Car and Driver - USA (2020-04)

SPECIALIST SPECIES

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The Original Formula Drift

Slightly crude and entirely purposeful, Sprint cars go sideways fast.

ALUMINUM COURAGE

The massive top wing can have an

area of up to 25 square feet and be

adjusted fore and aft using a lever in

the cockpit so that a driver can balance

the aero load to suit the ever-changing

conditions of the dirt track. Tip plates

along the sides keep high-pressure air

moving over the wing. The left plate

is positioned higher than the right to

generate more downforce on the left

half of the car. That’s imperative when

so much of each lap is spent sideways.

SPRUNG OUT

Most modern cars have coil springs, but

sprint cars use torsion-bar springs in their

suspension design. The bars can be quickly

swapped to accommodate track conditions,

with the effective spring rate determined by

the outside diameter of the bar. Conventional

dampers soak up the track’s imperfections.

STAGGERING

GENIUS

World of Outlaws cars

use a spool in place of

a differential, so both

rear tires spin at the

same rotational speed.

To compensate for

the fact that the cars

are almost constantly

turning left, the inner-

rear tire has a smaller

diameter than the

outer one [see above].

As tire temperatures

increase, bleeder

valves release air

to maintain steady

pressure.

THE ON-OFF SWITCH

With no conventional transmission, Outlaws

send torque to the rear through a single

reduction gear. That ratio can be changed

between races to match the car’s speed to

each track. Outlaws don’t have a starter, either.

Sprint cars are push-started by engaging the

direct drive once the car is rolling fast enough.

HEARTBEAT OF
AMERICA
Each car’s aluminum-
block pushrod V- 8 is
limited to a maximum
displacement of 410
cubic inches (6. 7
liters) and can spin at
an earthshaking 9000
rpm. Injector nozzles
squirt methanol
fuel, which offers
performance and cost
benefits over gasoline.
Plus, methanol fires
can be extinguished
with water.

16 ILLUSTRATIONS BY MORON EEL ~ APRIL 2020 ~ CAR AND DRIVER