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THERE'S NOT MUCH AS AMERICAN AS NASCAR - EVER WONDERED HOW THE CARS ARE MADE? TIME TO LEARN.

Published: 2025-01-17 10:56:09 Last Updated: 2025-01-17 11:45:05

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) roared to life way back in 1948, born from the dusty dirt tracks of the American South. It was the brainchild of Bill France Sr., who saw the need to unify and regulate the fast-growing world of stock car racing. The inaugural meeting took place in Daytona Beach, Florida which became, rather fittingly, the epicentre of speed. Daytona’s hard-packed beaches had been a proving ground for speed enthusiasts since the 1930s, and so it was fitting that NASCAR held its first sanctioned race in 1949 marking the beginning of what would become one of the most popular motorsports in the world. The early days of NASCAR featured cars that were essentially showroom models - i.e. stock - hence the name. These "strictly stock" cars included iconic models like the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 and Hudson Hornet, which earned their fame on the track as much as on the road, the latter even being seen in animated form in the Cars movies. Over time, the cars have evolved into purpose-built racing machines, with today’s NASCAR Cup Series cars looking nothing like the street-legal versions they’re based on. Modern NASCAR racers are engineering marvels, featuring 670 hp (493 kW) V8 engines, purposeful aerodynamics, and advanced safety systems, all while maintaining a body shape that nods to their production car roots. NASCAR’s popularity grew alongside its legendary tracks, many of which have become iconic in their own right. Daytona International Speedway, home to the prestigious Daytona 500, is often referred to as the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing. Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama is another, while Martinsville Speedway, the shortest track in the series, offers up some tight, close-quarters racing. Tracks like Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway have also played a role in the sport and it’s in these areas that people live, eat and breathe all things NASCAR.

Over the decades, NASCAR has evolved from a regional pastime to a national phenomenon, drawing millions of fans to the stands and tuning in on television and live streams. Drivers like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon became household names, their exploits on the track cementing NASCAR's place in American culture. Today, NASCAR is divided into different series and classes with races mostly held on Sundays making the sport almost a religion. The sport is a huge business that generates many millions of dollars, drivers are superstars and sponsors will throw silly money at top teams just to have their logos seen on the cars. The races are long, so people can make a full day of it when they attend a race. So many people attend the events that there are usually dedicated parking areas for RVs and campers so that fans can camp on-site and enjoy everything associated with the racing - which includes many litres of beer and many steaks on the barbeque. The races cover literally hundreds of miles and the majority of that is with the throttle jammed to the floor - which says a lot about the reliability of the modern powerplants and drivetrains. The infamous Daytona 500 is 200 laps, but the name indicates the distance - 500 miles. That’s like running flat out from Jo’burg to Durban. Then there’s the Coca-Cola 600 which has 400 laps, the Southern 500 which has 500 laps and there are also some road races that are less than 100 laps. NASCAR cars use a 5.8 litre V8 that’s highly tuned to produce over 700 hp - without any form of forced induction. They can hit 100 km/h in around 3.6 seconds, but a fast pull-off isn’t what they’re all about, it’s consistent high speed. They top out at around 320 km/h, but the average speed over a race distance is around the 290 km/h mark - it takes some nerve to do that for hours on end. When things go wrong, they go wrong rather spectacularly, but the safety standard is so high that injuries are not too common in regular wrecks. It’s a great series to watch, even if you know nothing about what you’re watching. To get you a little more acquainted - check out what goes into making a NASCAR.

Take a look at the YouTube video from the Captain Discovery crew that takes us into the world of the most American motorsport there is - NASCAR - and how the cars for the series are made: How NASCAR Cars are Made | Captain Discovery

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