USRA Late Model body rules

Up front you need a stock-appearing nose in the style of a Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Mustang, Taurus or similar car, made of molded-type material. (Rules 1.2, 1.7)

Nose

• Rule 1.7 No material removed from the nosepiece. No cutting on the top or the sides. (Rule 1.7)
• Rule 1.11, Diagram J Nose length: no more than 52 in, measured forward from the front hub center to the farthest point of the nose. (Rule 1.11, Diagram J)
• Rule 1.11 Mount the nosepiece with its bottom parallel to the ground, with no tilt back. (Rule 1.11)
• Rule 1.9 A two-piece nose is fastened together with no gain in width. (Rule 1.9)
• Rule 1.8 Nose side extensions. Flexible and braced with collapsible supports. They can't flare out or up or change the original shape of the nosepiece. (Rule 1.8)
• Rule 1.8 Rule 1.8 says the nose side extensions can't reach outside the front tires with the wheels pointed straight ahead. (Rule 1.8)
• Rule 1.10, Diagram K Rule 1.10 says the nosepiece flares, which must be flexible, can reach up to 4 in past the front tires on either side, and Diagram K gives the fender flares the same 4 in. (Rule 1.10, Diagram K)

• Rule 1.10, Diagram K Fender flares: no more than 4 in above the top of the fenders. (Rule 1.10, Diagram K)
• Rule 1.10 Width at flares: 90 in max, measured across the fender flares. (Rule 1.10)

Bars ahead of the radiator

• Rule 1.11 Recommended: tow hooks. (Rule 1.11)

Keep the front fenders and the hood flat and level from the left side of the car to the right, from the front back to the engine plate or farther. (Rule 1.12)

Hood

• Rule 1.12 The fenders can't angle up as they run from the rear toward the front. (Rule 1.12)
• Rule 1.12 No part of the fenders or hood can sit lower than the outside body line. (Rule 1.12)

Engine placement

• Rule 12.3 Engine setback: 25.5 in, plus or minus 0.5 in, measured from the left lower ball joint to the back of the engine. (Rule 12.3)
• Rule 12.3 With 26 to 30 in of setback, add 50 lb in front of the engine plate. (Rule 12.3)

The sides run in one smooth, even line from front to rear, with a rolled top edge (the body roll). (Rule 1.3)

Doors and quarter panels

• Rule 1.3 Body roll: at least 1 in, along the tops of the fenders, the doors and the quarter panels (the body sides behind the doors). No sharp edges. (Rule 1.3)
• Rule 1.3 The roll turns from the side over onto the top, never from the top down over the side. A separate strip riveted to the edge, on the side and the top, isn't allowed. (Rule 1.3)
• Rule 1.21 Door height: no higher than 38 in from the ground on both doors, measured at the steering wheel. (Rule 1.21)
• Rule 1.21 Door length: no more than 35 in, top to bottom, counting any skirts or extensions; rule 1.21 calls it the door's length. (Rule 1.21)
• Rules 1.22, 1.25, Diagram C No concave doors or quarter panels, and neither can angle in toward the center of the chassis at any point. (Rules 1.22, 1.25, Diagram C)
• Rule 1.6, Diagram C The leading edge of each quarter panel is as tall, top to bottom, as the doors. Toward the rear, the bottom edge of the quarter panel can taper up no more than 3 in. (Rule 1.6, Diagram C)
• Rule 1.24 No offset rear quarter panels, front to back. Rule 1.24 says the quarter panel's taper-in starts at the center of the rear wheel hub. (Rule 1.24)

• Rule 1.25 No dishing (a panel pushed in to a hollow) and no vertical lips on the rear edges of the quarter panels. A lip is a flange that sticks out from a panel's edge. (Rule 1.25)
• Rule 1.23, Diagram A Tire clearance: at least 2 in between each tire and the doors and quarter panels, no tolerance, measured with the driver in the seat. The body diagram asks for the same 2 in all the way around every wheel. (Rule 1.23, Diagram A)
• Rule 1.23 Each tire must be fully visible when you look at the car from the side. (Rule 1.23)

Car width

• Diagram P Width at door tops: 76 in max, outside to outside. (Diagram P)
• Diagram Q Width at door bottoms: 82 in max, outside to outside. (Diagram Q)

Door bars

The door skins hang over the driver-side door bars, the side tubes of the cage.

