Sprint cars
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Sprint cars are small, high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short dirt or paved tracks. Sprint cars have a high power-to-weight ratio making sprint car racing exciting with speeds in excess of 140 MPH on some tracks. This speed often also makes it very dangerous. The safety record of sprint car racing in recent years has been greatly improved by the use of roll cages to protect the drivers, which are often joined by wings mounted on top of the cars to give them sufficient downforce so as not to become airborne as readily as was previously the case.
Many NASCAR drivers got their start in sprint car racing, including Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. As a challenging form of auto racing, sprint car racing is considered an excellent training ground for NASCAR series.
For a complete history of sprint car racing, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum located in Knoxville, IA features exhibits to highlight the history of both winged and non-wing sprint cars.
Non-winged Sprint Cars
A non-winged sprint car racing is chiefly sanctioned by the United States Auto Club. USAC sprint car racing divisions include the popular Silver Crown series which race on both paved and dirt track. Other USAC divisions include the National Sprints Series of sprint cars and midgets.
Winged Sprint Cars
In the early 1970s, many sprint car drivers began to put wings with sideboards on both the front and top of their cars. The added wings increased the downforce generated on the car, with the opposite direction of the sideboards helping to turn the car in the corners. This addition lead to the formation of the World of Outlaws sprint series.
In 1978, Ted Johnson formed the leading promotional body for winged sprint car called the World of Outlaws. Racing throughout the United States from March to November, the World of Outlaws is the premier dirt sprint car racing series. Famous tracks featured in the series included the Eldora Speedway in Rossberg, Ohio and the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville Iowa. Each August, the Knoxville Raceway holds the paramount sprint car event, the Knoxville Nationals.
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External links
- National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum (http://www.sprintcarhof.com/)
- The Knoxville Raceway (http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/)
- World of Outlaws (http://www.worldofoutlawsracing.com/)
- Alberta, Canada Sprint Car Series (http://www.albertasprinttour.com/)