According to the auto trader, NASCAR stands for "National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing." As this is the case, what exactly is a NASCAR racing car? Perhaps it is best to start off by explaining what a NASCAR car is not! Unlike Formula 1 and other motor racing cars, the NASCAR race car is not either an open-wheeled nor a racing machine with a centrally positioned driving seat with the engine behind the driver.

Perhaps to find out exactly what a NASCAR racecar is we ought to consider the history of the sport a little. In the early days of its development the sport of NASCAR was, as its name suggests, strictly for "stock car" racing. This meant that you could actually pop into your local Dodge or Chrysler showroom, purchase a car and drive it straight to the nearest racetrack and race it on the spot. Thus the series was originally evolved purely for racing mass produced cars. Nevertheless, those days are long gone.

Although the sport has changed a considerable amount since those days, the legacy of "strictly stock cars" still lingers in certain areas. First the design of the body shell is still very similar to production sedan models, albeit strikingly akin to some of the muscle car models. The second aspect of the old days that still remains in the later half of this first decade of the twenty-first century, is that three or the component parts of the car must come from stock production models. These are the hood, roof and the trunk lid. It these do not fit a production car, then the maching cannot be a NASCAR race car.

However, it is at this point that all similarity between the NASCAR racing cars of today and those of yesteryear cease. The rest of the components of these machines are built to serve one sole purpose, this being to race hard, fast and win. In other words they have become speed machines. Nevertheless, in order to provide an equal playing field for all competitors, NASCAR has introduced a number of rules over the years which cars must comply with. These relate to weight, which must not exceed 3,400 pounds, wheelbase of 110 inches and a maximum top speed of 235 mph. Furthermore, from a design viewpoint, the cars must fit within one of a selection of templates provided by NASCAR.

Although from next season the cars will be continue to use the newly formulated unleaded fuel, their 8 cylinder engines are still based upon the old carburettor system and they do not have the computerised and electronic components of modern production cars.

The NASCAR cars also run on tyres without treads so they cannot race when it is raining and night time driving is certainly out of the question as the headlamps are only for show and do not work.

Whatever your views on the idiosyncrasies of the NASCAR car, you have to admit that it is a mean speed machine and no doubt much more than half of the US male population would fulfil a dream if they could find themselves sitting behind the wheel of one on race day. Can you blame them? NASCAR racing is after all, a unique thrill without equal in the world of motor sport.

Learn more about this author, Paul Lines.
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