What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

[Jimplication]

Could someone explain to me what "stock" exactly means in the sense it is used in NASCAR?

I have ideas and misconceptions, but instead of posting them here and confusing myself more, I'd appreciate it if someone could explain to me what parts of NASCARs are stock, and what parts are able to be customized or created by the racing teams.

[pk500]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

Basically nothing on a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car is stock.

NASCAR stipulates that the engine block and cylinder heads must be based on stock designs. And those are about the only parts of the car that come directly from the manufacturer. Everything else is bought from custom racing suppliers or made in-house at the shop.

The actual blocks and heads are not made from the original tooling. They're custom-made by the manufacturer, but they're based on a stock design. The cylinder bore centerlines, base displacement and number of cylinders are the same as the stock design on which they're based.

Otherwise, there's not a damn thing on a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car, Busch Series car or Truck that is stock. "Stock car" is arguably the biggest misnomer in major-league motorsports.

NASCAR cars and trucks are custom-built race vehicles, plain and simple.

Take care,
PK

[Jimplication]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

Basically nothing on a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car is stock.

NASCAR stipulates that the engine block and cylinder heads must be based on stock designs. And those are about the only parts of the car that come directly from the manufacturer. Everything else is bought from custom racing suppliers or made in-house at the shop.

The actual blocks and heads are not made from the original tooling. They're custom-made by the manufacturer, but they're based on a stock design. The cylinder bore centerlines, base displacement and number of cylinders are the same as the stock design on which they're based.

Otherwise, there's not a damn thing on a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car, Busch Series car or Truck that is stock. "Stock car" is arguably the biggest misnomer in major-league motorsports.

NASCAR cars and trucks are custom-built race vehicles, plain and simple.

Take care,
PK

Thanks for the reply and good information.

Given that the cars are not truly "stock" what keeps them so close, performance-wise? I mean, at Daytona it seemed (from my experience) that most cars were topping off at around 187 MPH. Is this a result of them being tuned to as fast as they can safely go, or is it strictly a result of a restriction put on by a governing body?

[pk500]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

Thanks for the reply and good information.

Given that the cars are not truly "stock" what keeps them so close, performance-wise? I mean, at Daytona it seemed (from my experience) that most cars were topping off at around 187 MPH. Is this a result of them being tuned to as fast as they can safely go, or is it strictly a result of a restriction put on by a governing body?

Daytona and Talladega are completely different beasts from the rest of the schedule because they use restrictor plates to control horsepower. Every top car has basically the same power, within a few ponies. And every car is set up to run wide open all day. That's why aero is so important at those tracks.

As for everywhere else, NASCAR has strict rules about head and cam designs, carburetor bodies, etc., and all car bodies have to fit a common template. So while NASCAR fans don't like to hear this, NEXTEL Cup racing is basically a spec series. Everyone is running a common-template body, nearly identical chassis and use engines that are built to a common spec mandated by NASCAR.

Yeah, the front valances look different, but all of the cars basically are the same, hence the equal competition. The top teams gain an edge through the allowed minor aero tweaks found in the wind tunnel, better chassis setups, slight edges in horsepower within the rules found on the dyno, a better driver, better pit work or, if you're Chad Knaus, cheating.

Take care,
PK

[cbgatorade0202]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

Daytona and Talladega are completely different beasts from the rest of the schedule because they use restrictor plates to control horsepower. Every top car has basically the same power, within a few ponies. And every car is set up to run wide open all day. That's why aero is so important at those tracks.

As for everywhere else, NASCAR has strict rules about head and cam designs, carburetor bodies, etc., and all car bodies have to fit a common template. So while NASCAR fans don't like to hear this, NEXTEL Cup racing is basically a spec series. Everyone is running a common-template body, nearly identical chassis and use engines that are built to a common spec mandated by NASCAR.

