Why are the rules so tight in Nascar regarding the tech inspection of cars?

Question

I was having a conversation with a person who hates NASCAR and I couldn't come up with valid answers to his questions. First his claim is that NASCAR takes no skill, oval, turn left, go, Other forms of racing from Indy cars to mx to superbikes, etc all have different elements to their tracks. Second they do not race in the rain, all other races do. Third, NASCAR has too many rules regarding car set up. His point, no other racing organization places such tight restrictions. I say to even the playing field, his example in MX you can set your suspension anyway you like, not in NASCAR. His exact words regarding NASCAR is "artificial racing". I am a fan of stock car racing, but not having much mechanical savy could not counter his debate. Could it be true that much of the decision making is for $$$. Can anyone out there give me some valid points to make to counter his remarks. I don't need to hear from those who don't like NASCAR, I've already heard all the ranting!
thanks

Answer 1

nascar makes rules to make the racing as competitive as possible. it also tries to limit costs associated with racing where possible. for instance, teams used to have a completely separate engines for qualifying and for racing. this started out as an advantage to the teams that could build fast qualifying engines and swap the engines after qualifying. it then became necessary for every team to do the same thing in order to compete. with all teams now doing it there was no longer an advantage just an added expense. so what we have now is that you must race the engine you qualify with or you go to the back of the field. same level of competition only at less cost for the teams.

in other racing series there is much less competition because there are the "haves" and the "have nots".... there is no way one of the mid-pack guys is going to win an F1 championship. he simply wont have the funding to buy a top car. it has nothing to do with his skill.

tell your friend you will take him to a parade some day so he wont have to watch one on TV disguised as a race. how many passes are there in F1, MX, World of Outlaws or indy cars where rules seem to be made for safety only with no regard to competition.

actually, NASCAR's top series has raced in the rain. It was not a points race. I believe it was held on a road course in Japan. It would be extremely dangerous to hold an oval track race in the rain. there are no run-off areas and there is actually very little time when the cars are not turning, unlike a road course. if the car is turning it is sliding at least a little bit or the driver is not going fast enough!!!

Answer 2

Your suspicion that $$$ play a part in the decision making at NASCAR is dead on. Sponsors now control NASCAR because they have deep, deep wallets. In an effort to get the biggest bang for the buck the sponsors want thier cars to go around the track, single file, drafting so the the sponsors name easily readable. Thats why there is a new rash of cookie-cutter, restrictor plate race tracks. Hence, the dwindling number of short tracks because cars get wrinkled, rolled and pleated in close racing and the sponsors name may not be discernible.
As far as comparing NASCAR to IRL or F1 I think the comparison should be made on a road course. IRL and F1 race with both hands on the wheel. The shifting is done with paddles atached to the steering wheel. NASCAR drivers may do 60 to 80 shifts per lap at a road course. That is physically demanding.
IRL and F1 cars are designed to be ground pounders meaning aerodynamically designed to get the most out the car in any condition. They are very light and have a very low center of gravity. The cars in NASCAR are twice as heavy and have a vey high center of gravity. All run slicks in dry conditions but NASCAR wouldn't have a chance in rain for reasons previously stated. It's a difficult comparison. These are merely my observations from being a race fan for 35 years. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

First, I dont see how anyone can compare the "turn left, no skill" of NASCAR to IRL. That person should watch an IRL oval race sometime, they hold the throttle wide open the whole time and turn. how does that take skill? at least in NASCAR the drivers have to play with the throttle in the turns. open-wheel racing, to me, seems a lot easier, with the cars being so much more aerodynamic and lighter, hence easier to control. second, NASCAR cant race in the rain because they only use racing slicks for tires. the cars wouldnt grip in the rain. those lighter open wheel cars grip so much better and have more downforce to begin with. third, you can set your suspension pretty much any way you like in NASCAR. NASCAR is very picky about the car at the plate tracks like Daytona and Talladega, because those are all aero tracks. they arent as uptight about the rules at other tracks. you should show that person a list of mechanical things on stock cars that can be altered. theres quite a few, especially with the suspension.

Answer 4

It's really quite simple: NASCAR insures a quality product (racing) if there's great competition on the track. The only way to make this happen is to have very strict uniform rules about engines, chassis and body aerodynamics. Making sure they're all about as close as humanly possible makes for closer cars on the track and that makes for heart-pounding door to door, wheel to wheel racing. Without that, certain cars would have an advantage and racing would be boring.....

Answer 5

The rules are to make the field equal by finding the parts tha are questionable.To make sure all the templates match.
Skill?What is the fastest you have driven?Try driveng a 3400 pound car around at around 175 mph.Then mix in 42 other cars .Making left turns simple but make them with other cars are going for the same spot.
Why do I want to get wet?I'll watch NASCAR but if it is raining I;ll be in the motorhome with my wife.

Answer 6

Nascar was developed to determine the best drivers. The rules are so strict so the cars are to be the same and the best driver wins not the best car. Go to a saturday night local run what you brung event and you will see the difference where the best car wins..... Boring

Answer 7

Point this out to him....IF NASCAR is "artificial"....then why are folks from other forms of racing headed this way (Paul Minard used to race World of Outlaw, I believe...Tony Stewart has raced and won in practically everything that has wheels...Montoya & Hornish Jr more recently)?

And if its so damned easy to "mat the gas and turn left", way has Sam Hornish, Jr (NASCAR's most recent aquisition from IRL...and reining Indy 500 champ) found it nearly impossible to keep from hitting the wall?

Answer 8

ANYONE THAT BELIEVES THAT NASCAR HAS NO SKILL HASN'T BEEN TO A RACE,THE SPEED ,THE TURNS ON A SMALL TRACK WITH 43 CARS, CAN YOU JUST IMAGIN GOING 200 MILES IN THE RAIN WITH 43 CARS BUMPER BUMPER,THIS GUY DOESN'T GET IT!!THE (( TECH INSPECTION )) PLAY FAIR, ALL SPORTS HAVE RULES! ASK YOUR FRIEND TO GO TO ONE RACE AND THEN ASK IF IT TAKE SKILL

Answer 9

the rules are tight to try to make the cars on an even playing field so no manufacturer has an advantage

Answer 10

If the technical jargon doesn't work, try this. REAL racecars have doors, fenders and roofs. Ask him how many of those glorified go-carts can hit a wall and keep on going.