10.) Let's See How The CoT And This Here New Soft Wall Hold Up

A 2008 crash at Texas that proved to be the biggest test yet for the CoT and the new safer walls. Somehow Michael McDowell survived.

9.) Bristol Will Always Be A Car-Basher
Two clips, 12 years apart, show that Bristol will always have an appetite for destruction, no matter what changes you make.

8.) Biggest Wreck Ever
After this happened at Daytona in 1960, NASCAR realized that they had unleashed a whole new beast with their super-speedway. This may only rank eighth on the PopMech list, but it's our favorite. You just can't beat the combination of old jalopies, the ol'-timey-voiced commentary, and primitive "safety" precautions.

7.) The King Demands Window Nets

After "The King" Richard Petty's body flopped around out of his window during this crash in 1970, NASCAR decided that it was time to dictate the use of window nets. Long live The King.

6.) Why We Have Roof Flaps

These two clips show two big flippin' crahses by Rusty Wallace during the 1993 season, which eventually led to the creation of roof flaps that pop-up when the car is sliding backwards. They create downforce to keep the car planted on the ground and prevent cars from catching big X-Games-style air.

5.) Why We Now Have Pit Road Speed Limits

Mike Ritch was tragically killed when Ricky Rudd's car spun out of control in pit lane. To help prevent this from happening again, new pit lane speed limits were introduced.

4.) Why We Have Restrictor Plates
200MPH+ may be spectacular to watch, but there's no getting around the added danger of higher speeds. But isn't that the point of motorsport? To go as fast as possible, safety be damned? Well, no matter how we see it, NASCAR decided after this crash that something had to be done to reduce speeds.

3.) Fireball Roberts

A tragically ironic end to his life, Fireball Roberts died just the way his nickname implied. Fire-retardant safety gear took a step up after this, but the sport was never the same without his charisma.

2.) Rubbin' Is Racin'
The famous tangle up between Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough on network TV ensured that NASCAR would be prime entertainment fixture for years to come. We wish more drivers would get in fistfights nowadays.

1.) Yup, You Guessed It

The crash that will live in infamy.

Nationwide Series new car debuts at Richmond test

Walking through the garage on Monday at Richmond International Raceway prior to the start of the first official test session for the Nationwide Series' new car, series director Joe Balash was told he looked like a "proud papa."

"This is a new project for the Nationwide Series so there's an unknown until you get [the car] to the racetrack," Balash said. "Now we have it at the track and it's been very well-received."

The four series manufacturers — Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota — were represented by five teams. Bryan Clauson was the first driver to take a lap for Dodge and Chip Ganassi Racing.

David Ragan and reigning series champion Carl Edwards for Ford and Roush Fenway Racing; David Reutimann for Toyota; Scott Wimmer for Chevrolet and Richard Childress Racing, the defending series owner champion; and Morgan Shepherd for Davis Motorsports also turned laps throughout the day.

"Going through the garage area and speaking to some of the drivers, the input I got was the car was very good," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "A couple actually said they wished they could race this new car tomorrow."

Differentiation and uniqueness are the name of the game going forward with the introduction of the new car in the Nationwide Series. The main difference between the current car and the new car will be the chassis and the body. The current chassis has a 105 inch wheel base. The new car will be a 110 inch NASCAR-certified chassis, which is the same as the current Sprint Cup car. This also will allow current Nationwide Series components to be brought forward in an effort to contain costs.

The new car will provide the same safety enhancements that are in place on the current Cup car and will also make more bolt-on parts interchangeable (for example, rear end housing), creating cost savings for the teams. Additionally, the new car will continue to use the rear spoiler whereas the Cup car has a wing.

"We're still walking down the path of certifying the bodies for the cars in the Nationwide Series," Balash said. "The manufacturers haven't made their official announcements yet on what body styles they'll have once we get to the race track."

Cost containment and competitive balance also are keys for the introduction of the new car in the Nationwide Series.

"As we build cars, we want to make sure we don't draw something up on the drawing board that's hard to manufacture," said Brett Bodine, NASCAR's director of cost research. "If that's the case, the cost goes up to produce these cars. As they build these cars — these are the first ones built — we're listening to what they've got to say from their fab shops. This is the kind of interaction from a small group of people like we have here today that helps makes the process a lot more efficient."

