Thoughts on how to save stock car racing in america.

"itschrome" (itschrome) 09/03/2013 at 22:51 • Filed to: None

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Race on Sunday sell on Monday, these words use to mean something to both the manufacturers, dealers but also the consumer. When it came to proving who made the fastest, toughest and most over all bad ass product there was but one place to go. The Race track! during it's hay day NASCAR and to a less extent but just as notable CAN-AM racing back in the late 60's and through the 70's car where put to the test every sunday on race tracks across the country. Chevy, Ford, Plymouth, Dodge, Pontiac and even Buick at times would show up ready to race in their newest high performance Vehicle, though modified for racing they still had ties to the car you could go and buy. Now though that has as you're probably well aware is not the case. Hasn't been for over 20 years. It's sad really.

No I'm not waxing poetic about Roots oval racing per say, rather I lament over the days when buying a showroom race car wasn't just for the rich. A day when your average joe could save his pennies and walk into a show room and buy a very close proximity of the car that just won the weekend before. Then go Home and park it proudly in the driveway for the neighbors to envy. Take on spirited romps on the back roads on the weekend and commute to work in, bringing a glimmer of fun to another wise boring commute.

But not only did Stock car racing bring fans of the sport entertainment, it drove the automakers to make faster, sleeker, more desirable cars. Using the track as a rpoving ground as well as a showcase. Something I would love to see again.

at this point I'm sure I know what your thinkings, there are still homogenized race cars out there for sale. This is true but often they don't apply to us here in the states. This is after all a brief rant about saving stock car racing in the US.

My thoughts on the subject of saving stock car in the US start very simply we need to return to stock cars. Enough of these cars that share nothing but a vague body style resemblance with stickers on them. I want to see rules that force a manufacturer (or private team) to race what they produce. If they make a FWD car in a certain class they should have to race a FWD in that class. If they make AWD or RWD then they would race them. Even the field with not standardization but with freedom of choice and configuration. The same goes for engine design and cylinder count. whether it be 4, 6, 8, or more or less than any of these, V, boxer, rotary, inline or W let them race. The chassis and body would also have to be stock in forum. Cage it, gut it, any race prep needed for safety and weight reduction is ok. I think a two class race series would be the best way to approach this. In my vision the breaks between the classes would be horsepower based. How ever no car it's self it class restricted, only rule being you may not detune a car from stock to compete in the lower class. Next in order to keep the sport open to manufacture and race teams with out giving any one brand an advantage there would be a price cap. Starting on the total MSRP of the car. each class would have different starting and end points. the first class would run from 20k to 35k in initial MSRP. While the next would run from 35k to 55k. I feel these two initial MSRP ranges allows for a good range of makes/models from across the globe while keeping true to the origins of stock car can keeping pure breed sport coupes from the mix. Each eligible car must also be based on a sedan or hatch back. This is not a series for sports coups. Each team would be allowed upto 30k worth of engine/transmission/suspension/breaks upgrades they would like. these parts must come from the manufacture and be able to be sold for on road use to everyday consumers. this would limit over spending and require fair play.

I dunno these are just some thoughts I'm having tonight. Oh also of course mixed race types! more road courses and still ovals. but over all at least 80% less ovals.

daender > itschrome 09/03/2013 at 23:06

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In a way, Stock-car racing lives on in Grand Am's (owned by NASCAR, I believe) Continental Tire Series. Stock-bodied compacts and sports cars going at it.

ST class for the 4-cylinder compacts and GS class for the Mustangs, Porsches, Camaros, Aston Martins, etc.

desertdog5051 > itschrome 09/03/2013 at 23:27

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Pretty much only happens on a local scale. Good racing, but limited attraction on a large scale. The money is in the nationally visible sports.

Personally, I love stuff like that. But it does not generate enough revenue/attraction to bring in sponsors or attraction.