• Rule 2.6 At least 3 door bars on the driver side, parallel to the ground and square to the driver, placed so getting in and out isn't unduly hard. (Rule 2.6)
• Rule 2.6 Weld the bars to the front and rear cage members and gusset them in place. (Rule 2.6)
• Rule 2.6 Door bars and their uprights: at least 1.5 in diameter, with at least 0.083 in wall. (Rule 2.6)
• Rule 2.6 4 vertical studs per side, equally spaced. (Rule 2.6)

The roof has to look stock and stand on posts down to the body on both sides: flat front posts and matching rear supports, the sail panels. (Rules 1.14, 1.15, 1.16)

Roof

• Rule 1.14 Sit the roof level with the deck lid side to side at its outer edge, and run it parallel to the body and the outer edge of the deck lid. The deck is the flat top panel behind the driver. (Rule 1.14)
• Rule 1.13 Roof length: between 44 and 54 in. (Rule 1.13)
• Rule 1.13 Roof width: between 48 and 52 in. (Rule 1.13)
• Diagrams V, Y Roof height: at least 45 in from the ground at the front and at the back, and no more than 52 in at the front, the back and the highest point at the center. (Diagrams V, Y)
• Diagram T Roof rake: the front and back edges sit no more than 1.5 in below the roof's center height. (Diagram T)
• Diagram U Roof to body line: at least 11 in from the top of the body line up to the roof, at the front and at the back of the roof. (Diagram U)
• Rule 1.18 You can turn a roll of up to 1.5 in under the front and rear edges of the roof for support. (Rule 1.18)
• Rule 1.17 No lips of any kind on the front, rear or sides of the roof or roof posts. Bead roll, a rib pressed in for stiffness, is fine. (Rule 1.17)
• Rules 1.13, 1.5, Diagram H No odd-shaped, partial, tilted or wedge roofs, and no roof spoilers or wings. (Rules 1.13, 1.5, Diagram H)

Pillars and windshield

• Rule 1.14 Roof posts are required. Every post runs from the roof edge to the outside edge of the body, on both sides. (Rule 1.14)
• Rule 1.15, Diagram L Front posts: flat and no more than 2 in wide, with the same width from top to bottom. They can have a 1 in break (a bend) at the top and the bottom. (Rule 1.15, Diagram L)
• Diagram I Window supports: no more than 7 in long in each direction, up or back. (Diagram I)

• Rule 2.5 A screen or bars are required in the front window opening, in front of the driver's face. (Rule 2.5)

Windows and visors

• Rule 1.20 Window openings in the rear roof supports: clear Lexan (polycarbonate sheet) or open, the same on both sides. (Rule 1.20)
• Rule 1.19, Diagram M Glare shields: 4 in max, and hinged for safety. The body diagram gives the same 4 in as their width; their material is under Body and panels. (Rule 1.19, Diagram M)

Sail panels

The sail panels are the rear roof supports, running from the roof back to the deck. (Rule 1.16)

• Rule 1.2 The front edge of the sail panels (the rear roof posts) can come no farther forward than the back of the driver's seat at shoulder height. (Rule 1.2)
• Rule 1.16 Both rear supports must match in size and shape, and attach to the body and the roof at the same points on each side. (Rule 1.16)
• Rules 1.2, 1.15, 1.16, Diagram F Sail panel bow: the sail panels (the rear roof posts) can bow outward no more than 2 in, from top to bottom. The bow is no more than 2 in high at the center and tapers to 0 in at the top and the bottom. The front posts stay flat. (Rules 1.2, 1.15, 1.16, Diagram F)
• Rule 1.16, Diagram N No lips on the rear edge of the rear roof supports or turned out where they meet the deck. If a support needs a break, it can be no more than 1 in, turned toward the inside of the car. (Rule 1.16, Diagram N)

Window net

• Rule 13.13 A full-size window net is required in the driver's window opening on the left side, with its mounts welded to the roll cage. (Rule 13.13)
• Rule 13.13 Recommended: approved racing arm restraints. (Rule 13.13)

The deck runs flat to the rear of the car, and the spoiler mounts on its back edge. (Rules 1.26, 1.32, Diagram B)

Deck

• Rule 1.4 No part of the deck lid can stick out past the quarter panels at the rear. (Rule 1.4)
• Rule 1.4 Body height: no point on the body, fenders, doors or deck lid can be more than 39 in off the ground. (Rule 1.4)
• Diagram O Deck height: 38 in max, from the ground to the top of the deck, measured at the center of the rear deck. (Diagram O)
• Diagram Y Rear body height: 33 in max, from the ground to the top of the rear body panel, in the rear view. (Diagram Y)

• Rule 1.32, Diagram B Flat deck: flat and parallel to the ground for at least 32 in forward from the spoiler, with 1 in of tolerance. (Rule 1.32, Diagram B)
• Diagram X Rear body width: 76 in max across the top of the body and across the bottom, in the rear view. (Diagram X)
• Diagrams D, E The body diagram also draws 53 in from the center of the rear hub up to the top rear corner of the quarter panel at the deck, and 48 in from the center of the rear hub back toward the tail. (Diagrams D, E)