"So far we've been pleased," team owner Johnny Davis said. "With more testing, we can be pretty close [to the multi-car teams]. I think a smaller, single-car team under these circumstances can be a better top-10 car than what we have today with our current cars."

The drivers at the test also gave the new car a thumbs-up.

"I'm excited about the car," Wimmer said. "[There are] a lot of real positive things right now. We've been running through the normal things we do at a test and it's responding well."

"The car's been good and it looks pretty cool, too," Edwards said. "I was impressed. I hadn't seen the car before it was sitting on the ground. It drives really well; it feels a lot like the cars we're driving right now. Compared to when we first ran the new car in the Cup Series this is a lot smaller change for us. I'm happy with it."

Tuesday's second day of testing has been re-scheduled for a morning-only session since the data gathered Monday by the manufacturers and teams was sufficient. The threat of rain in the afternoon also was a factor.

The Nationwide Series new car is also set to test Oct. 13-14 at Charlotte.

[via jayski]
Photo Credit: Harrelson Photography, Mike Paz, someone else

Being a self-proclaimed car nut, she's obsessed with the 1989-93 Fox-body Mustangs, which seems like an appropriately NASCAR choice. Her favorite driver isn't actually her ex, but rather Jimmie Johnson. Ouch. It looks like Elisabetta Gregoraci has some competition in the "motorsports-associated significant others not quite as hot as Ingrid Vandebosch" contest. [FHM Online]

[via Onion Sports]

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: To be honest, we can't say we blame GM. The relentless march of NASCAR towards something looking like a big-budget IROC series leaves the "Race on Sunday, sell on Monday" model all but evaporated. The only differences between the "cars of tomorrow" are decals and the engine under the hood — and heck, that doesn't even have anything to do with a street car anyway. We tend to agree with the General that blowing huge piles of money to tout cars that don't even look like anything on the lot is a mis-allocation of resources. The only loser in this plan, as we see it, is NASCAR. Without automotive sponsors, it kind of starts to looks like the smoke and mirrors man-drama it actually is. [USAToday]

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said "The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup Series, though we will continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama's message of change." We're not sure how carbureted pushrod V8 machines turning left all day for a crowd of flat-earth enthusiasts doesn't speak change, but that's why we just write about cars.

More likely, Team Obama decided its ad dollars would be better spent at venues where the senator had a better chance of attracting voters, such as Ducks Unlimited meets, Hummer enthusiast clubs and of course NRA rallies. Which is a shame, because we were all about Obama and McCain proxies drifting and bumping around Talladega, only to have Nader sneak through the slot and eke out the race win, but still lose in the total points tally. [Seattle Times]

NASCAR, for its part, has been trying to reach out to minority audiences so it's no surprise this sponsorship will include a fundraiser with NASCAR fan Randy Moss and Fergie. The team is run by staunch Republicans, but they're not going to turn down the money and, after years in racing, seem to know how to spot a winner. (h/t to Brian) [CNN.SI]

We're hoping this means the former IndyCar champion and Indy 500 winner will now consider a return to the kind of racing watched by people with all 32 teeth. However, reports say that Chip Ganassi Racing is still hoping to find some sort of stock car series in which it and Franchitti can find success. Hey, we hear Top Gear USA is looking for a Stig. [via Autosport]

Pushrod engines can do insane things. Despite all the changes that have made "stock cars" kind of a tongue-in-cheek joke, the iron block/aluminum head powerplants hail straight from the Eisenhower era. At 358 cubic inches, these 12:1 compression V8s still suck mixture from a Holley 830 and spin at just under 10,000 RPM. Doug Yates explained to us that NASCAR engines actually see higher piston speeds than F1 engines due to their longer stroke. He also noted that pushrod deflection actually helps fling the valvetrain open; we figure the valves can use all the help they can get, considering they have an inch of lift. All this brings us to our next point.

You shouldn't break your motor. Remember that pushrod engine that's doing all that insane stuff? Yeah, well, you gotta wring it within an inch of its life during qualifying but you can't break it: You only get one engine per weekend. That says a lot about the engineers, but it says a lot about the guys who screw these things together too.

They let KIDS drive these things. We met with Colin Braun (pronounced "Brown," but still ironic since he's got a few years before facial hair will appear), the current rookie of the year in the Craftsman Truck series. This 19-year-old is better mannered than the combined Jalopnik staff, and he explained how his Roush-Fenway race truck completely changes character during the course of a race due to tire wear, brake wear, suspension loosening, and fuel usage, requiring the driver to constantly adapt to a different-feeling vehicle.

