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