NASCAR cars are one of the fastest vehicles to ever grace the tracks. These V8 monsters are driven by a common ambition, i.e. to beat each other to the glory of claiming the top position during the race. More than 30 drivers enter the tracks with victory in mind but only one driver gets to claim the crown.
This process repeats for 36 weekends until there is one true winner for the year, who is known as the Cup Series champion. NASCAR is undoubtedly one of the elitist racing series with a lot of money and technological advancements involved.
NASCAR are highly modified counterparts of their real world alternatives. They feature incredible yet extremely features which make the difference between the winning and losing team during a race. NASCAR cars are designed according to strict regulations but at their core they are just another 4-wheeled vehicle.
They have a manual 5-speed transmission paired to the 670 HP engine. NASCAR vehicles also replaced the airbags and other safety features in favor of racing. However, an important question pops up. Is a NASCAR car front or rear wheel drive?
Front or Rear Wheel Drive Cars in NASCAR
Front Wheel Drive or Rear Wheel Drive is one of the most important questions that ponders among car enthusiasts and regular consumers before buying a car. A rear wheel drive car delivers all its power to the rear wheels which in turn moves the car forward. Similarly, a front wheel drive car imparts power to the front wheels in order to drive the car forward.
Rear Wheel Drive cars are much more expensive and powerful than Front Wheel Drive vehicles offering better handling and terrain capability. However, Front Wheel Drive is more efficient and is preferred in daily driver cars. It also brings the production and fuel costs down and it is more economical to produce.
NASCAR vehicles have been using the RWD system historically. RWD vehicles have much better cornering and traction capability compared to FWD vehicles and NASCAR vehicles need all the advantage while racing at speeds above 180 mph for most of the race. NASCAR hasn’t considered the use of the FWD system yet and it is likely that it may not do so in the future. The way the RWD system of the NASCAR car is designed, the manual transmission is mounted over the rear trans-axle, giving the car a better weight distribution and improved control.
FAQ's On NASCAR cars
A. Rear Wheel Drive cars are better for racing as they are faster than FWD.
A. An All Wheel Drive is faster and has more acceleration than a Rear Wheel Drive vehicle.
A. The extra weight and aerodynamic difficulties are the main reasons behind absence of AWD from race cars.
A. NASCAR Cup Series cars turn both left and right.
A. NASCAR drivers sit close to the steering wheel in an upright position to use more of their shoulder and back muscles.
