VINTON, Iowa – Modified drivers won’t be allowed to compete in the Smiley’s Racing Chassis Southern SportMod division this season, regardless of whether they compete in IMCA sanctioned or non-sanctioned events.

“Our main objective is that the drivers who benefit from higher paying special events for SportMods are the drivers who have supported the division during the season,” explained IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “It’s not fair to them that a Modified driver can borrow a SportMod, race and go home with $2,000.”

IMCA announced last January that the 2010 season would be the last in which drivers could compete in both the Modified and Southern SportMod divisions. The Modified-Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod combination has never been allowed.

Modified-Late Model, Modified-Stock Car and SportMod-Stock Car or Hobby Stock license combinations will be permitted again in 2011. Mach-1 Sport Compact drivers may not compete in any other division.

“We can keep track of drivers racing at sanctioned events using race reports submitted to the home office. We will have to use other means to know who’s racing non-sanctioned Modifieds,” Root said. “Our posi­tion is that if a driver is racing a Modified, licensed or not, we will not issue them a license to compete in a sanctioned SportMod event.”

Root, Competition Director Tom Gutowski and ButlerBuilt South Central Region Director Davey Plato will attend a number of Southern SportMod specials during the season to ensure Modified regulars are not interloping for bigger potential paydays.

Among the specials getting more attention will be the Southern SportMod Nationals, during the Labor Day Weekend at Boyd Raceway.

“We will try to be as objective as we can. We realize that for whatever reason, there will be a number of drivers going from a Modified to a SportMod,” Root said. “We’ll do our best to keep track of who is racing what and where and address guidelines as the season progresses.”