Spoiler

• Rule 1.26, Diagram W Make the spoiler from aluminum or Lexan and fasten it securely to the top edge at the rear of the deck. The body diagram says clear material or aluminum. (Rule 1.26, Diagram W)
• Rule 1.28, Diagrams R, W, X Spoiler height: 8 in max. Spoiler width: 72 in max. Both are taken on the full size of the material, whatever its shape. (Rule 1.28, Diagrams R, W, X)
• Rule 1.28, Diagram W Aluminum angle bracing a spoiler edge can't add height or length. On the top edge it must be turned down. (Rule 1.28, Diagram W)
• Rule 1.27 Bolt-together spoilers are assembled with every piece at the same angle. (Rule 1.27)
• Rule 1.29, Diagram S Up to 3 spoiler supports. A third support must match the outer spoiler sides in size. (Rule 1.29, Diagram S)
• Rule 1.29 You can hinge the spoiler to adjust its angle. (Rule 1.29)

Fuel cell

• Rule 7.2.1 Use a commercially made fuel cell, held by at least 2 steel straps that are 2 in wide at every measuring point. (Rule 7.2.1)
• Rule 7.2.2 Enclose the cell in a steel container. Behind the axle, protect it with securely mounted roll cage tubing. (Rule 7.2.2)
• Rule 7.2.3 Fuel cell height: the lowest point of the cell at least 10 in off the ground, and no part of it lower than the protective tubing. (Rule 7.2.3)
• Rule 7.2.3 Fuel cell tubing: the protective tubing can be no wider than 6 in on each side. (Rule 7.2.3)

• Rule 7.2.4 Check valves are required. A cell without a positive-seal filler neck and cap needs a ball-type, flapper, spring or filler rollover valve. (Rule 7.2.4)
• Rule 7.2.5 Capacity: no more than 32 gallons. (Rule 7.2.5)

On a Late Model, the interior is the body panel across the top of the car between the door tops, running back to the deck and spoiler. You can run it flat or drop it below the door tops. (Rules 1.30, 1.31, 1.32, 1.34)

Firewall and floor

The floor and firewall must be complete across the driver's compartment. (Rule 4.4)

• Rule 1.32 Firewall: no farther forward than the engine plate. The rulebook doesn't say which plate that is; see Hood and engine bay. (Rule 1.32)
• Rule 1.32 With a dropped interior, the drop starts no farther forward than the firewall. (Rule 1.32)
• Rule 1.32 Drop at firewall: with a dropped interior, the vertical drop to the interior where it meets the firewall, across the middle of the car, can be no more than 4 in. (Rule 1.32)

• Rule 13.15 The firewall itself can't be plastic. Plastic is allowed only from the firewall's edge out to the body skin; the full plastic rule is under Body and panels. (Rule 13.15)

Dropped or flat interior

• Rules 1.30, 1.33 Interior to cage: all interior body work at least 11 in below the roll cage, dropped or flat, which leaves the driver room to get out. (Rules 1.30, 1.33)
• Rule 1.30 Dropped interior. It can drop no more than 3 in below the top of the doors. (Rule 1.30)
• Rule 1.31 The dropped panel fastens flush at the top of the doors, with no lips, and slopes down gradually toward the center of the car. Interior taper: 8 in min, from the door top toward the center of the car. (Rule 1.31)
• Rule 1.32 Toward the rear, the dropped panel rises in a straight line to quarter-panel height, then runs flat and level to the end of the deck lid, quarter panel or spoiler; the 32 in flat deck is under Deck and spoiler. (Rule 1.32)
• Rule 1.34 Flat interior. The panel runs in a straight line from right behind the driver's seat back to the spoiler base or the rear of the deck lid. (Rule 1.34)
• Rule 1.35 Interior panels, dropped or flat: no more than 3 in tall at any point in the car, and the part beside the driver tapers to 0. (Rule 1.35)

Interior sheet metal

• Rule 4.4 The sheet metal inside the driver's compartment can't rise higher than a standard window opening or close one off. (Rule 4.4)
• Rule 4.4 From the top of the driveshaft tunnel across to the right-side door bars, the sheet metal runs level, or slopes up to the top of those door bars. (Rule 4.4)
• Rule 4.4 The driver must be able to climb out on either side of the car. (Rule 4.4)

