Production car racing

{{Further|Stock car racing}}

When the first oval speedway built for automobile racing was constructed in England in 1906, ordinary street cars were the vehicles of choice for racing.{{cite web|title= Cars as Entertainment: A Brief History of Racing |url= https://klairmontkollections.com/a-history-of-racing/|website= Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum |accessdate=October 7, 2024}} These cars were typically procured directly from dealerships, with minimal alterations made to meet the demands of the racetrack. The affordability and accessibility of stock cars allowed racing enthusiasts from all walks of life to participate, contributing to the growth and popularity of the sport. {{cite web|title= Why Is It Called Stock Car Racing |url=https://www.racencra.com/why-is-it-called-stock-car-racing/ |website= National Championship Racing Association|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}

As the sport evolved, so did the modifications made to the stock cars. Drivers started customizing their vehicles by enhancing performance and safety features, such as reinforcing chassis frames, installing roll cages, and improving engines and suspension systems. These modifications allowed the stock cars to withstand the intense demands of racing, turning them into formidable competitive machines.

These modifications increased the cost to compete, and in order to attract new competitors, race promotors responded by adding new divisions for "lesser modified" passenger cars.{{cite web|last=Murto|first=Craig|title=Origins: The Creation of Late Model Stock Origins: The Creation of Late Model Stock Cars |url=https://race22.online/origins-the-creation-of-late-model-stock-cars/|publisher= RACE22.com |date=March 19, 2019|accessdate=September 25, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Blount|first=Robert|title=What Types Of Cars Are Used In NASCAR Racing?|url=https://www.floracing.com/articles/11194846-what-types-of-cars-are-used-in-nascar-racing|date=August 20, 2023|publisher=FloRacing|accessdate=September 24, 2024}}

Requirements for these introductory divisions can vary greatly, but all are based on a full-bodied passenger vehicle and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) production engine. Roll cages must be welded into the frame, and all glass, vinyl, upholstery and lights must be removed from the vehicle.{{cite web|last=Winter|first=Richard|title= How Dirt Stock Car Racing Works |url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/nascar-basics/dirt-stock-car-racing.htm|website=HowStuffWorks|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}

In various regions, they may be known as hobby stocks, street stocks, pure stocks, bombers, factory stocks or stingers. In British oval racing, the term "production car racing" has been used as an alternative for hot rods, as run in the West Country during the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, and a production car world championships. The West Country production cars were later reclassified as hot rods to come in line with the country's other promoters although this causes some confusion with the history of the West country racing as there was another class called hot rods that ran on those tracks.{{cite news|last=Oneill|first=Shaun|title=National Hot Rods & National Ministox Headline Oval Racing Weekender |url=https://www.ballymenaguardian.co.uk/motor-sports/2024/05/23/gallery/national-hot-rods-national-ministox-headline-oval-racing-weekender-51682/|date=May 23, 2024|newspaper=Ballymena Guardian|location= Moygashel, NIR|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

The major U.S. sanctioning organizations – International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), DIRTcar, NASCAR, and Championship Racing Association (CRA/ASA) -- generally promote these classes as one of three levels: entry, intermediate, or advanced.{{cite news|last=McFadden|first=Kyle|title= Speedway has many races coming from many places |url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/sports/2019/03/21/speedway-has-many-races-coming-from-many-places/44271987/|date=March 20, 2019|publisher=The Herald-Mail|location=Hagerstown MD|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}

