. half the speakers did not even work. The lights that were replaced, were over 30 years old. They were used lights when they were put up. I know the business that put them up. They are here in my hometown. When those were put in we attended the track every single week. It's so miss managed that Mt. Lawn went from a Sunday track to Saturday and outdraws them on every weekly class. Quick efficient programs, yup pretty easy when there aren't many racecars..... Out of the series that you mention, I am friends with 3 officials. They all hate Anderson Speedway. Love the track, hate the management. Its all about how they are treated. Concessions, they couldn't get any worse. Like literally, they really struggled after they parted ways with Huffman. Huffman was bad, and it got
a lot worse.

New owners of Speedrome did decent this year. There will be some growing pains, seen a lot of growth over the last 10 years. Talk about facility improvements!

To bad the promoter at Mt. Lawn passed away. He did a very good job bringing that place back. Have not seen enough of new promoter to know how good he will be. Had better car counts than Anderson.

Circle City- went there twice this year. I see big improvements in show efficiency. Very solid racer support as well. Owners may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they seem to be putting forth the effort.