When Fairgrounds Speedway uncrates the 2003 racing season Saturday night, the show’s most compelling stars will be under the hood rather than behind the wheel.

The reason? The speedway’s new crate engine program, which makes its debut in the premier Late Model and Supertruck divisions.

Speedway president Dennis Grau is introducing the program to help drivers contain escalating costs. At $5,000 a copy, the Chevy-produced crates cost about a third of the typical Nashville production engines. According to Grau, 22 drivers (10 Late Model, 12 Supertruck) have purchased a Crate.

“The crate engines have performed well in testing and I expect them to be competitive,” said Grau. “I’m pleased with the number of teams that have purchased the engines and I think we’ll see more as the season goes forward.

“And you can’t ignore the financial aspect. Racing at this level has to have an affordable engine program.”

Established and fledgling teams have opted to go crate. Late Model driver Andy Johnson, who finished second in points last season, will pack a crate in tomorrow’s 125-lap main event.

“I had two of the Nashville motors, but the cam went out on both in practice the last two weeks,” said Johnson. “So we’ll go with the crate and we expect to have a chance to win.”

There are some technical differences between the two engine packages. Crates have a 4-barrel carburetor, compared to the 2-barrel Nashvilles and guzzle more gas.

“Crates are only going to get 110-115 laps on a tank of gas so we’ll have to pit in the 125,” said Johnson. “If there are a lot of cautions, you might be able to gamble and make it the distance but it will be close.

“The Crates also don’t have as much torque so they don’t get out of the corner as quick. But I don’t think that will make the difference between running in the back or up front.”

The new engines are also 100 pounds lighter than their rivals and teams running crates will be allowed 56 percent left side weight to 55 percent for Nashvilles, a ruling that does not set well with veteran Late Model driver Bennie Hamlett.

“I run a Ford and there’s no way I’m going to put a Chevy engine in my car, period,” said Hamlett. The [crates] are lighter, they’re getting a weight allowance and a race hasn’t been run. It’s not right.

“The existing engines are fast out of the corners and the crates are fast on the straightaways. I think there will be a lot of chain reaction crashes and a lot of torn up racecars.”

“I applaud Dennis for trying to save the racer money, but it has to be one or the other. I can guarantee a bunch of controversy and it will start Saturday night after the race is over.”

Grau is sympathetic to Hamlett’s position.

“I understand why he won’t put a Chevy-produced engine in his Ford,” said Grau. “But Chevrolet is ahead of Ford in this program. If Ford had a comparable engine, it would be on the menu. I’m not partial to any nameplate.”

With respect to the allowances, Grau has placed a caveat in the rules. If the crates turn out to have an unfair advantage, he reserves the right to alter the rules accordingly.

“The bottom line is that I want to do everything I can to make the field fair and level,” he said.

Johnson doesn’t think mix ‘n match engines will result in wrecks. “Everybody’s going to be anxious because it’s the first race and wrecks are going to happen,” he said. “People never use their heads in the first race and they aren’t going to start [Saturday].

For the first time in years, the road to the Late Model championship will not be blocked by Joe Buford’s Ford Taurus. After winning his fourth championship last year, Buford decided to forego the Fairgrounds on a fulltime basis but he will be in the lineup tomorrow night.

However, some of the contenders would welcome Buford’s return.

“I think we have a good chance but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see Joe come back,” said Johnson. “I think we can run with him.”

“On the one hand it will be good to see somebody different coming up to the top but I’ll miss Joe not being there fulltime,” said Hamlett. “He’s the guy you always had to beat. But there are a lot of newcomers and I think there will be some really good racing.”

In addition to Johnson (2nd in 2003 with one win) and Hamlett (6th), top contenders figure to be Chevy White (4th with four poles) and Mark Day (5th with two wins).

Among the newcomers are two teenagers, 17-year-old Travis Trotter and 16-year-old Mandy Moore.

Trotter, who will make his first competitive run in a late model, moves up from the Legends division where he finished third last year.

“We’re excited and really pumped up,” said Trotter. “We tested all winter so we have quite a few laps, going back to last August. The season can’t get here fast enough.”

The Supertruck division will also be up for grabs as Allen Carter will not defend his title on a fulltime basis. That puts Scott Borchetta (second with five wins) in the driver’s seat.

“Hopefully we’re going to pick up where we left off and go from there,” said Borchetta. “We’re going to run a crate engine and it’s been good so far. It’s a little different because of the weight but I expect a lot of close racing. If it works, will be good for the division because it keeps costs down dramatically.”

Among the contenders will be speedy Steve Pendergrass (3 wins, 10 poles) and Roy Binkley, the 1997 truck champ who returns after finishing third in Late Models last year.

Rounding out the card will be Sportsmen (formerly Street Modifieds), SuperStocks (formerly Pure Stocks), Front Runners and Legends.

Qualifying for all divisions begins at 4:20 p.m. with racing beginning at 6:15 with a 20-lap special for Front Runner Juniors. That will be followed by the 20-lap Front Runner feature, a 25-lappers for Legends and SuperStocks.

From there action shifts to the .596 mile oval for the Sportsman 30, SuperTruck 50 and Late Model 125.

Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for teens 12-15 and $2 for children 6-11. Children five and under are admitted free.