Nascar FAQ: Answers To Basic Questions About Nascar By Niles Hanssen At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

* What is NASCAR?

NASCAR is the abbreviation for National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, which is the largest sanctioning body for one of the United States' premier sports: motorsports. NASCAR sponsors 17 out of the top 20 most-attended sporting events in the country, the second-rated regular sport season on network television with broadcasts over 150 countries, and has an estimated 75 million fans who purchase no less than 2 billion dollars in licensed products annually.

NASCAR is composed of 3 national stock car racing series (NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series, NASCAR Busch series, and NASCAR Craftsman truck series) as well as sanctioning 7 regional tours and one local grassroots series. It also sanctions 1,500 races over a hundred tracks in 38 states across the country.

* What type of cars are raced?

The cars fielded on NASCAR's race tracks are rear-wheel-drive (RWD), high powered and low tech hot rods equipped with a roll cage chassis and skinny sheet metal covering. These are all powered by carbureted engines with four-speed manual transmissions. Its engines are limited to carry 358 cubic inches or 5.8 liters of fuel with cast iron blocks, single camshaft, and a pushrod valve train.

Furthermore, NASCAR cars' brakes, suspension, and aerodynamic components are carefully selected in order for them to adapt to different race tracks. The adjustment of both front and rear aerodynamic down force, rear track bar geometry, spring rate, and brake proportioning are also critical when it comes to the so-called cornering characteristics of the cars.

The aforementioned specifications are common to most NASCAR cars (except for some modifications that are allowed) regardless of the make or model.

* When did NASCAR racing begin?

NASCAR racing began on February 21, 1948, by mechanic William France Sr. with the help of several stock car drivers at that time who were victims of corrupt racing promoters who took all the money before the drivers were paid.

NASCAR's first sanctioned racing event was held at the Daytona Beach Road Course circuit on February 15, 1948. In that race, Red Byron beat Marshall Teague in the modified division category.

* What is the top speed of a NASCAR car?

The top speed of a NASCAR car varies depending the race track where it runs. For instance, on the Talladega Superspeedway the top speed is 212 miles per hour, set by Bill Elliot in 1988. At the Infenion raceway, the top speed is recorded as 99 miles per hour.

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