Cage-to-body fit

• Rule 2.1 Cage tubing: round steel with no seam, at least 1.5 in OD (outside diameter), with 0.095 in wall for mild steel and DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubing or 0.062 in wall for chrome moly. No aluminum or other soft metals. (Rule 2.1)
• Rules 2.1, 2.3 Weld every roll bar connection properly. Officials must accept the tubing, the installation and the workmanship. (Rules 2.1, 2.3)
• Rules 2.2, 13.13 Pad every roll bar within the driver's reach with a material officials accept, and every bar around the driver with approved roll bar padding. (Rules 2.2, 13.13)
• Rule 2.2 Recommended: fire-retardant padding. (Rule 2.2)
• Rule 2.4 With the helmet on and the driver belted into the seat, the top of the driver's head can't stick up above the cage. (Rule 2.4)
• Rule 2.6 The door bars and their sizes are under Doors and sides. (Rule 2.6)

A Late Model is a dirt-style body on a steel chassis, and the rulebook doesn't name a chassis type or maker. Every chassis component must be steel and properly welded. (Rules 1.2, 3.3)

Wheelbase and weight

• Rule 3.1, Diagram G Wheelbase: at least 103 in, no tolerance, measured on the right side from the front hub center to the rear hub center. (Rule 3.1, Diagram G)
• Rules 12.1, 11.4.1, 11.5.1, 11.6.1 The car is weighed at the end of the event with the driver in the cockpit, in full racing gear. (Rules 12.1, 11.4.1, 11.5.1, 11.6.1)
• Rules 12.2, 11.4.1 Car weight with the 602 crate engine: at least 2,300 lb. (Rules 12.2, 11.4.1)
• Rules 12.2, 11.5.1, 11.6.1 Car weight with the 604 crate engine or a standard engine: at least 2,350 lb. (Rules 12.2, 11.5.1, 11.6.1)
• Rule 3.2 You can't adjust weight in any way from the cockpit or from anywhere the driver can reach. (Rule 3.2)
• Rule 12.3 Engine setback of 26 to 30 in adds 50 lb; see Hood and engine bay. (Rule 12.3)

Ballast

• Rule 12.4.1 Mount ballast to the frame, the roll cage or the rear-end housing only. (Rule 12.4.1)
• Rule 12.4.1 No ballast in the cockpit or on any rotating or suspension part, and none outside the body or hood area. (Rule 12.4.1)
• Rule 12.4.2 Mount it securely, paint it white and mark it clearly with the car number. (Rule 12.4.2)
• Rule 12.4.3 Use at least 2 bolts of 0.5 in, with no more than 100 lb on each mounting. A piece of 25 lb or less can go on with 1 bolt of 0.5 in. (Rule 12.4.3)
• Rule 12.4.4 No ballast on the rear bumper. (Rule 12.4.4)

Under the car

• Diagram * No wings or tunnels of any kind under the body or the chassis. (Diagram *)

Late Models run a complete, standard dirt-style body. It can be styled on any American-made car from 1980 through the current year, or on the Toyota Camry. (Rules 1.1, 1.2, 1.6)

Allowed bodies and kits

• Rule 1.5 No wedge-style bodies. (Rule 1.5)
• Rules 1.3, 1.5, 1.16, 1.18 No lips anywhere on the nose, body or roof. The body roll, the roll turned under the roof edges and the sail panel's inward break have their own rules, and bead roll is allowed. (Rules 1.3, 1.5, 1.16, 1.18)

Panel materials

• Rules 13.15, 1.2, 1.20, 1.26, Diagram M No plastic, except from the edge of the firewall to the body skin, from the inner wheel tub to the body skin and in the parts listed below, which the body rules and diagram allow by name. (Rules 13.15, 1.2, 1.20, 1.26, Diagram M)
• Rules 1.7, 1.8, 1.10 Nose: molded-type material, with flexible nose side extensions and nosepiece flares. (Rules 1.7, 1.8, 1.10)
• Rule 1.2 Composite body panels: allowed for the right door and both rear quarters, built from fire-retardant plastic or composite. (Rule 1.2)
• Rule 1.2 Molded plastic roofs and rear sail panels: allowed when they meet the roof and sail panel dimensions. (Rule 1.2)
• Rules 1.20, 1.26 Lexan is allowed for the spoiler and for the window openings in the rear roof supports. (Rules 1.20, 1.26)
• Rule 1.19, Diagram M Glare shields: the body diagram calls them "plastic guard shields". Their size is under Roof, windows and sail panels. (Rule 1.19, Diagram M)

Appearance and advertising

• Rule 1.36 Advertising. Officials can assign, approve or turn down any advertising, sponsorship or similar deal tied to an event, for the public image of the sport or of USRA. (Rule 1.36)
• Rule 1.36 Neat cars. Every car must look neat, and officials approve each car to race. By racing, you agree to follow their decisions on this. (Rule 1.36)