Fuel injection coming to NASCAR in '12, but what type?

[Bottom Feeder]

I'm not a fan of stock car racing, but the recent news (to me, at least) that NASCAR is finally going EFI next year is interesting.

Looks like McLaren is supplying the electronics, but does anyone know if it'll be old-school TBI, multi-port, or something else?

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[Draken]

Sounds like multi-port, since they had mentioned Holley being spec supplier of the TB, McLaren the electronics, but a "unnamed supplier of fuel injectors."

They are testing the cars today at Kentucky with the FI setup.

[04trailsti]

This could bring the tuning aspect to a whole new level.

[axelthrasher]

... Never thought that I'd see the day. I'm actually quite shocked to be honest.

[lil'redwagon]

^ yeah, me too. they're still on bias ply tires though, right?

[Homemade WRX]

I wish they'd catch up with where motorsports were 10 years ago and run direct injection

at least they're in the early 80's now with EFI

[rjrutzky]

They should keep with their old tech ways and start out with Unichips and then move up to UTECs.

[LetItSnow]

Put your Apexi SAFC on eBay - it might be on Dale Jr.'s dash next year!

[rjrutzky]

Originally Posted by LetItSnow

Put your Apexi SAFC on eBay - it might be on Dale Jr.'s dash next year!

nascarforums.com Does anyone know or could come over and help me tap my ecu for my safc?

Really though, they are going to have to build some stout systems with all that heat they generate. It'll be hard to make something as reliable as a carb and 2 msd boxes.

[Scooby921]

Do they really see any more heat or worse conditions than the systems in use in any other racing series? I understand that NASCAR is pushing close to redline for hours at a time, but at the speeds they are running the airflow is much better for cooling things. I would think anything designed to last an ALMS or LMS 12 or 24 hour event is more than capable of handling a NASCAR event.

[rjrutzky]

Originally Posted by Scooby921

Do they really see any more heat or worse conditions than the systems in use in any other racing series? I understand that NASCAR is pushing close to redline for hours at a time, but at the speeds they are running the airflow is much better for cooling things. I would think anything designed to last an ALMS or LMS 12 or 24 hour event is more than capable of handling a NASCAR event.

In the drafting races they do. The car in the back sees next to no air at all. Not nearly as much drafting in road racing.

[chkltcow]

Originally Posted by Scooby921

Do they really see any more heat or worse conditions than the systems in use in any other racing series? I understand that NASCAR is pushing close to redline for hours at a time, but at the speeds they are running the airflow is much better for cooling things. I would think anything designed to last an ALMS or LMS 12 or 24 hour event is more than capable of handling a NASCAR event.

They'll have to run "compromised setups" to get better cooling. They may have speeds to get the airflow, but they'll block off the radiator openings to allow the bare minimum air through so they can preserve aerodynamics.

[Homemade WRX]

Originally Posted by rjrutzky

In the drafting races they do. The car in the back sees next to no air at all. Not nearly as much drafting in road racing.

that's also why thermal efficiency is so crucial for motorsports. The more thermally efficient, the less heat you put into you radiator and engine bay...thus less airflow needed to cool your radiator and also the smaller the radiator you can get away with

[kfoote]

Originally Posted by lil'redwagon

^ yeah, me too. they're still on bias ply tires though, right?

nope, it's been a long time since they used bias ply tires. This is off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure that NASCAR, at least at the Cup level, last used bias ply tires in the mid-1990's.

NASCAR has access to a spec ECU and a good idea of how they'll work. The Grand-Am Rolex cars use a spec Bosch ECU, though it is different among the different cars.

[BigRigger]

WOW, hopefully this will start a trend in motorsports. Next they will start using new technologies like DOHC motors and 5 speed transmissions.... LOL

[nevin95 LSi]

i can see it coming... New for nascar 2030: 4 cylinder turbocharged engines.

