So what is a Sprint Car?

So you’ve seen the car now, but what’s it really all about?  Let’s see if we can explain what they are.  A sprint car is built for one thing only, speed.  A sprint car that drives on dirt with a wing is different from ones that have no wings or that race on asphalt, since we’re on the dirt…that’ll be our primary focus.

The engines are raw, fire-breathing v8’s.  The 410 cubic inch (ci) engines are made of an aluminum block and heads that produce in upwards of 850 horsepower (hp) and weigh roughly 1375 pounds (lbs).  The 360ci engines have a steel block and aluminum heads, produce over 650 hp and weigh around 1525 lbs.  Both engines are mechanically fuel injected that run on alcohol (racing fuel).  What’s that mean?  It means the power to weight ratio is huge, enabling these cars of incredible acceleration and speed.  In comparison, a Ford Taurus weighs about 3000 lbs and has about 190 hp. 

What are those funny things on top?  The “thing” on top and on the front of the car is called wings.  They work exactly the opposite of an airplane wing.  Instead of producing lift, these actually suck the car to the ground enabling the car to handle better and create better corner speed.  The offset panels on the top also provide a “rudder” like affect enabling the car to cut and handle through the corner as well.  Position of the wings is critically for the correct balance in handling of the car.

Why is the right rear tire bigger than the left?  To answer that question, let's start with the transmission, as in…. there is no transmission.  It’s a direct drive, single speed only equipped with a in and out style selector.  Leave the car out of gear until the push truck is ready to push you off and gently shove the selector into gear.  Next the fuel is turned on while the push truck is pushing the car the tires at first do not turn over.  Traction is made by the speed of the push truck, tires start to turn over the motor, watch the oil pressure come up and hit the ignition switch and the car roars to life.  This process dictates the rear axel is straight through unlike a standard car, which has a differential.  It becomes very difficult to steer with both tires driving.  So putting a smaller tire on the inside helps the car roll through the turn easier.  This is called stagger and ultimately improves the handling of the sprint car.