Saturday, October 18, 2014

Exploring Sprint Car Dirt Track Racing

By Patty Goff


Civilized societies have used personal competition as a means of determining leadership throughout history. We see examples of this competitive spirit in the origins of the Olympics in Greece as well as chariot racing in ancient Rome and horse races in Mongolia and later in early American society. Sprint car dirt track racing is an example of this same competitive drive in humans.

This style of race has a wide fan base and spectators often feel the excitement generated by their favorite driver during the race. The cars move at nearly one hundred fifty miles per hour and it is nonstop action on the track. Some race tracks are only an eighth of a mile in distance while others can range up to a mile in length.

Each driver must register himself and his car immediately prior to any race. The driver and car are considered as a team and once registered there can be no changes in the team. If the car or the driver becomes unable to participate the registration fee is forfeited and they are disqualified. The car must pass inspection to determine that it has all regulation parts and safety equipment in place.

These race cars are rated in winged and un-winged categories. The winged category came into being in the 1970s, twelve years after the invention by Jim Cushman. He devised the wings to create stronger down force on the tops and backs of the cars. The down force helped to maintain contact of the wheels with the surface soil there by helping to prevent the cars from flipping during the race. Side wings soon followed and they act as stabilizers in the frequent turns on these tracks. The top wings also cushion and protect the driver in the event of a flip over during the race.

To help alleviate injuries incurred during these races many new safety features have been adopted in the past decade. Drivers are required to wear double fabric fire suits as well as protective gloves in the vehicle. Roll cages have been added to help prevent serious injuries when an accident happens. Seven point harnesses and head and neck restraints have been installed in most cars along with head rests for the left side of the roll cage. Another safety feature uses metal netting on roll cage openings to prevent debris from entering the cage and striking the driver.

Many top notch NASCAR drivers started their careers in this type of competition. After a few years they make the transition by obtaining sponsors and up grading the type of vehicle they use. Some maintain their licenses and race in both arenas. The initial draw becomes an intricate part of their beings.

The sanctioning bodies that help sponsor these races require that drivers have membership in their series. There is a fee that is paid for each series as well as fees for each race when the team registers. Drivers receive cash prizes for winning and placing in the top three places as well as points that accumulate over the season to determine the best driver overall.

These races can be watched on television by fans who cannot travel to the race locations. Stations that carry them usually cater to sports venues and these races are usually taped in advance of viewing.




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