Bigger wheels, a new modular chassis, and more. The Next Gen cars pack in a lot of changes.
Tuning in to watch Nascar races this season will reveal surprising changes to the iconic stock car racers.
But the arrival of smart engineers and computer-aided design tools has led to a costly race for infinitesimal gains, and Nascar decided that that approach was not financially viable for the long-term success of the series. Another factor that is important to the car makers that support Nascar is the need for these “stock” cars to more closely resemble actual production models. So the series is applying sophisticated aerodynamics that use airflow under the car tomore than the air flowing over the car’s body. This lets manufacturers shape the racers’ sheet metal to more closely represent the cars that race fans can buy when they get home.
At the center of those wheels is a contensious hot spot for hardcore stock car fans. Where the old steel wheels were fixed with five lug nuts, just like the wheels on your family car, the Next Gen car employs a single central nut on the wheel hub. This will make pit stops faster and less conducive to human error, as the single wheel nuts will go on and off much faster.
The old four-speed transmissions had traditional H-pattern shifters that positioned Neutral in the center of the pattern and made any gear accessible from any other gear, at any time. Sequential transmission shifts are faster because the shifter slides a very short distance. The big ol’ H-pattern shifter required time to move from one gear to the next. For Nascar, this didn’t really matter when cars were droning around in endless circles for every race.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASCAR Duels at Daytona 2022: Starting lineups, how it works, TV schedule and moreKyle Larson and Alex Bowman will start Sunday's Daytona 500 at the front of the pack. All the other positions will be decided at tonight's qualifying races.
Read more »
Brad Keselowski, now a NASCAR team co-owner, continues doing things his own wayBrad Keselowski is now a driver and co-owner in the Cup Series, and he's embracing the challenge. MMartinelli4 with an in-depth look at one of NASCAR’s most intriguing, bold and contrarian personalities.
Read more »
NASCAR: Jusan Hamilton becomes 1st Black Daytona 500 race directorJusan Hamilton is set to become the first Black race director in Daytona 500 history.
Read more »
NASCAR: Jusan Hamilton becomes 1st Black Daytona 500 race directorJusan Hamilton is set to become the first Black race director in Daytona 500 history.
Read more »
NASCAR Duels at Daytona 2022: Starting lineups, how it works, TV schedule and moreKyle Larson and Alex Bowman will start Sunday's Daytona 500 at the front of the pack. All the other positions will be decided at tonight's qualifying races.
Read more »
Brad Keselowski, now a NASCAR team co-owner, continues doing things his own wayBrad Keselowski is now a driver and co-owner in the Cup Series, and he's embracing the challenge. MMartinelli4 with an in-depth look at one of NASCAR’s most intriguing, bold and contrarian personalities.
Read more »