The Sport Compact (IMCA, DIRTcar) or Pure Stock (NASCAR) or Mini-Stock or Bomber divisions are the lowest entry-level racing class. Four-passenger vehicles with a four-cylinder or limited six-cylinder engines, the rules for these race cars mandate a stock body and a stock suspension. The vehicles can be made race ready for $500 to $2,000, and involve merely gutting the interior and adding a racing seat and roll cage.{{cite news|title= Mini-Stock Classes - Engine Tech - Overview |url= https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ctrp-0511-mini-stock-class-engine-tech/|date=June 14, 2016|publisher= Circle Track|via=Motor Trend|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite news|title= Bomber Race to Headline Memorial Day Weekend at Goodyear |url= https://www.racingamerica.com/news/other-cars/bomber-race-to-headline-memorial-day-weekend-at-goodyear|date=March 26, 2022|publisher= Racing America|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite web|title= EIR Race Classes & Rules |url= https://www.edmontonraceway.com/index.php?area_id=1023&page_id=1072#:~:text=The%20NASCAR%20PURE%20Stock%20Class,and%20off%20you%20go%20racing!|website=Edmonton International Raceway|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite web|title= DIRTcar Sport Compact |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-sport-compact/ |website=DIRTcar Racing|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}

The Hobby Stock (IMCA) or Factory Stock (DIRTcar) or Thunder Car (NASCAR) are also divisions designed to give new competitors the chance to go racing. The body and frame must match, and very few alterations are allowed to the stock frame and suspension. The engines produce roughly 300 horsepower and must reflect the correct pairing to the model. Racers can generally build competitive cars for between $3,500 and $10,000.{{cite web|title=DIRTcar Factory Stock |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-factory-stock/ |website=DIRTcar Racing|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}

The Stock (IMCA, DIRTcar) or Street Stock (NASCAR, CRA/ASA) or Pro Stock (DIRTcar Northeast) divisions characteristically have bigger engines that produce roughly 360 horsepower, yet still require an OEM passenger vehicle production block. The rules also allow for some changes to the suspension, including the addition of screw jacks. While a used race car can be purchased for around $6,500, competitive stock cars can cost upwards of $25,000.{{cite news|last=MacLaren|first=Ian|title= Race Cars 101 |url= https://www.the-journal.com/articles/race-cars-101/|date=July 18, 2013|publisher= The Journal|location=Cortez, CO|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Rob|title= IMCA Racing - Ruling The Costs Of Racing |url= https://www.motortrend.com/features/ctrp-0612-imca-racing/|date=June 14, 2016|publisher= Circle Track|via=Motor Trend|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Crowse|first=Shawn|title= So you want to race? Here are ways to throw the green flag on your career |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/so-you-want-to-race-here-are-ways-throw-the-green-flag-on-your-career/|date=June 15, 2016|publisher= Circle Track|via=Motor Trend|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite news|title=CRA Street Stocks Introduce 'Five Crown' Format |url= https://www.speedsport.com/stock-cars/other-stock-cars/cra-street-stocks-introduce-five-crown-format/|date=December 21, 2023|publisher= Speed Sport|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite web|title=DIRTcar Stock Car |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-stock-car/|website=DIRTcar Racing|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite web|title= DIRTcar Pro Stock |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-northeast/dirtcar-pro-stock/ |website=DIRTcar Racing|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Racing 101|url=https://merrittspeedwaymi.com/racing-101/|website=Merritt Speedway|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}

File:Car_-02,_Driver_Leanna_Wright_(52292607958).jpg

{{Further|Touring car racing}}

Many production racing categories are based on particular makes of cars. There are many Porsche and Audi racing series around the world. These are also called "one make series". Some series use a handicapped start, where the smaller cars are released up to 45 seconds ahead of the larger cars, and are slowly caught, the idea being that all the cars are together at the finish of the race. Many series follow the group N regulation with a few exceptions. There are several different series that have run all over the world, most notably, Japan's Super Taikyu and IMSA's Firehawk Series which ran between the 1980s to 1990s all over the United States.{{cite web|title=FIA WRC PRODUCTION RALLYING CLASS CHANGES IN 2015|url=http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/fia-wrc-production-rallying-class-changes-in-2015/|access-date=2015-06-18|work=dirtyimpreza.com|archive-date=2015-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619060432/http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/fia-wrc-production-rallying-class-changes-in-2015/|url-status=dead}}

