NASCAR and trickle down technology

[digitalandanalog]

I am asking this because I really have no love for NASCAR (but I am will to ease up a bit if there is something positive I can directly point to). That said, how has NASCAR ever benefited the regular driver?

Have the advances they made for their high performance machines found their way into a common man's car?

If so, how?

[MicroBalrog]

Seatbelts IIRC originate in race cars.

[Boomhauer]

(but I am will to ease up a bit if there is something positive I can directly point to)

How about the fact that the drivers aren't a bunch of thugs like you'll find in some other sports?

[digitalandanalog]

Sticking to trickle down technology only.

[go_bang]

Left turns?

[KPT]

I doubt it. Nascar is stuck in its own little world. Cars haven't had solid axles and carburetors for a while now. 

[crt360]

There might be something, but it doesn't readily come to mind.  Plenty of technology has trickled down from racing, but stock car racing by it's very nature is at the low end of the trickle.  Of course, NASCAR hasn't been anything close to stock car racing for many years.  I don't think the racing cars share a single common part with their namesake.

[Dannyboy]

Not much.

NASCAR is and has been technologically retarded for a long time. 

[French G.]

Not Nascar, but aerodynamics, electronic engine management, traction control, and a whole lot of other things have their roots in racing. The NASCAR rule book does a great job of making sure the cars have no relevance to what we drive though.

[MicroBalrog]

Why is it important if NASCAR benefits the average driver? I mean, most sports do not 'benefit' the average person in any way, except for the health benefits they gain from participating and the joy of spectating. That is enough.

[Harold Tuttle]

NASCAR has been a huge fashion benefit to American culture
 

[Dannyboy]

Why is it important if NASCAR benefits the average driver?

He has nothing to do with NASCAR but ask that question to Max Mosley, the president of the FIA.  He has a fetish with Formula 1 cars needing to have some relevance to road cars.  He keeps coming up with these stupid ideas to basically kill F1.  That said, F1 has had some technological relevance in road cars.  The clutchless or double-clutch or whatever transmissions started out there and the more widespread use of carbon fiber started in F1.

[AJ Dual]

NASCAR has been a huge fashion benefit to American culture
 

I like the young urban cowboys wearing the $400 leather NASCAR jackets that say VIAGRA across the back. 

[White Horseradish]

Why is it important if NASCAR benefits the average driver? I mean, most sports do not 'benefit' the average person in any way, except for the health benefits they gain from participating and the joy of spectating. That is enough.

I'm going to guess it's the "stock car" part of it. Once upon a time it was "Race on Sunday, sell on Monday".  You can buy basketball shoes and racing bicycles, but you can't really drive a NASCAR "stock car".

I don't care one way or another, but I think that if pro wrestling cannot be called a sport then NASCAR should lose the "stock" part of the name. Truth in advertising and all that.

[Mannlicher]

NASCAR keeps their cars limited to privative technology so no other country can field cars to compete with them.  In order to race, Toyota had to bring out a 70 year old motor design of their own.
If NASCAR allowed DOHC and other innovations that most current street cars have, BMW, Audi and the like would blow them off the track.

[Gewehr98]

Why is it important if NASCAR benefits the average driver?

Exactly.

When will we see Can Am or Grand Prix race technology in our daily drivers? I DEMAND it, damnit!  

(It's a friggin' sport. It's like saying I want football helmet technology in my motorcycle or USAF flight helmets...)

[drewtam]

NASCAR keeps their cars limited to privative technology so no other country can field cars to compete with them.  In order to race, Toyota had to bring out a 70 year old motor design of their own.
If NASCAR allowed DOHC and other innovations that most current street cars have, BMW, Audi and the like would blow them off the track.

You do realise that one of the most advanced* engines out today is the Corvette's LS series of engines, right? Do you also realise that this is a 5.7L to 7.0L two valve, pushrod engine?


*advanced = class leader in power, torque, engine weight, fuel economy that is at least 50% better than everyone else, costs 2/3rds the price, and good reputation for reliability

[roo_ster]

You do realise that one of the most advanced* engines out today is the Corvette's LS series of engines, right? Do you also realise that this is a 5.7L to 7.0L two valve, pushrod engine?


*advanced = class leader in power, torque, engine weight, fuel economy that is at least 50% better than everyone else, costs 2/3rds the price, and good reputation for reliability

But, I demand technological flim-flammery, as well as bells & whistles to accomplish the same thing!

[Regolith]

(It's a friggin' sport. It's like saying I want football helmet technology in my motorcycle or USAF flight helmets...)

Might not be a bad idea, actually...I wouldn't be too awfully surprised to hear that helmet technology developed by the NFL had worked its way into military or non-football use. 

[Brad Johnson]

Back when the North American STOCK Car Auto Racing association actuall was was it said, auto buyers benefitted tremendously.  The race cars, sponsored (and sometimes even fielded) by auto makers, were test beds for new technology.

Brad

[Cromlech]

I like the young urban cowboys wearing the $400 leather NASCAR jackets that say VIAGRA across the back. 

I've seen worse at Mixed Martial Arts events like the UFC. Some of the slogans and adverts on the back of their shorts are hilarious.