NASCAR for the street

[Arfinfal]

I'm researching a possible television show for the Discovery Science channel. The show's topic is NASCAR technology that is being used in the development of production car designs or in aftermarket products. Is anyone familiar with a NASCAR innovation that has found its way in some form onto the street? So far I've heard bits and pieces about a rollbar from Jeff Gordon's team and some aerodynamic pieces for the new mustang, but I have nothing to back this up.

[gttouring]

welcome to the forums....!!
NASCAR and the "street" models used to cross over and share lots.... the Superbirds, the torinos, even some safety gear. the current crop seems as if it contributes very little. no more carbs, and Gasoline V8's are rare. however aero shaping certainly does, spoilers, and general shapes (witness the new MonteCarlo at www.autoweek.com)
some of the rear end stuff and cooling systems but rollbars? i don't know or have heard anything.

[Jack Man]

Good Question. I'll do some diggin and see what i can come up with. In the past year i've seen at least 4 cars fully engulfed in flames on the side of the road. Maybe they should invest in some type of fire systems like most race cars.

[StuiE]

The Gauges find they're way into modified road cars.

[Arfinfal]

Originally Posted by gttouring

some of the rear end stuff and cooling systems

Can you be more specific? Do you know of any pieces on production cars or available in the aftermarket with NASCAR roots? Do you know what those roots are, ie. where and when it came from, or are these things simply from NASCAR as a whole and not a specific team/car/manufacturer?

[muggle not]

Originally Posted by Arfinfal

Can you be more specific? Do you know of any pieces on production cars or available in the aftermarket with NASCAR roots? Do you know what those roots are, ie. where and when it came from, or are these things simply from NASCAR as a whole and not a specific team/car/manufacturer?

In the early years of Nascar there were not sponsors like we have today. The manufacturers funded the race teams and did much of the development on the cars. In turn what they learned would be utilized on the production models.

One of the reasons that R. Petty was so successful was that he had the big dollar backing of Chrysler. Then when the manufacturers left Nascar, and before Winston came aboard, the manufacturer gave him all the left over parts which he used for years while the other teams had to scramble for whatever they could get.

The manufacturers had a habit of leaving Nascar and then coming back again.

[Joe Fan]

There isn't a whole lot of NASCAR innovation that has made its way into production vehicles lately because NASCAR stock cars have tube frame chasis with sheet metal body panels and suspension components that are based upon 1960s technology. Unlike Formula One, NASCAR has no factory teams and are comprised on independent team owners with no direct factory backing. Ford and GM do conduct research and fruits from aerodynamic testing were used in both their road car and stock car designs, but most of this was before NASCAR's mandate of common body templates. Perhaps some aerodynamics and engine components are being used today but very little due to NASCAR's clamping down on technology to keep the sport on a level playing field. You might give someone at Roush Racing or Richard Childress Racing a call as they would know more about this than anyone on the bulletin board.

[Jack Man]

Hey i found 1 thing so far. In 1953 Hudson offered a "Twin H" carb package on there cars directly taken from the nascar racers in 52.