RPW Exclusive: 600CC Mods Sure Are “Hustling The Highway” In ’25 & Making Fans Along The Way

Column By: JOSEPH PHILLIPS / RPW – CENTER LISLE, NY – Some 20 years ago, a new type of race car appeared at the local tracks of America.

Looking like scaled-down Dirt Modifieds, these cars were affordable…and they were fast.

These new cars go by different class names. Tobias Slingshots and Speedstrs, and notably, the Excel 600CC Modified spread like wildfire throughout the region.

The 600CC Mod runs a spec-type Suzuki or Yamaha motorcycle engine. Affordability is the name of the game with this class as an engines runs about $2,000 brand new and are fueled on pump gas.

Power is put to the track by Hoosier Racing tires and these little monsters can put down lap times at some tracks that are faster than some Sportsman cars.

Another interesting fact is the car utilize the same types of setups their big brothers in those Sportsman or the full-size Modifieds require.  Shocks are also a big part of these car and this is a great way for drivers to quickly learn chassis set-ups.

After the car is purchased, either new or used, as good cars can be found in several places, all that’s required then is the driver’s safety gear.  Get yourself a good fire suit, helmet, gloves and then, it’s time to rock!

While not considered “beasts” like their Big Block brothers, the 600CC Modified class should be considered as that tempestuous youngster, making racing fun for the young and old alike. The class has steadily grown all over the Northeast as well as the rest of the country and continues to do so with each passing day.

One driver who knows his way around these cars is Doug Windhausen.  Windhausen drives the #8 Statewide, Amber Water Pro, Terrell’s Potato chips sponsored ride.  Responding to the popularity of the class, Windhausen decided to form a traveling series exclusively for this powerhouse class.

That’s when, two years ago, the Hustle The Highway 600 Series was born and it’s continuing to gain momentum.

Sponsored by RJ Windhausen Construction, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, DIG Race Products, Spoonhower Logging and others, the Series appeared at Afton, Brewerton and Thunder Mountain in 2024.

For this coming year, Thunder remains on the schedule with Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, Brookfield Speedway in Madison County and Limerock Speedway, affectionately known as “the Rock” in Caledonia, NY, joining the fun.

The series will not return to Afton or Brewerton for 2025.

“I like getting these cars to new tracks,” Windhausen said.  “I like going places our drivers normally wouldn’t get to.  Last year it was Brewerton.  This year it’s Limerock.”

One notable change for the series in 2025 is that officials aren’t allowing the Yamaha engine as an option.

“There are plenty of Suzuki’s out there and parts,” he said.  “The engine Yamaha’s using now is an 800 motor so they have more power so you have to flash the computer to make them slower.  Another reason is we’d need to buy a whole other system to tech them.”

That’s something Windhausen doesn’t want to do.  He likes things easy for his racers.

“We want to keep these cars as simple as possible,” he said.  “We’re trying not to open up the rules so we can keep the class growing and competitive.”

With 26 cars on average at the races, Windhausen seems to be doing something right.  With the series rules he has in place, parity between cars is a notable goal for him.  Another plus for the drivers is the purse at these races.

“We pay $500-to-win with $70-to-start on a normal night,” he said.  “Plus, I have also secured sponsors for $1,000-to-win for the first four races as well as a $2,000-to-win, $100-to-start event.  Things are looking up.”

The overall champion of the series this season will receive $1,000 with $750 going to the runner-up and $500 for third, continuing down to the tenth-place finisher.  With strong car counts, thanks to reasonable car prices and a solid purse structure, the 2025 Hustle The Highway Series will be a thrilling series that is on the rise.

Be sure to check these 600’s at one of the many events they’ll contest this season.  You won’t be disappointed!