Speed of a Stock Car
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| Bibliographic Entry | Result (w/surrounding text) |
Standardized Result |
|---|---|---|
| Davids, Mark, Robert F. Neff, and Paul W. Zitzewitz. Merrill Physics: Principles and Problems. New York, New York: Glencoe/McGraw Hill, 1995. 83: #17b. | "A race car can be slowed with a constant acceleration of −11m/s2. b) [If the car is going 110 m/s, how many meters will it take to stop?]" | 110 m/s |
| Andrea, David J., and Michael S. Flynn. "Automobile Racing: Stock Car Racing." The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book, 2003. | "However, a stock car's large, powerful engine enables it to reach speeds of 200 miles(320 kilometers) per hour." | 89 m/s |
| Howell, Mark D. From Moonshine to Madison Avenue: A Cultural History of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997: 49. | "Many Americans can shoot a basketball through a hoop or hit a baseball from an early age, but few Americans-even during adulthood-can handle a 3,400-pound stock car putting out over 700 horsepower and capable of reaching speeds over 190 miles per hour." | 85 m/s |
| Riggs, D. Randy. Flat-Out Racing: An Insider's Look at the World of Stock Cars. MetroBooks, 1995. 107. | "In Plymouth form, the Hemi carried the "Super-Commando" moniker; the Dodge version was tagged "Hemi-Charger." Names aside, the engines were identical. Final testing was not carried out until the winter of 1963-1964, in total secrecy at the Goodyear San Angelo test oval in Texas, where the Mopars were clocking speeds around the 180 mph mark on the 5-mile track. In early 1964, 180 mph was flying, but Chrysler racing personnel kept it under their hat." | 80 m/s |
Automobile racing is an exciting sport. A specific type of automobile racing, stock car racing, is found mainly in the United States. The stock cars race around an oval track which is approximately 800 meters (½ mile) in length. Races are usually 320 to 970 kilometers (200 to 600 miles) long. The stock cars race at an average speed of 77 m/s (160 mph). Nevertheless, the powerful engine of the stock car gives it the ability to travel at speeds close to 90 m/s (200 mph).
A stock car is a type of a race car. A stock car is a vehicle which has been altered from its original factory design. Therefore, the car's initial purpose was to be used as a means of transportation, not to be raced.
The sport of stock car racing has it origins from moonshine runners. Moonshine runners were vehicles used by bandits and bank robbers in the early and mid 1900s. These moonshine runners reached speeds that were much higher than that of police cars. Thus, the bandits were able to get away from the cops and "blew them away".
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), is an organization, which was originally formed to regulate stock car racing. Stock car racing has had its roots long before the 1990s. In the winter of 1963-1964, stock cars had been assembled which could move at speeds up to 80 m/s (180 mph) on an 8 kilometer (5 mile) track.
Stock cars have evolved over time. Their speed, protection, and overall performance have all increased since the sport's start. Originally, the cars were stocked, to capacity, with protective material to keep the drivers safe in case their car crashed during the race. Modern stock cars have been modified; mainly due to the interest of the drivers' safety.
Michael Mirochnik -- 2005