Stock car racing is the ultimate American expression of motorsport. Cars in NASCAR have always been spectacularly fast… but they were once even speedier than they are now.
1970 Plymouth Superbird
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Richard Petty, known as ‘The King’, won seven NASCAR championships and 200 races from 1964–79. His star shone so bright that Plymouth built the Superbird especially to win him back from Ford. The car is a flipped-out variation of the Roadrunner, named after the cartoon critter. While the best thing about the Roadrunner might have been the horn (“Meep meep!” like the cartoon), the Superbird brought out the big guns. The nose was aerodynamically extended, and there was an enormous spoiler, because under stock car racing rules, the boot had to be operable. Its power matched its looks: 700bhp V8 engines produced during the ’70s made cars incredibly fast. The average speed during the pole position lap at Daytona in 1970 was 194mph (312kph).
2011 Toyota Camry
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Under current NASCAR rules, cars from all four competing manufacturers (Dodge, Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota) have to adhere to strict guidelines. The plan is called ‘Car Of Tomorrow’, technical leeway is limited, and that guarantees a thrilling race. The 5.7-litre V8 engines recall those in the cars of 40 years ago (power is around the 820bhp mark). As is the American way, no one would question whether a racing car needs rear-wheel drive. The standard stock car silhouette conceals a tubular frame. The transmission, aerodynamics and chassis geometry might benefit from technical touch-ups, but it’s the driver who makes the difference (in this car, Kasey Kahne). And the pole average from Daytona in 2011? It’s a mere 186mph (299kph).
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Want more?
- Kasey Kahne's official website, www.kaseykahne.com
- Richard Petty's car is in his official museum, see rpmuseum.com
- More NASCAR stuff at our event page
- Official website nascar.com
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