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Looking At Sprint Car Dirt Track Racing

By Patty Goff


Civilized societies have used personal competition as a means of determining leadership throughout history. We see examples of this competitive spirit in the origins of the Olympics in Greece as well as chariot racing in ancient Rome and horse races in Mongolia and later in early American society. Sprint car dirt track racing is an example of this same competitive drive in humans.

Fans love the fast action of these short track races because they are able to experience the excitement generated by drivers while watching the action from the stands. Tracks vary in size from location to location starting with those measuring an eighth of a mile with the larger tracks being a mile oval. The cars can reach speeds of up to one hundred forty miles per hour during the race.

Once the car and driver have registered to participate in a race there can be no substitutions of either. They are a team and if either component cannot perform they will be disqualified from the race. This rule includes the vehicle meeting all directives required by the vehicle specifications division of track and sanctioning bodies of each race.

These race cars are rated in winged and un-winged categories. The winged category came into being in the 1970s, twelve years after the invention by Jim Cushman. He devised the wings to create stronger down force on the tops and backs of the cars. The down force helped to maintain contact of the wheels with the surface soil there by helping to prevent the cars from flipping during the race. Side wings soon followed and they act as stabilizers in the frequent turns on these tracks. The top wings also cushion and protect the driver in the event of a flip over during the race.

In an effort to protect drivers several safety upgrades have been initiated in last ten years. Roll cages have become mandatory for these racers. There is also a seven point safety harness that is recommended and it must be less than two years old. Head rests, neck and head braces and full cover helmets have also been installed. The driving suits and gloves must be double strength and fire retardant. A special metal netting is required over the roll cage openings to prevent rocks and debris from entering the cab and striking the driver.

Sprint racing is the origin of many NASCAR drivers' careers. They create their reputations as drivers and eventually make the transition to the larger vehicles and tracks. It is not uncommon for them to retain their licenses for short track racing after making the initial change.

The sanctioning bodies that help sponsor these races require that drivers have membership in their series. There is a fee that is paid for each series as well as fees for each race when the team registers. Drivers receive cash prizes for winning and placing in the top three places as well as points that accumulate over the season to determine the best driver overall.

There has been spotty television of these races over the past thirty years. Some stations have signed contracts with specific sanctioned race organizations and for various reasons either not finished the seasons or not continued the contracts for following seasons. These races can currently be seen on Speed TV using tape delayed replay.




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