| In racing, the standards of tomorrow are | | | | While the engine was the main |
| created by the testing of today. No part | | | | attraction, the body was facing its own |
| gets into a manufacturer's catalog or | | | | test. Previously, these cars had steel |
| onto a retailer's shelf without going | | | | bodies and body replacement was a time |
| through some type of testing. | | | | consuming and costly step for the teams. |
| When a change comes about in the sport, | | | | It was a necessary evil because many |
| the process that brings on the change | | | | have sponsors who want their products to |
| involves testing. At the PRI show in | | | | stand out, and it won't happen on a |
| Orlando in December 2005, there was | | | | battered body. |
| plenty of interest in an engine sitting | | | | "We'll be getting these bodies from one |
| on a stand in the NASCAR booth. The | | | | manufacturer, who will have a |
| engine was a piece that could be | | | | distributor network. We know the teams |
| destined for use in the Grand National | | | | were spending $10,000-$15,000 to hang a |
| West and Busch East series if all goes | | | | new body. The lesser teams were forced |
| well. At the point of the display, | | | | to buy bodies that had been cut off |
| initial testing had been done, but there | | | | other cars. The composite bodies are |
| was more to come. | | | | much more cost effective. They are |
| The next phase of testing happened at | | | | pretty flexible and much easier to |
| USA International Speedway in Lakeland, | | | | repair," said Roy. |
| Florida, in mid-January. It was the same | | | | Roy said the Richard Petty Driving |
| location as the previous tests. There | | | | Experience had switched to the composite |
| may have been some changes from the | | | | body and found substantial time and |
| display engine to the track, but those | | | | labor savings. The bodies will be used |
| changes were not obvious. Some parts may | | | | for the Busch East and the Busch West |
| have been swapped to see if a certain | | | | series, but there's a small concern. The |
| manufacturer should be preferred over | | | | rules are not exactly the same, as one |
| another. After all, one goal of the test | | | | series uses cars with a 105-inch |
| is to determine the menu of best parts | | | | wheelbase and the other requires a |
| for the competitor. | | | | 110-inch wheelbase. To accommodate this, |
| Wegner Automotive Research has played a | | | | the manufacturer will sell the bodies |
| key role in the development of the | | | | without the wheelwells cut out, leaving |
| engine and was on hand at the test to | | | | it to the teams. Fitment is not expected |
| make adjustments and try new components | | | | to be an issue. The 105-inch car that |
| as needed. | | | | was tested looked fine. |
| For the test mule, NASCAR reached out to | | | | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Race Car front |
| Grizco Racing, the North Carolina-based | | | | drivers side view side half |
| team that finished First and Second in | | | | The car on pit road. This gives you a |
| NASCAR Busch North Series point | | | | good look at the composite body, another |
| standings last year. (Note: The Busch | | | | innovation in the works for Grand |
| East Series is the new name of the Busch | | | | National competitors in 2006. The body |
| North Series.) On the first day, veteran | | | | could save the teams time and money |
| Brad Leighton took the wheel for the | | | | during the course of a season. |
| laps around the 3/4-mile speedway. On | | | | While the body was facing its own |
| day two, the chore fell to series Rookie | | | | perusal, the engine was getting plenty |
| of the Year Sean Caisse. Defending | | | | of fine-tuning. Squirters in the |
| series champion Andy Santerre, who will | | | | carburetor were changed after a few laps |
| focus on a management role with the team | | | | during the morning session. Near the end |
| in 2006, supervised the testing. | | | | of the morning run, a new intake |
| The engine had been developed by | | | | manifold was brought in for a trial by |
| renowned engine builder Carl Wegner of | | | | fire. |
| Wegner Automotive Research, and Wegner's | | | | At the end of the testing, the car was |
| team was present to handle all | | | | transported back to North Carolina. The |
| adjustments. After having 17 percent | | | | engine was removed and the |
| humidity for the first day, the reality | | | | time-consuming process of parts analysis |
| of Florida kicked in as the humidity was | | | | was set to begin. |
| 80 percent on day two. Air temperature | | | | Roy remarked that there was a growing |
| lingered in the mid-60s with the track | | | | interest in the Busch East Series, and |
| temperature starting off at a cool 59 | | | | the development of the engine and body |
| degrees. Weather readings were regularly | | | | could really spur the continued growth. |
| taken throughout the day. | | | | "From what we've seen, this engine holds |
| After a period of adjustments, including | | | | up well," said Santerre. "It runs very |
| spring changes and the early discovery | | | | competitive lap times. For anybody new |
| and replacement of a faulty brake rotor, | | | | coming into the Grand National division, |
| the laps started to mount. The goal on | | | | they should be able to put this type of |
| this day was to run about 400 laps, | | | | engine in their car and know they're |
| which would be close to 300 miles. That | | | | going to be competitive at the |
| is well in excess of the ordeal these | | | | racetrack. If this motor doesn't show |
| cars typically endure on a given | | | | any signs of fatigue after this test |
| weekend. | | | | session, I think that's a great sign for |
| On hand to watch the test was NASCAR | | | | the future of the spec engine." |
| Busch East Director Lee Roy, who | | | | The last day of testing included several |
| explained the idea behind the new | | | | long-distance runs, and the car showed |
| engine. "Our objective is to develop an | | | | no obvious signs of reduced performance. |
| engine that will keep a similar | | | | The true test comes when the parts are |
| horsepower figure, lessen the rpm, and | | | | removed and inspected. NASCAR officials |
| cost less than half of what the | | | | will make a determination on specific |
| competitors are paying now for a built | | | | parts to be required in the engines, |
| engine. Carl [Wegner] came up with a | | | | which will allow the engines to be built |
| good package that hits the goal on the | | | | by anyone. A complete parts list was |
| cost. With effort to get a spec engine | | | | expected to be available a few weeks |
| and the composite body, we are taking | | | | after the latest testing, with the |
| two of the areas of largest cost and | | | | possibility of more testing down the |
| cutting them by half or more. We think | | | | road. There is no set timetable since |
| that will help us keep the competitive | | | | NASCAR wants to be certain of its engine |
| nature of the series and help the series | | | | before offering it to competitors. |
| grow." | | | | |