Nascar extra
In our March issue we talk to a Brit who's taking on the Americans in Nascar racing. Here we bring you more facts about stock car racing US-style..
Facts and stats
* The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the US.
* NASCAR’s biggest racing series are the NEXTEL Cup, the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series but it also oversees the Whelen Modified Tour, and the Dodge Weekly Series.
* In total NASCAR sanctions over 1,500 races at more than 100 tracks in 38 US states, Canada and Mexico.
* NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries and in the US it holds 17 of the Top 20 attended sporting events.
* 75 million fans buy over $2 BILLION in annual licensed product sales!
* In December 2005 NASCAR ace Tony Stewart raked in over $13.5 million. In 38 races, Stewart earned $6,987,535 in prize money. His take of the point fund was $6,173,633, which makes the total a whopping $13,161,168!!!!
The NASCAR Premier League
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup is the sport’s highest level professional competition which runs over 10 months with over $4 million in prize money at each race.
The NASCAR Busch Series is the second highest level professional competition. The cars are almost as high-end as in the NEXTEL Cup but the prize money isn’t quite as eye-boggling – about $500,000 per race.
The Craftsman Truck Series is the third division of NASCAR racing but instead of cars the drivers race seriously souped-up pick-up trucks! Top end drivers can expect to cash-in around $20,000 for winning a race.
NASCAR have recently bought the Canadian racing series CASCAR and from 2007 the CASCAR Western Series will become the fourth division.
NASCAR Tracks:
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega is the longest race track on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule. This 2.66 mile high-banked oval is one of three race tracks on the circuit that requires the use of restrictor plates to keep the speeds under control. Without the plates to limit horsepower a NEXTEL Cup car could reach speeds here around 235 MPH (378.29 km/h).
Daytona International Speedway
The second race track that requires cars to use the horsepower-limiting restrictor plates. As a result this 2.5 mile high-banked tri-oval features average speeds much slower than would be otherwise possible.
The qualifying record is over 210 MPH but that was set in 1987, the last year before restrictor plates were mandatory. Since the restrictor plates have been implemented qualifying speeds have been around 189 MPH (304.17 km/h).
New Hampshire International Speedway
This oval speedway was recently added to the short list of restrictor-plate tracks following the deaths of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin on that track in 2000. The 1.058 mile track with 12 degrees of banking at the corners races stock cars, modifieds, and trucks.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Tied with Daytona and Pocono at 2.5 miles Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the great icons in all of motorsports. It’s relatively flat with just 9 degrees of banking in the corners so drivers are on the brakes at the end of the two long straights which keeps the speeds down. The qualifying record is just over 186 MPH (300km/h).
Pocono Raceway
This is the last of the three 2.5 mile tracks and bills itself as "The Superspeedway That Drives Like a Road Course." The unique triangle-shaped track has three different corner lengths and bankings making it very difficult to set up a car and to drive well. The odd shape and difficult set-up also helps to keep speeds down. While drivers can top out at over 200 MPH at the end of the frontstraight the qualifying record is only 172.533 MPH (277.67km/h).
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