A. NASCAR Race Car Rules
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race cars are based on American-built sedans. While Formula
One, CART and the IRL race open wheeled speedsters NASCAR cars have fenders and
vaguely resemble the cars that people have in their own driveways.
NEXTEL Cup race cars are required to have three "stock" parts from the
manufacturer. The hood, the roof and the trunk lid are all standard parts. The
rest of the vehicles are pure racing fabrications.
- Weight: 3,400 pounds
- Wheelbase: 110 inches
- Fuel Capacity: 22 gallons (most tracks)
- Fuel Type: 110 octane
- Top Speed: 235 (Rusty Wallace ran 228 in a test at Talladega in 2004 and
believes 235 was possible)
NASCAR Engines
A NASCAR NEXTEL Cup motor is the heart of the race car. They use somewhat
older technology in that they have carburetors instead of modern fuel injection.
This helps keep costs down since all of the components are mechanical instead of
allowing complicated electronics.
The basic facts:
- 8 cylinders
- 358 cubic inches
- 750 horsepower (approximate)
Random Facts About NASCAR Race Cars
- The headlights on a NASCAR race car are just realistic decals
- NASCAR race cars have to meet a series of templates that NASCAR uses to
limit the shape of the cars. This keeps all cars looking basically the same
- NASCAR tires have no tread, so they can not race in the rain
- Because NASCAR race cars are heavier they require a harder tire compound
than any other racing series