"Scrap tire" means different things to different people. Seeing a stack of grooved tires outside the Wood Brothers' trailer, we asked if they were rain tires. Len Wood explained to us that the technical term was "scrap tire." Teams are only allowed a certain number of sets of tires per weekend (it varies by track), and those tires have to be turned-in to officials at the end of the event. To keep a few sets around for shows, testing and such, teams are allowed to groove the tires, thus making them unsuitable for high-speed runs. The result is a scrap tire, not to be confused with the mosquito nursery you have behind your garage.

Two tenths on a big oval is a huge improvement. NASCAR regulations combined with 50 years of development work on the same basic designs have conspired to make competitive breakthroughs nonexistent. What that means is that a change resulting in a repeatable one- to two-tenths per-lap gain is considered huge. Vehicle engineers are seeking microscopic improvements now, literally shaving hundredths in the search for a winning edge.

We assumed that there was more to stock car racing than we gave it credit for. So were we surprised by the level of precision and engineering that goes in to one of these pushrod, live-axle beasts, whether it's a Craftsman-series truck, Busch car, or Cup car? Yes. Are we gonna be hootin' and a hollerin' at race time every Sunday? Not so much.
(Photo Credit: funnyhub.com)

Final results: 1. Tony Stewart 2. Robby Gordon 3. Clint Bowyer 4. Kenny Wallace 5. Denny Hamlin 6. Matt Kenseth 7. Kevin Harvick 8. Jimmie Johnson 9. Kenny Schrader 10. Kyle Busch 11. David Reutimann 12. Ryan Newman 13. Red Farmer 14. Jeff Gordon 15. Cruz Pedregon 16. Ray Evernham 17. Ron Capps 18. Carl Edwards 19. Aric Almirola 20. Dave Blaney 21. JJ Yeley 22. Kasey Kahne 23. Bobby Labonte 24. Mark Martin 25. Bill Elliott

Editor

I ran across this bunch of furniture made out of stock cars on Born Rich, but digging a little deeper, found that the manufacturer also produces running street-legal NASCARs built to customer specifications. Rock! Mike Burkhardt of American RaceCars and Furniture confirmed over the phone that he picks up old cars from Sprint Cup teams and refurbishes them with all-NASCAR internals, including brand-new 100K-warrantied 358 cubic-inch V8s tuned to Late-Model specifications, which translates to about 600 hp and much greater durability than the hard-running 850+ hp mills used in the Sprint Cup series. The cars can be fitted with either automatic or standard transmissions, and as many distinctly non-racecar-like creature comforts as the customer can stand (such as a stereo system, or doors that actually open). Some companies have them built as quot;rolling billboards,quot; allowing them to plaster a stock car with their logo without actually having to sponsor a stock car. Others are hobbyists and professionals who run the cars in local racing series. Either way, I think I need one—and just in time for $4-a-gallon gas! See more pics below the jump.

It wouldn't be too big of a jump as Castroneves' Team Penske also has three cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but then again, Castroneves' contract with Penske is up at the end of this season. Whether its for glory or personal curiosity, Castroneves leaving IndyCar could harm open-wheel motorsport. Aside from Danica Patrick, Castroneves is one of the more popular drivers. Nothing has been set in stone, but Castroneves is definitely considering the move. [ESPN] (Image via Getty)

From the Fox Sports article:

"There are a lot of NASCAR fans in the locker room," Moss said in a statement released Tuesday. "We've seen a lot of football players get involved — guys like Dan Marino and Troy Aikman, to name a couple. I think it's a good fit and gives some of the companies I am already working with an additional outlet. It's a smart move on the marketing side of things, but on the personal side of things, I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

"the IRL is not real racing. Not real good racing, anyway. It's not the best car circuit in this country — that would be NASCAR ... what is the IRL? It's a training ground for decent drivers who hope to be good enough to race somewhere important some day ... Winning in the IRL isn't a matter of talent..."

"The IRL is the junior varsity of racing, is what I'm saying. Danica Patrick finally won herself a JV race, and that's good for her, and it's a neat story. The first woman to do anything — the first man to do anything, too — is always cool. But let's not take this too far, OK?"

