It would be interesting to note which of the UTCC competitors are legal for sanctioned wheel-to-wheel competition as-is, and which are purely trackday/time attack machines.
If you think NASCAR stock sars can only handle one motorsport venue–the oval–Patrick Kite is here to help you change your mind.
His weapon of choice for the 2021 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge? A 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
What is the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge? It’s our annual no-holds-barred track competition. The rules are simple: Car and driver must pass a NASA safety inspection. Period.
Here’s a closer look at this week’s selections:
Normally found on the SVRA circuit, Patrick is entering his first UTCC with his Cup Series-spec ZL1 Camaro. This one is powered by a 650-horsepower LSX V8 mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox.
Also making a first-time UTCC appearance, Roberto Crescencio is bringing a 2003 BMW M3 that uses its stock engine, but still has some extra speed on track thanks to a fully stripped interior, beefier suspension and sticky Hoosier tires on all four corners.
View these cars, along with the rest of the field, on the UTCC website. If you think you have what it takes to win, enter your car here.
The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Tire Rack in association with Wilwood Engineering, HP Tuners, SPA Technique, KW Suspensions, XClutch and FCP Euro, with trophies from BimmerWorld, Mantic Clutch, Falken Tire, Hoosier Tire and Mach V Motorsports.
It would be interesting to note which of the UTCC competitors are legal for sanctioned wheel-to-wheel competition as-is, and which are purely trackday/time attack machines.
VIR is a pretty power-heavy track. So, big power, plus big slicks... I reckon it'll do alright; especially considering how similar entries have fared over the last several years of UTCC.
Restricted or not. That is the question. The big power time attack cars are likely faster in the straights.
There are some very strict regulations in the NASCAR rule book that explicity FORBID running a current spec Cup car at non-NASCAR events.
This car is from the Hendrick Racing organization. I hope to see them fined/penalized in the Cup series to within an inch of their lives. That is probably mostly due to working for another manufacturer in the series and following the rules as set out.
Perhaps the car in question should be disqualified from the UTCC competition.
Steve Stafford
All of the above being said, the current Cup cars are very competitive and well sorted after so many years.
In reply to stafford1500 :
Is a 2019 car still considered 'current spec'?
In reply to sleepyhead the buffalo :
Any Gen 6 car (current body rules) as specified by the rulebook...
So yes.
The world is so much fun now...... got people telling when where and how you can race your race car.
stafford1500 said:There are some very strict regulations in the NASCAR rule book that explicity FORBID running a current spec Cup car at non-NASCAR events.
The article says it has a 650 hp LS motor, don't they have more like 800 hp in NASCAR spec? Perhaps that's enough different that it doesn't count?
As for whether or not it can beat the UTCC field, with the right driver and prep (and the NASCAR-spec power level) I would think it's pretty likely. Starting in 2019 they went back to the full course at Sears Point/Sonoma (with the carousel) and the pole time was a 1:34.7. That's ~ 20 seconds faster than the Spec Miata lap record and ~ 10 seconds faster than your typical bay area fast track day cars (GT3s, 3-digit McLarens, C7 Z06s, etc). Sears Point isn't that much of a power-sensitive track, either.
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) said:The world is so much fun now...... got people telling when where and how you can race your race car.
F1 has limits like that, it's because of the testing bans for cost control.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
Yup, I figured it was an 'unsanctioned test' limit. I'd think the shocks might have to be different too? I think a similar "track day nascar" ran last year... dunno all the things that differentiate it from a 'race spec' car to be clear of that regulation?
And, from some reading on the beginnings of nascar, it was even worse back in the days when AAA (yes, that AAA) sanctioned all the racing in the US.
although, in a way, it's kinda ironic that it's now come full circle.
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