We Battled some Big Dogs This 3rd Run But The Car Outran My Talent This Time!

This was my third time in the new Metric Street Stock and I found myself racing with some very serious competitors at Camden Speedway in Camden TN. I altered the set up again adding more bite this time and it worked out very well. I also was able to mount a camera on the rear and get some video of the rear suspension in motion.
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[@rollrateguy6109]

Interesting explanation talking through your logic on the LF shock. The way I think about it is if you put a bunch of rebound in the LF then it will come off the ground when the car rolls. If the left front is off the ground then there’s more weight on the left rear. (Because spring rates don’t affect weight transfer in the weight transfer equation)

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I agree its adding to the LR but of coarse the difference is I advocate running much more RR spring rate and that stops all the LF wheelying which in my opinion helps keep the front turning instead of pushing.

[@rollrateguy6109]

@@DIRTRACELIFE man it’s crazy to have watched the late models over the last 2 years. 3 wheeling when they’re fast. They’ve got all of the rear steer though so they can still turn with all the wedge. Pretty cool

[@jackrucker5049]

Jason ! Lookin better and better ! It looks real good. I think your about there. I would probably take some spring rate out of the R/R too, and try it. Awesome Job my friend !

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I am studying that headed to a track next with a higher bank and shorter turn so I am not pulling rate out BUT I am working out a plan to add more load.

[@sonnysmith7008]

Lot of changes Jason, wanted to say while you're on the white board and before i watch your runs, like the weight RR, shock LF , rear bar's RR forward, love to see 6° pinion angle,,,

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

More changes coming though. Need another 1/2 second 😀

[@sonnysmith7008]

@@DIRTRACELIFE awesome job Jason and you got a second or two left in the tank,,, my view the car plants itself all the way around the track like it's on rails,,, very impressive,,, watch you run on my bucket list 🏁💯🏁

[@jeremy8169]

You have a fight front brake shut off ?

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I do but I did not go that route I believe at this race.

[@chrishall2487]

Car needs to be loose entering the turns, where the back end is almost stepping out

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

It's almost a bit tight now so she's going back on the scales this week and a few more changes to try and improve that.

[@biglon62]

Doing great Jason headed in the right direction for sure car looks better each time out!!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Yes sir, very happy with the progress so far :)

[@rollrateguy6109]

Love that classic wedge adjustment too Jason. In on RF and LR and out on LF and RR. I’ve never made that small of an adjustment (normally do a few rounds in/out). Wedge is the single most important concept in this sport from a setup perspective. Would love to hear you discuss how your adjustments are affecting wedge in the future ever once in a while. People need to understand that concept!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Yes sir buddro! Planning to stick her back on the scales and see what that slight adjustment did and show that in the next video.

[@BradK74]

I feel like the right rear spring kinda screwed ya on your corner exits. I think the stiffer right rear spring progression got you too free and cost you a lot of drive off the corners. I like the adjustments made after the heat races tho! Also i think 1000 lb spring on left front with a 7 1/4" ride height would help keep the car pinned down on that 2nd groove like you intended. 140 lbs of bite and i think youd be in the ball park. My 2 cents! Keep diggin my dude!

[@billtice2648]

I also think you need to be rolling onto the rr slightly more. Like a convential 200#

[@michaelatkins9780]

Simply put, you drove too comfortable. If you ain't shaking when you get out, you left speed on the track. Set up was dead on, in my opinion. I could see the changes. You have a very good understanding of geometry. Ragged edge of comfort is next.

[@BradK74]

Yea watching his right rear spring shock travel during the race, i feel like he could have been able to dig a little more back there. Maybe lower both rears down an inch and a half with a straight up 250 or 225 would suit his drive off a little better.

[@RichFife]

IMO, His ride heights are too high... we've found that the progressive rr springs work better for momentum driving on the high side... you gotta drive it in deeper/harder so that spring plants the rr and then helps rotate on throttle while not over rotating. For His line, he would've been better with a conventional 225 on the rr... possibly a 200 depending on the balance/pre-loads of his setup. His Front springs are a bit stiff for my taste as well. It's definitely fun watching J's progress... brings back memories, both good and bad. Lol Keep digging dude, smartly push your comfort... the car will let you know what it needs and how it wants to be driven. Sometimes you can have a spot-on setup but it doesn't work because your driving style doesn't match the setup/track.

[@BradK74]

I agree fellas. We are doing a 1000/950 in front with 125/250 in rear. 7 1/8" 7" front ride height, 9" 8 5/8" in rear. We found anything lower than a 225 on right rear with this package is hogging too steep on the right rear. We also discovered to keep the left side tire pressures super low (7-8 psi) so the car can increase drive as the race continues. Id be curious to see his tire pressure gains after each race.

[@sonnysmith7008]

Car looking good Jason,,, front runner's looked like a brake burp style which i did back back in the day 83 Monte Carlo year 1994 ,,, full throttle soon as you start turning left tap brake on off and back to full throttle if she'll hold for you,,, looked and sounds like late model cars throttle wise plus rear steer ,,, rear end tracking,,, line is so fine before they looking at your spoiler,,, thanks for sharing and putting up with ole timers 🏁💯🏁

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Appreciate you watching Mr Sonny.

