Based in North Carolina, the South Eastern Crate Association sanctions several divisions. We had a chance to catch up with Timmy McAbee and ask him a few questions:
CI: For those who may not be familiar, what are the basics of your series? (Car type, surface, engine, region)
TM: SECA is a Crate (604/602) engine Dirt Late Model Association. We are based in the Southeastern region (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia).
CI: Tell us how you came to found the SECA series.
TM: Crate racing, in my opinion, had no unity between tracks or sanctions. Our focus was simple; work to get as many weekly tracks on the same program from top to bottom. This includes rules, point structures and anything else weekly related.
CI: How do your rules align with other similar series?
TM: The basis of our rules are close if not exact to other sanctions in our immediate area. Currently the only difference headed into 2014 in rules are tires. This is, however, an extreme rule difference and one of the toughest to overcome. We have been through summits, meetings and phone calls with other sanctioning bodies, and we are all working to find mutual ground. With SECA focusing directly on weekly sanctioning, we feel like we may have an edge in being able to unify the majority if not all of our local tracks, and after one year we have more than doubled the number of member race tracks, thus meaning there is that much more unity between the tracks in our region.
CI: What has been the biggest challenge?
TM: The actual state of crate racing in our area when we first founded SECA. The racers were not happy, track promoters were not happy, so we felt the timing was perfect for SECA to start building. Along with that came hesitation from some tracks and drivers, which is completely understandable as we were the "new guys" in the crate industry, and due to past issues and/or situations we expected the hesitations.
CI: What is the one thing that people misunderstand the most about your role as the Series Director?
TM: As a weekly sanctioning association, we really don't have a so-called director. There are three of us involved, (myself, Scott Childress and Marion Limbaugh), along with a 4th partner to be named very soon. Each of us has different task. People usually see me at the races as those guys also promote Harris Speedway weekly. So it's not by design that people usually just associate me with a leadership role. We all look at it as more of a partnership, we all communicate well, and kick ideas around with each other each week and when big decisions need to be made, those guys are right there with me.
CI: What is your view/opinion of the future of Crate Racing?
TM: Crate racing is the most affordable late model racing any driver can do. I do think it will take some changes, and I hate to even say this and drivers hate to hear this, but it is no big secret that drivers in our region have been spoiled, and it's really not any one individuals fault. Take a look at other regions of the country, those guys prosper with car counts, while paying less money on a weekly basis than any tracks in our area. Until someone can build a strong enough unity between all of our tracks and help moderate the track promoters, keep them all on the same page and help those guys stay out of contest, while still being united competitors we are in for a long battle. Tracks all working together is the biggest key in my opinion, instead of the "hey let me pay extra and steal the other track's cars" methods. Otherwise, we will all be headed out of business.
Also, I want to add that until EVERYONE can put a better product on the track for the fans, we are fighting an uphill battle selling crate late models as a headline division when Super Late Models have dominated our region for so long in the past. Slowly but surely I think the local promoters are starting to discuss this more and more, so only time will tell, and it is our duty to jump in there and help those guys put that product out there... Who likes qualifying?? (hint hint)
For more information on SECA, you can visit their website at www.secaracing.com.