The 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe may have a lowly 305ci V8 connected to a 4-speed slushbox, but this isn't a car you buy for the running gear. It's all about those special aerodynamic tweaks. The aero nose, bubble rear glass and fiberglass trunk lid with integral spoiler were the parts specific to the '86-only Aerocoupe. The buy-it-now price of $11,875 isn't exactly cheap, but the Pontiac might just make you feel like Richard Petty.

Bowtie guys, this '87 Chevy Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe is for you. Sure, the Montes were much more common that the Pontiacs, but that just means they're more affordable now. This one has a buy-it-now price of $7,900. The Monte Carlo Aerocoupe does have lots in common with the standard SS model, but that sloping rear glass sure will set you apart from the rest of the mullet crowd. Mechanically, the Chevy and Pontiac are the same, though this MC does have a few more miles on the clock than the GP.

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[eBay listings here and here]

The model stores four glasses and a small flask filled with your drink of choice. This little device is the perfect solution for anyone that gets sick of drinking the cheap beer traditionally associated with NASCAR and would rather resort to something a little more tasty—like cheap whiskey! The Lucky Number 3 Race Car Bar Set is currently on sale for $15. Get it before the next left turn! [Race Car Bar via CB]

[Horse Power Tee Shot Tour]

Racing USA, Inc. Guarantees Employees' Gas at $2.85 per Gallon

Fast Track NASCAR Retailer Sets the Pace with a New Employee Benefit

Birmingham, Al. (PRWEB) March 11, 2008 — With gas prices approaching $3.25 a gallon and summer forecasts as high as $4.00 a gallon, David Carrington, president of Racing USA, Inc., announced earlier this morning that the company would guarantee that its employees would have to pay no more than $2.85 a gallon for gasoline to come to work.

According to Carrington, "ever increasing gas prices are eroding our associates' purchasing power. By guaranteeing the amount of money they have to spend for gasoline coming to and from our corporate office, we're taking one inflationary pressure out of the equation."

Becky Aaron, who commutes more than 100 miles a day to her job at Racing USA, was ecstatic. "I love my job, but must admit that the cost of gasoline was taking a huge dent in my budget. This benefit creatively eliminates one of my worries."

Racing USA, Inc. (www.RacingUSA.com) is the most frequently-shopped, independently owned NASCAR store in the world. From its 10,000 square foot corporate headquarters just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, Racing USA's staff of professionals ship thousands of packages each month to loyal NASCAR fans throughout the United States.

To get the service, Sprint subscribers need to text NASCAR at 7777. A return text message will include the link to download the program. Be forewarned, an additional data-service plan may be required. [Sprint via I4U]

Real Steak-umms PR Email I thought you might be interested in this -

Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced today that they have secured Steak-umm
Company LLC as a primary sponsor on the No. 8 and No. 01 Chevrolets
for select races during the 2008 season. Steak-umm's entry into the
sponsorship arena coincides with the company's introduction of
Steak-umm Burgers, a new line of frozen burgers available in Original,
Sweet Onion and Real Cheese varieties.

Steak-umm will also serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 8 car for
the full 2008 season. The Steak-umm brand has been a fixture in
supermarket freezer departments for over four decades.

Would you be interested in more information or an interview with Dale
Earnhardt Inc. or Steak-umm? Please let me know. Thanks.

Kind Regards,

(REDACTED)

We'll let you know if we get that interview.

Look at the variety of cars in this 1960 race at the still new Daytona Super Speedway. Sure things were crude by todays standards, but there's a bunch of guys in short sleeve shirts blasting down a track at 150 mph in cars with the aerodynamics of a toaster. Look, you can see Bel Airs, 300's, there's a Fairlane, shoot, there are even some old Highboy's in this shootout. Now that's our kind of racin'. (As an aside, there have been few NASCAR names as awesome as the ones mentioned in the video; Banjo Matthews? Fireball Roberts? Awesome. And what do we get - Dick Trickle.)

Since we last half-assedly updated you, Kyle Busch took the lead, then Greg Biffle inherited things as Busch took a pit stop. Waltrip did the same when Biffle took a breather, then Kyle Busch returns the favor to Mr. Waltrip as of lap 124. Pit lane shenanigans begin and though Clint Bowyer is briefly credited with a lap lead all by himself, Greg Biffle quickly retakes the front spot. Other than that, they sure are driving in a column in a straight line around an oval.