[@davidkarnes2890]

I got some good information thank you.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Yes sir, Thank you for watching

[@SeyePhi]

your videos are awesome brother. Keep em comin.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Appreciate it sir

[@registerracing]

it looks like you could use a little more lateral traction (side bite). you didn't say what wheel offsets u were running at the beginning of the vid so id take a look at your rear track width and space out the RR to increase roll but reduce weight transfer. Another thing I'd look at is the driving line the leaders were running vs yours. Good stuff though man. I'm on race #3 in my new street stock too so im fine tuning as well

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I was at 3" offset on all but the RR with it at 4" offset. Agree onthe line during corner entry, they had that figured out better than me for sure.

[@RichFife]

I'd say stay with the 4" offset for side bite. Slightly soften the RR spring and loosen the LF chain to allow it to transfer diagonally. What LR spring rates do you have?

[@registerracing]

@@RichFife yep 25-50lbs reduction in spring should work. The math is mathing 😆

[@ernestlangley8161]

Love it! Keep digging!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

We tryin!

[@kechumgreen8893]

yep, that loose nut behind the wheel needs adjustment now... lol

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Exactly!

[@rickjones6798]

Car looks good buddy them guys have been out all year running this is only your third night out you'll get or dialed in but good luck at the next one get that w but you have a good one buddy and take care

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Appreciate it Rick

[@ScottWilson-uk1yv]

I think for the 3rd race out you and the car are getting better. You had some tough competition in this one.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I know them boys were dang tough but overall I was really happy with where I am at for a 3rd run on this car

[@Andrew_406]

Those gloves are nice 🔥

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Going to be honest here, I like my bell gloves MUCH better but they are so worn down and need some stitch work right now.

[@Andrew_406]

I remember the feeling , when u get a pair that fit good it’s hard to give em up lol

[@danamcintyre3565]

Have you tried charging the corner ? And maybe you maybe out motored when the track is heavy ?

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I think you are correct, if I really had the car figured out I may could have not lifted especially in qualifying. Very doubtful I was outmotor'd though, ton of motor . . .

[@WindRider1]

I said it last week and I’ll say it again this week. The other cars are handling better than the straightaways (more horsepower). If you think the car is handling to your liking, then you are getting outrun down the chutes. And I wish you would quit trying braking the car like it is a jig car. Enjoyed the video. Keep it up.

[@BradK74]

I wouldnt be afraid to gear down so hes not spinning off the corners, so hed get better straight away speed.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

In the feature they were getting off the corner better than me. By the end of the feature I had arrived at just a rolling entry into the corner with no brake at all and It was helping me carry more speed off. I have to figure this out and try everything while learning what works and doesn't. I know it can be frustrating when I don't just do what someone thinks is the right way but its a process for me to learn, understand, and change as I go. I'll get there but ask for a bit of patience while I learn this car.

[@darenolney41]

Visually outside the car it looks like you are lacking a bit of mid corner speed. The heat race your car almost "stopped" mid corner.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I think it was more me than the car. I felt like the car was right in that center but I was not taking advantage of it correctly.

[@callofdutysnipers0910]

The car looks good you just need time to adjust to the car.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Agreed!

[@MFR327]

Car looks good makes me wish i went and had you build a street stock vs buying a Latemodle. But it wild how stiff yall springs are on the front. In the Latemodle world, we are super soft all around with a lot of travel and hard spring rubbers.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I myself am VERY surprised at these front spring rates too.

[@ChrisGable-z4t]

You just need more seat time they was driving off 2 more car lengths in than you was

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I just was not there with this car yet, Agreed they were flat out in full send mode sometimes

[@briancardwell7494]

Try scaling with you in the car. Those numbers change drastically.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I always scale while sitting in the car. I just can't get my ride heights while in the car since it's just me. So for example the ride heights are slightly lower on the right side right now but not when I sit in the car.

[@thedirtheretic2728]

I’m a novice in crusa mods. Your info still helps

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Glad it is sir, love me some modifieds ;)

[@Gregorybridgewater]

Great racing and improvement! I think youre right, a little softer RF and some good look at the film and see what the scales say and then get out there and get some seat time. Rolling off the gas without so much brake definitely should be quicker way into the corner. Love it!

[@BradK74]

Yes Roll out and "brushing" the brakes would help his momentum stay up on entry. I think with hes fine on right front spring, if he goes lower, he would lose alot of left rear weight transfer and drive off.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I think my biggest error is not realizing quicker that the car would hold more speed if I would have just "Let'r eat" entering that corner.

[@Gregorybridgewater]

@@BradK74 true on that, it's a balance and a fine line.

[@TN-Vols-Fan]

Jason, Thank you for the camera on the rear end. I enjoyed watching the springs and shocks working while also watching you and the car on the track. Like you and others have mentioned, I think that the car was doing it's job. That said, I raced on asphalt so some of the dirt stuff is a little foreign to me. Well done, looking forward to new T-shirts.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Thanks Bud, Making more changes this week and hitting it again. We'll get her up to speed!

[@jeffwooton7138]

Here's my thoughts. You are headed in the right track. You've got you a car that you've never had. You gotta learn how to drive it. I think the setup you have now, requires you to be more aggressive in driving style. The car looked great, you drove it well, and you learned. Winning combo. Them other boys have had the setup for a bit. You are in the big league now sir. Enjoy. And thank you for sharing all your efforts and knowledge. God bless ya!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Thanks Jeff, More changes this week based on what I learned Saturday. I think it is a seat time thing but she can go faster with a few more adjustments ;)