VINTON, Iowa – IMCA has announced 2022 rules for the Hobby Stock, Southern SportMod and Sport Compact divisions.
“There are a number of clarifications and revisions for the Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts are an all-OEM car,” said IMCA President Brett Root, “so we wanted to get the announcement made for those divisions as soon as possible. As expected, changes for the Sport Compacts and Southern SportMods were very minimal.”
OEM or aluminum aftermarket replacement hoods, maximum 63×58 inches, and trunk lids, maximum 35×62 inches, will be allowed in the Hobby Stocks. All body panels, including the trunk, may be gutted and the use of unaltered aftermarket tail pieces will be allowed.
“The supply of OEM trunks in particular is becoming an issue,” Root said. “They are becoming more expensive and harder to find.”
The shock body, stroke and extended length must match both sides, with a maximum eight inch stroke and 20 inch extended length. There is a maximum 13 inch free height for springs and both rear springs and both rear shocks must match.
“We chased OEM aspects on the shocks in Hobby Stocks and tightened the rules on stroke and extended length,” explained Root. “The spring and shock rules are performance issues that needed addressed.”
Any steel approved OEM passenger car or truck rear end but must be mounted like the OEM rear end for that make and model, and floaters will now be allowed.
“The allowance of floater rear ends for the Hobby Stocks is probably the most notable change in all divisions,” Root said.
Brakes must be steel approved OEM; no pressure sensitive devices are allowed and rear caliper brackets must be welded to the rear end housing.
And all engines must use unaltered no. 8727CT rev control.
“This was optional in 2021 and, as was announced last year, is mandatory beginning in 2022,” Root stated. “The same rule will apply in both Northern SportMod and Southern SportMod divisions in 2022,”
The rear spoiler on Southern SportMods may be a maximum of five inches in material height, with a slight adjustment to spoiler brace adjustments made in 2022 as well
Sport Compact rules state the opera window may be closed on two-door cars and that no aftermarket harnesses may be used.
“The Sport Compacts fit our goal every year with the theme as far as not changing much,” Root said. “There has been some confusion with how the opera window rule is applied. The rear window in a four-door car is not an opera window and should not be closed. The rule on aftermarket harnesses is also a clarification. Drivers can trim back to the bare minimum needed but cannot use an aftermarket harness as a replacement.”
Modified, Late Model, Stock Car and Northern SportMod rules will also be posted on the IMCA website in the next week to 10 days. RaceSaver and STARS will announce rules for the Sprint Car and Mod Lite divisions, respectively.