A new Crate Late Model Series is making plans for about 20 events at eight racetracks in Michigan, northern Indiana and northern Ohio.

Series founders and brothers Mike Moore and Jay Moore of Coldwater, Mich., have spent more than two years making plans for the Great Lakes Crate Series and are launching the tour while also reopening Orleans Raceway in Belding, Mich., to serve as the tour's de facto home track. Along with the Late Model tour, the Moores have developed a series for sprint cars utilizing 602 Crate engines.

Focused on low-budget racing said Mike Moore, who previously announced for eight seasons at Butler Speedway in Quincy, Mich., the Great Lakes Crate Series requires Crate engines (602 or 604), spec tires, spec fuel, a spec carburetor and allows no externally adjustable shock packages.

"We're racers and we just saw the need to cut costs and it's just gotten out of hand," Mike Moore said, calling the new tour a "fantastic opportunity for dirt racing in our area."

Besides 10 races at the Orleans track, Plymouth (Ind.) Speedway, Hartford (Mich.) Speedway and Shadyhill Raceway in Medaryville, Ind., are on the initial schedule. Moore said he plans to add races at Butler, two more Michigan tracks and an Ohio track.

Events include time trials, heat races and feature events that pay from $600- to $1,200-to-win. Sixteen Late Models drivers have registered and the Moores hope to have 30 registered before the May 23 opener at Plymouth.

Series sponsors include Willy's Carburetor & Dyno Shop, American Ethanol, Dominator Race Products, R2C Performance Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Wiles Driveshafts, Schaeffer's Racing Oil, AFCO, One Ethanol and Ultra-Shield Race Products. Find more series information at greatlakescrateseries.com or email greatlakescrate@gmail.com.