Yeah, the front valances look different, but all of the cars basically are the same, hence the equal competition. The top teams gain an edge through the allowed minor aero tweaks found in the wind tunnel, better chassis setups, slight edges in horsepower within the rules found on the dyno, a better driver, better pit work or, if you're Chad Knaus, cheating.

Take care,
PK

I agree with most stuff ur saying no questions asked...U definatly Know ur racing...U hate Nascar tho dont you?

I figured also somethin with the name Stock was b/c There cars are not that much different looking then just a normal car on the street...Yes i know there a bit bigger and everything but U can pick up a Fusion, Monte Carlo , or Dodge with the same type of design..not as big bout the same...b/c most racing type cars u cant just take out on streets like F-1, Indy , or even all the Fancy cars b/c no one can afford them..., Does that have anything to do with Stock ?

[pk500]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

I agree with most stuff ur saying no questions asked...U definatly Know ur racing...U hate Nascar tho dont you?

Where did I say I hated NASCAR? NASCAR is OK, but there are other forms of racing that are less popular in the U.S. but much more exciting, such as the IndyCar Series, World Rally, Moto GP, touring cars and short-track racing.

Sadly, I'd guess more than three-quarters of those who call themselves "race fans" in the U.S. really are NASCAR fans and have no clue about any other forms of racing and are too closed-minded or too much of a sheep to the NASCAR craze to actually check out those other forms of racing.

I figured also somethin with the name Stock was b/c There cars are not that much different looking then just a normal car on the street...Yes i know there a bit bigger and everything but U can pick up a Fusion, Monte Carlo , or Dodge with the same type of design..not as big bout the same...b/c most racing type cars u cant just take out on streets like F-1, Indy , or even all the Fancy cars b/c no one can afford them..., Does that have anything to do with Stock ?

The cars are called "stock" because when NASCAR was formed in 1948, that's exactly what they were. Guys would drive their street cars to and from the track and then race them.

Since those days of innocence, the cars have evolved into pure-bred racing machines that have little correlation to their showroom counterparts other than some grill and headlight decals.

Take care,
PK

[cbgatorade0202]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

Where did I say I hated NASCAR? NASCAR is OK, but there are other forms of racing that are less popular in the U.S. but much more exciting, such as the IndyCar Series, World Rally, Moto GP, touring cars and short-track racing.

Sadly, I'd guess more than three-quarters of those who call themselves "race fans" in the U.S. really are NASCAR fans and have no clue about any other forms of racing and are too closed-minded or too much of a sheep to the NASCAR craze to actually check out those other forms of racing.



The cars are called "stock" because when NASCAR was formed in 1948, that's exactly what they were. Guys would drive their street cars to and from the track and then race them.
Since those days of innocence, the cars have evolved into pure-bred racing machines that have little correlation to their showroom counterparts other than some grill and headlight decals.

Take care,
PK

O itz all good man I was just asking about Nascar..more of in a joke...I also watch a lot of racing, I used to wake up every morning on Sunday's around i think 7am? to watch Forumla 1 ..which to me was awesome and just as good as Nascar, I love watching Sprint cars even tho i dont get to see them much on tv, Moto GP i've never realy got into it to much but i've watched ocassionaly, Indy Cars or Champ whichever one drives on road courses i've really liked them a lot, Was more into Indy When they were 1 division. Also itz hard for a person in my opinion who works monday-friday or even saturday's to find time to watch all those different types of Leagues race, Another Reason Nascar is so big b/c itz on a Sunday Afternoon When Most people Have no work and Nothing else to do.

The reason Nascar is much bigger b/c it is a Straight American Racing league for Americans to watch, 43 American Males Racing Helps sell here in America also. Now when im at the Race Nascar is great to watch and never had a bad experience there, On TV ..well thatz a different storty..I've turned it off and forgot plenty of times

the stock car question i asked was just a legit question i was wondering about...Got ya on stocks tho , We all know they arent Stock cars but I guess no reason to change the name of the type of cars now

Thanks

[pk500]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

The reason Nascar is much bigger b/c it is a Straight American Racing league for Americans to watch, 43 American Males Racing Helps sell here in America also. Now when im at the Race Nascar is great to watch and never had a bad experience there, On TV ..well thatz a different storty..I've turned it off and forgot plenty of times

No question. There is no more xenophobic sports fan in America than a NASCAR fan.

