Among the chief proponents of crate engines is Jason Walls, the owner of the Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Mid-East 602 Late Models, along with the Mid-East 604 Late Models and Mid-East Modifieds. Walls' Southeast-based series all run on dirt and feature crate mills, but the 602 Late Models must utilize the entry-level Chevrolet Performance CT350 circle track option.* 

It is colloquially known as the "602" based on the last three digits of the part number. The next level up, officially called the CT400*, is often referred to as a "604."

As a former driver himself, Walls can relate to the ever-rising costs of racing, which the CT350 is designed to help control. In fact, he found he spent more competing in four-cylinder classes than in Crate Dirt Late Models, where he didn't have to put additional money and time into the engine.

Plus, on top of the cost savings, the crate engines offer a convenience factor.

"When you do not have to work on the motors yourself it just makes it that much easier,"  he says. "If you keep the oil changed, keep the valve springs changed, and don't do anything that you really shouldn't do with it, that motor will last you from the first race to the last race. You'll have zero problems out there most of the time and you just can't beat that."

Each of the engines in the series begins life as a Chevrolet Performance CT350, but Mid-East-approved engine builders are allowed to refresh the power plants with items like piston rings, bearings and other updates. However, each one must go through an extensive certification process to receive new Mid-East Racing Association seals. Plus, it must be put back together in the way it was originally built.

"If you do go through the engine it has to be 100% GM parts, GM specs just like it comes from Chevrolet," Walls says.

In addition to the engine, the Mid-East 602 Late Models are designed to save costs in other ways. They include a shock claim rule only allowing for certain types of shocks on all four corners, a carburetor rule and several other limitations. However, the race car is still purpose-built. That initial investment allows competitors to take part in one of dirt racing's headline divisions at an affordable price, while maintaining the option to use the same car if they want to move up the ranks. 

"If you run a 602 Late Model you can pretty much change the motor and shocks and go 604 racing, or if you want to go open motor racing, you can take the same car and just keep going as high as you want," Walls explains.

The series' long-standing relationship with Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet in Charlotte has also proven to be mutually beneficial. The dealership's parts manager, Jim Norman, is involved with many racing series in the Southeast. He estimates that he sells around 250 circle track crate engines across all of the Chevrolet Performance offerings (CT350, CT400, CT525) each year. But he recently has found the CT350 (or 602) is one of his hottest sellers.

"Depending on the series or the owner of the series, they may have a Street Stock, they may have a Late Model, but the 602 has become an inexpensive way for beginners to race," Norman says.

Norman has been involved in the racing business for decades, including serving on a pit crew for the Hendrick Motorsports No. 25 car in the NASCAR Cup Series. As a result, he's keen to support racers in his region.

"When I sell a circle track engine I ask what series they're running, I like to know where we're spending our advertising money," Norman says. "Jason Walls is very good; he pushes his guys to try to buy from series sponsors which makes sense. It's a business-to-business thing and it's been pretty successful."