Today, it’s less about engineering and more about driving.
Technical innovation in NASCAR has been a feature of the sport since its inception in 1949. Finding a competitive edge meant pushing rules to their limits and beyond, making mechanics as much the stars of the sport is drivers.
Today’s next-generation NASCAR cup series cars however, are factory built, largely interchangeable and are no longer fabricated by race teams themselves. Similar cars means very close racing, creating a grand spectacle for fans. For many, putting the sport primarily into the hands of the drivers is a step forward, but for fans that love the engineering side of the sport, something has been lost.
Great builders like Holman & Moody, Petty Engineering, Banjo Matthews and Cotton Owens will be missed.