[Ryguy32789]

Now they need to start using OEM Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger chassis. I feel that for NASCAR to regain some relevancy, they need a stronger connection to the fanbase- using "stock" chassis could provide that. It's also been a long time since "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" was true, and I'm sure they manufacturers would throw more support behind the teams if that started happening again.

[Homemade WRX]

^^^seeing the torture test and flogging on the eco-boost engine for instance, I know has helped sales for Ford. If they were actually displacing their engine getting the crap kicked out of it in their vehicle, I'm sure it would influence sales to some extent.

[Bottom Feeder]

Originally Posted by Ryguy32789

Now they need to start using OEM Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger chassis. I feel that for NASCAR to regain some relevancy, they need a stronger connection to the fanbase- using "stock" chassis could provide that. It's also been a long time since "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" was true, and I'm sure they manufacturers would throw more support behind the teams if that started happening again.

NASCAR doesn't need relevancy when they are as popular as they are and with such a big fanbase. They aren't going to change anything because it's doesn't need to be changed.

Sure, there's nothing 'stock' about a stock car, but they can't go backwards now and keep it the same sport.

[borisbsp]

Originally Posted by Ryguy32789

Now they need to start using OEM Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger chassis. I feel that for NASCAR to regain some relevancy, they need a stronger connection to the fanbase- using "stock" chassis could provide that. It's also been a long time since "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" was true, and I'm sure they manufacturers would throw more support behind the teams if that started happening again.

Totally agree.

[TXwrxWagon]

to me as a disconnected NASCAR watcher... I can say if they DID go back to mainstream chassis, with a reasonably and DIRECTLY derived powerplant I would watch. I would love to see my beloved Ford prove itself with the 5.0L Modular DOHC against the mighty LS-series of GM or the HEMI 5.7 (not SRT-8 6.0). And make Toyota use a street-based version of the tundra V-8 NOT an F-1/Indy derived power plant... If Honda wants to join... then the Ridgeline engine is the choice...etc.

All of NASCAR has gotten soooo far away from "stock cars" that its a joke.

Rob

[Ryguy32789]

Originally Posted by Bottom Feeder

NASCAR doesn't need relevancy when they are as popular as they are and with such a big fanbase. They aren't going to change anything because it's doesn't need to be changed.

NASCAR's popularity is in a free fall right now. Have you watched a race this season? I would be surprised if 1/5 of the races were sold out- and a lot of them had probably at least 1/4 of the tickets still available at race time.

I started to lose interest when the Car of Tomorrow came out and everybody had to use the same cookie cutter chassis, as well as when NASCAR took a tough stance on aggressive driving.

[chkltcow]

Originally Posted by TXwrxWagon

All of NASCAR has gotten soooo far away from "stock cars" that its a joke.

It's not just that.... the word "stock" is wholly meaningless in racing in general. Go look at AutoX "stock" class cars with $10,000+ in suspension work and Hoosier slicks.

And yes, attendance is down. They're offering buy one get one free for the Charlotte fall race, I think... and the All-Star race tickets we got were steeply discounted. NASCAR hasn't taken a strong stance on aggressive driving, though... anything but. It's still "have at it, boys" unless something has changed in the past few weeks.

[Ryguy32789]

Originally Posted by chkltcow

And yes, attendance is down. They're offering buy one get one free for the Charlotte fall race, I think... and the All-Star race tickets we got were steeply discounted. NASCAR hasn't taken a strong stance on aggressive driving, though... anything but. It's still "have at it, boys" unless something has changed in the past few weeks.

I know about the "Have at it boys" mantra, but the thing that I was thinking about was Kevin Harvick and that punk ass Kyle Bush being on "probation."

[chkltcow]

Originally Posted by Ryguy32789

I know about the "Have at it boys" mantra, but the thing that I was thinking about was Kevin Harvick and that punk ass Kyle Bush being on "probation."

That wasn't "aggressive driving".... that was flat out ****ing stupidity. Hockey allows fighting on the ice... but I guarantee if two players meet up in the parking lot to battle it out, both the NHL and local police might have something to say about it.