Since all NASCAR cars have the same body style, what is the difference between Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota?

Question

All NASCAR teams build their own cars, so what makes a Ford a Ford? or a Chevy a Chevy? Is it just basically a name only?

Answer 1

Yep, Ford's have Ford engines. Chevy's have Chevy engines etc. etc.
Nascar mandates the maximum specs like the 358 cubic inch limit for example, on all the engine components NOT the amount of horsepower.
So the camshaft in one Ford could be different than the camshaft in another Ford. On a short track one Ford driver might like the feel of a certain style intake manifold off of the corners(smaller ports) while another Ford team prefers a style intake that makes power through the straight aways(larger ports). This follows through to all the teams. Each team is allowed to tweak some items like the cylinder head's for best flow or torque etc.
That's why the Toyota's are doing so bad right now. There engine program is new so they haven't found the little tweaks and tricks to get some more power out of them yet like the Chevy, Ford and now the Dodge teams have.

So whichever make the car is. That's the make of engine that's in it. Some team's like Hendrick's build there own engines. Some team's buy and even Lease engines from other team's and other engine builders.

Interestingly enough,
ALL of the cars regardless of make use Holley carb's, MSD ignition, Ford 9" rear end(rear axle), to name a few..

Answer 2

Not really that much difference. Everything is to NASCAR's specifications so there isn't much room for the best and the worst, there's pretty much an equality across the board. Some teams get more money spent on their cars because of success or sponsership money and get special attention to make sure they're in top condition. But that happens between different cars owned by the same owner, and there isn't a huge difference there either. With the diferent manufacturers, there isn't usually that much of a difference other than like with teams. Toyota is the newest manufacture and will take a while to gain recognition needed to get more money needed to have better cars and more importantly better drivers. Same with Dodge a few years ago, they were awful for a couple years and are starting to hold their own every week. So, I really don't see that big of a difference across the board. A little better treatment of equipment, but the driver is the biggest thing. And the difference will be even more magnified as the COT's are even more equal than the cars before.

Answer 3

The name on the car and the engines are the main differences. The only part of the engine that is really Chevy, Ford, Dodge or Toyota is the block. All of the other parts are specially made for racing. Make no mistake, the Car of Today is not the first "spec" car in Cup. The cars have been really close to being identical for a long time. Look at Jeff Burton's Monte Carlo SS and then look at one on the street, not even close. The same goes for all the other models, especially the Camry. When the Dodges were first testing at Charlotte before their first year back in Cup, someone asked Humpy Wheeler what he thought of the new Dodge. He said, "That's a Dodge? It looks just like a Taurus (Ford) to me."

Answer 4

There's not much difference at all. Critical measurements such as horsepower, carburetor specs, ground effects etc. are set by NASCAR and are the same for everyone. Occasionally a manufacturer will have a breakthrough that will allow them to dominate for a time-such as the slippery and hard-to-draft-behind Ford Thunderbird that took Bill Elliot to so many victories. But the crew's ability to set up the car for specific tracks, drivers skill level, and a visit from Lady Luck is more needed to get to victory lane than a manufacturers badge on the hood of the car.

Answer 5

The only REAL difference is the shape of the nose/grill area. The Dodge Charger made a big stink about that the last couple of years.

Answer 6

There was a time when you could tell the cars apart,but times have changed.There are differences under the hood but on the outside they pretty much look alike.

Answer 7

The decals and the engines in the cars. They may as well go full out and just rqaname the series the "NEW" Iroc series.

Answer 8

The engines

Answer 9

Different types of engines and different kind of eqipment inside of the vehicle

Answer 10

The engine and the inner components are made by the manufacturer being advertised on the vehicle.