Hell, some are going crazy that Toyota is entering NEXTEL Cup even though Toyota employs THOUSANDS of American workers and is keeping them working, unlike Ford, Chrysler and GM, which are laying off American workers at a healthy clip.

Take care,
PK

[cbgatorade0202]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

No question. There is no more xenophobic sports fan in America than a NASCAR fan.

Hell, some are going crazy that Toyota is entering NEXTEL Cup even though Toyota employs THOUSANDS of American workers and is keeping them working, unlike Ford, Chrysler and GM, which are laying off American workers at a healthy clip.

Take care,
PK

Haha Yes i know what ur talking about when you speak of Toyota, Mean personally I dont mind it at all , But there are plenty of redneck people where i live it in Georgia who are just going crazy over Toyota coming into take over nascar...Next i'd bet Honda, Nissaan give it a shot...I Also wouldnt be surprised if Toyota is Top Notch by year 2 or 3 ..shoot Year 1 I wouldnt be surprised to a see a victory or 2 out of the Cars

[jcollins28]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

Basically nothing on a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car is stock.

NASCAR stipulates that the engine block and cylinder heads must be based on stock designs. And those are about the only parts of the car that come directly from the manufacturer. Everything else is bought from custom racing suppliers or made in-house at the shop.

The actual blocks and heads are not made from the original tooling. They're custom-made by the manufacturer, but they're based on a stock design. The cylinder bore centerlines, base displacement and number of cylinders are the same as the stock design on which they're based.

Otherwise, there's not a damn thing on a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series car, Busch Series car or Truck that is stock. "Stock car" is arguably the biggest misnomer in major-league motorsports.

NASCAR cars and trucks are custom-built race vehicles, plain and simple.

Take care,
PK

That used to be true but show me where I can find a Toyota engine with a cast iron block in a V8 configuration with pushrods.

[pk500]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

That used to be true but show me where I can find a Toyota engine with a cast iron block in a V8 configuration with pushrods.

NASCAR's rules now say that any purpose-built 358 V8 with pushrods and a carb is fine as long as it matches the NASCAR spec, which is based on a stock design. That proviso allowed Toyota to enter the Truck series and now lets it in Cup and Busch even though it never had a cast-iron pushrod V8 in any of its street cars, to my knowledge.

Hell, Chevy, Ford and Dodge don't make pushrod 358 V8 engines with carbs anymore, either! All the more reason for NASCAR to go to fuel injection and DOHC designs. It would be closer to stock than a so-called "stock car."

Take care,
PK

[Ephexx]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

"NASCARs" is not the prefered nomenclature, mainly because NASCAR is an acronym for "National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing", so call them NASCAR stock cars or the like. I don't know why that bothers me.

[jcollins28]

Re: What aspect of NASCARs are stock?

NASCAR's rules now say that any purpose-built 358 V8 with pushrods and a carb is fine as long as it matches the NASCAR spec, which is based on a stock design. That proviso allowed Toyota to enter the Truck series and now lets it in Cup and Busch even though it never had a cast-iron pushrod V8 in any of its street cars, to my knowledge.

Hell, Chevy, Ford and Dodge don't make pushrod 358 V8 engines with carbs anymore, either! All the more reason for NASCAR to go to fuel injection and DOHC designs. It would be closer to stock than a so-called "stock car."

Take care,
PK

Exactly my point I was just being a bit sarcastic in my post. IMHO the term "stock car" should be done away with. As should the push rod carb'ed V8's in the series.