Generation 3 (NASCAR)

{{Infobox racing car

| Name = Generation 3

| Image = DarrellWaltrip17car1989.jpg

| Caption = Darrell Waltrip's 1989 Chevrolet Lumina at Phoenix Raceway

| Constructor = {{flagicon|USA}} Chevrolet
{{flagicon|USA}} Ford
{{flagicon|USA}} Oldsmobile
{{flagicon|USA}} Pontiac
{{flagicon|USA}} Buick
{{flagicon|USA}} Dodge (until 1983)
{{flagicon|USA}} Chrysler (1981-1985)

| Predecessor = Generation 2

| Successor = Generation 4

| Wheelbase = 110 inches

| Engine name = 90° pushrod V-8

| Capacity = 358 cubic inches (5,870 cc)

| Fuel = Unocal 76 110 (1981-1991)

| Tires = Goodyear
Hoosier (1988-1989)

| Debut = February 15, 1981
(1981 Daytona 500)

| Last_event = November 17, 1991
(1991 Hardee's 500)

}}

The Generation 3 refers to the generation of stock cars used in NASCAR from 1981 to 1991, and it was used in the Busch Series at its modern beginning in 1982. In this generation, NASCAR downsized the cars to better resemble cars on the showroom floor (with wheelbase at 110 inches), and body panels were still purchased through the manufacturers.{{Cite web|date=July 28, 2021|title=The evolution of NASCAR Cup Series cars|url=https://www.nascar.com/gallery/the-evolution-of-nascar-sprint-cup-cars/#photo-1|website=NASCAR.com}}

History

= Cup Series =

The Generation 3 era began in 1981 and, as a consequence of the second aero war between General Motors and Ford that also extended to their production models,{{cite web |last1=Litwin |first1=Matt |title=Aero War II |url=https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/aero-war-ii |website=Hemmings |access-date=November 2, 2022 |date=September 23, 2018}} featured bigger spoilers, and streamlined designs{{Cite web|last=Weaver|first=Matt|date=May 6, 2021|title=NASCAR Generations|url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a36107106/nascar-generations/|website=Autoweek.com}} that barely resembled their showroom counterparts. The wheelbase was reduced to 110 inches in response to the demand of the production car market at the time, making the cars smaller than the previous two generations.

These were the cars that necessitated restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega. In 1987 at Talladega, Bill Elliott set what remains the NASCAR qualifying record of {{cvt|212.809|mph}} at Talladega, circling the track in 44.998 seconds. But soon into the race, Bobby Allison's car went airborne and nearly went into the main grandstands, and that was the last unrestricted race on either of the two giant tracks. He also set the qualifying lap of {{cvt|210.364|mph|km/h}} at Daytona in 1987, circling the oval in 42.783 seconds, which still stands today. NASCAR mandated smaller carburetors for the rest of that season, and in 1988 required the restrictor plates.{{Cite web|last=Hinton|first=Ed|date=January 15, 2013|title=Six generations of NASCAR cars|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/8848213/nascar-gen-6-cars-us-look-back-previous-cup-cars|website=ESPN.com}}

The Generation 3 cars were used until 1991. It was the last generation without roof flaps (mandated in 1994). It was succeeded by the Generation 4 cars in 1992.

= Busch Series =

In 1982, NASCAR's then-new second-tier series (currently known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series) competitors began looking at alternatives from the 5-litre based {{convert|311|cuin|L|1|lk=on|abbr=on}} engines, as in short track racing there was a push for six-cylinder engines to save on costs, with some series allowing weight breaks. One popular idea was to use {{convert|231-275|cuin|L|1|lk=on|abbr=on}} six-cylinder engines; instead of Cup Series' {{convert|358|cuin|L|1|lk=on|abbr=on}} V-8s.{{cite web|url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2020/04/07/turn-back-the-clock-1995-nascar-season-the-crossroads/|website=frontstretch.com|title=Turn Back The Clock: 1995 NASCAR Season, The Crossroads|date=7 April 2020|access-date=October 13, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://oval.race-cars.com/carsales/chevy/1059442052/1059442052ss.htm|website=oval.race-cars.com|title=1994 Chevy 90 deg V6 Race Engine Spec Sheet|access-date=October 13, 2021|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022222343/http://oval.race-cars.com/carsales/chevy/1059442052/1059442052ss.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.teambuick.com/reference/library/v6_stage2.php|title=2 Less = More, Stage II V-6}} In 1989, NASCAR changed rules requiring cars to use current body styles, similar to the Cup cars. However, the cars still used V6 engines. The cars gradually became similar to Cup cars.