How Will a NASCAR Cup Car's Brakes Handle Daytona's Road Course? We Asked an Expert

As soon as NASCAR announced that its big, heavy Cup cars would be tackling Daytona’s full road course this August, a popular question arose: How will the brakes do under such punishment?

So we asked those who would know: Brembo–specifically, Mike Messina, head of the company’s motorsports program in North America.

GRM: What kind of braking setup …

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Are NASCAR's really "big" and "heavy"? 

Google says minimum weight is 3300 lbs for a NASCAR stock car.  How much does that IMSA car weigh?  2700 or so?

mikeatrpi said:

Are NASCAR's really "big" and "heavy"? 

Google says minimum weight is 3300 lbs for a NASCAR stock car.  How much does that IMSA car weigh?  2700 or so?

That's a pretty huge difference.  Like 22% more.

"Poorly"

Kind of like, how much downforce does a cup car generate?

"Not much"

:)

m4ff3w said:

mikeatrpi said:

Are NASCAR's really "big" and "heavy"? 

Google says minimum weight is 3300 lbs for a NASCAR stock car.  How much does that IMSA car weigh?  2700 or so?

That's a pretty huge difference.  Like 22% more.

And compare that to an F1 car at 746 kg (1,686 lbs), which people already complain about being "fat"!

In reply to Dave M (Forum Supporter) :

To be fair, the old ones didn't have to carry an entire race worth of fuel, nor were they burdened with the weight of a hybrid system.

Cup cars in the rain at Daytona will be a caution lap parade I think. Too much HP, no downforce, no abs, and drivers with little wet weather seat time in cup cars. 

To be faaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiir...

m4ff3w said:

mikeatrpi said:

Are NASCAR's really "big" and "heavy"? 

Google says minimum weight is 3300 lbs for a NASCAR stock car.  How much does that IMSA car weigh?  2700 or so?

That's a pretty huge difference.  Like 22% more.

And smaller rotors on the Cup cars, at least for now.