Cars usually have a protective roll cage and run race tires (either slicks or radials). Some freedoms are allowed, like gearbox coolers, giving the cars increased performance and components longevity. Production car racing, known in the US as "showroom stock", is an economical and rules restricted version of touring car racing.{{cite news|title=The Quad Squad: Olds’ 16-Valvers are Hot in Showroom Stock|url=https://www.motortrend.com/features/the-quad-squad-august-1989-982-1428-88-1/|date=1989|publisher= Hot Rod Magazine|via=Motor Trend|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

Major races include the Bathurst 6 Hour, Bahrain 24 Hour, Dubai 24 Hour and Malaysian 12 Hour and sanctioned by organisations such as the FIA and SCCA. Normally using an entry-level formula, it has grown into a stand-alone series, with national, state and club events and championships. The first NASCAR "strictly stock" race was held at Charlotte Speedway, on June 19, 1949. Where a racing class requires that the cars raced be production vehicles only slightly adapted for racing, manufacturers typically produce a limited run of such vehicles for public sale so that they can legitimately race them in the class. These cars are commonly called "homologation specials".[http://www.rallycars.com/Cars/Homologation.html www.rallycars.com], Homologation Specials.

File:Calder_park_street_drags01.jpg

{{Further|Drag racing}}

The World Drag Alliances (WDRA), which operates in the U.S., Canada, and Aruba provides a "Factory Street" class for factory produced vehicles to race legally and safely on a drag strip. The regulations for Factory Street vehicles rely on the manufacturers unaltered standard safety features of the vehicle to. All the vehicle’s original and unaltered OEM safety equipment is mandatory and must be fully functional.{{cite web|title= Factory Street |url=https://www.racewdra.com/factory-street/|website= World Drag Racing Alliance |accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) promotes a "Stock " class in the U.S. and Canada where virtually any car is eligible to compete, and entries are classified using a system that divides factory shipping weight by a horsepower factor. Bodies must be unaltered and retain a full factory interior. Engines must be correct for the make and model vehicle and must retain stock cylinder heads, intake manifold, and carburetor.{{cite web|title=Drag Racing Guides|url=https://www.nhra.com/drag-racing-classes|website= National Hot Rod Association|accessdate=October 8, 2024}} The NHRA has developed a Stock Car Classification Guide to position a vehicle in its proper class.{{cite web|title=Stock Car Classification Guides|url= https://www.nhraracer.com/content/general.asp?articleid=46635&zoneid=132|website= National Hot Rod Association|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has included a "Sportsman" class which is open to door cars only. Electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics, throttle timers, staging controllers and counters prohibited, as are or any other device which may way affect the throttle operation.{{cite news|title= Sportsman Class Added to IHRA Summit SuperSeries|url= https://dragchamp.com/2018/ihra/sportsman-class-added-to-ihra-summit-superseries/|date=November 13, 2018|publisher= DragChamp.com|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

In Australia, the IHRA promotes a "Real Street" class, which requires the vehicles be legally registered and licensed.{{cite web|title=Real Street Class Regulations|url= https://www.ihra.com.au/IHRA_Australia_Rules_Real_Street_Class_Regulations.pdf|website= International Hot Rod Association|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

Every September at Mid-Michigan Raceway in Stanton, hosts the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race. The event hosts classic drag racing with stock (or nearly stock) U.S. muscle cars factory built between 1955 and 1979.{{cite news|last=Rosenberg|first=Diego|title= 29th Annual Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race |url= https://journal.classiccars.com/2023/09/20/29th-annual-pure-stock-muscle-car-drag-race/|date=September 20, 2023|publisher=The Classic Cars Journal|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}{{cite web|title=30th Annual Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race |url=https://www.psmcdr.com/|website=psmcdr.com)|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{Class of Auto racing}}

Category:Auto racing by type