Nascar is the most popular auto racing competition in the United States. But, do you know how it works?
Here, you will understand how Nascar works, which categories and cars are used in each of them.
Those who enjoy motoring should not ignore the largest and most successful category of motorsports in the United States, which only loses to American soccer in public preference. If you don’t know Nascar and want to know more about it, check out the main characteristics of the competition below.
What is Nascar and how does it work?
Nascar is the acronym for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. This association controls and organizes several auto racing competitions in the United States. Currently, the three main categories are: Nascar Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series.
Considered the most popular motor racing modality among the American public, Nascar has races, generally executed in oval circuits and always in series cars, with the same appearance of those that leave the factory.
Currently, the engines are supplied by Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford.
Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are used in both the Nascar Cup and the Xfinity Series. Toyota supplies the Toyota Camry for the Nascar Cup Series and the Toyota Supra for the Xfinity Series.
Nascar dispute system
In Nascar Cup Series, the first races of the season are played with the traditional scoring system. At the end of this phase, the first 16 places of the championship go to the playoffs system, which receives the name of Chase and starts in September.
In the last 10 races, the 12 drivers receive a much higher score than the others, ensuring that the title dispute is only between them.
History of Nascar
Nascar was founded on February 21, 1948 by William France and Ed Otto. The association was created to regulate races involving modified passenger cars to gain more power and speed.
The first official Nascar race took place on June 19, 1949, on the Charlotte Speedway dirt track in North Carolina.
Initially, the category had 8 stages and was named Strictly Stock. The competition involved only original factory cars without modifications.
In the 1970’s, Nascar started to live its modern era, with the entrance of a car assembler interested in using the category to present their cars to the general public.
Thus, Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler began to help the teams financially and many drivers began to live exclusively from motorsport.
In 1979, there was the first live broadcast of a Nascar race, with the exhibition of the Daytona 500 by CBS.
In 1982, a category in smaller circuits appeared, called Busch Series, which today is called Xfinity Series. In 1995, the Truck Series was created as a pickup category.
Throughout Nascar’s history, several changes have been made, mainly to increase the safety of cars and, consequently, of pilots.
A major change at Nascar is planned for 2021 with the introduction of the new generation of cars (Generation 7). The chassis will be standardized and produced by Dallara, the same manufacturer of the IndyCar chassis.
The tires will be 18 inches, unlike the current 15 inches, and will all be specially produced for Nascar by Goodyear.
NASCAR Cup Series
The Nascar Cup Series is Nascar’s main category and also the most popular. The season happens between February and November.
Since 2004, the playoff system was adopted for the title decision, starting in September.
The cars use V8 engine of 750 HP and 550 HP with the use of the restrictor in the system of admission.
In Nascar Cup Series, the cars are: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Toyota Camry.
Xfinity Series
The Xfinity Series is Nascar’s second category, disputed since 1982. They are used with 800 HP V8 engine.
Currently, in the Xfinity Series, the cars are: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Toyota Supra.
Since 2016, the playoff system is adopted for the title decision.
Gander RV & Outdoors Série Truck
Truck Series, currently called Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, is Nascar’s pickup category. It is disputed since 1995.
Vehicles with 700 HP V8 engine are used.
Nascar Pilots
A principal categoria da Nascar, a Cup Series, é disputada por 33 pilotos. Já a Xfinity Series conta com 24 pilotos, enquanto a Truck Series tem 21 competidores.
Nascar Cup Series Pilots
Aric Almirola (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Christopher Bell (Leavine Family Racing)
Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
Alex Bown (Hendrick Motorsports)
Clint Bowyer (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Kurt Busch (Chip Ganassi Racing)
William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
Cole Custer (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Matt DiBenedetto (Wood Brothers Racing)
Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)
Ty Dillon (Germain Racing)
Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)
Chad Finchum (MBM Motorsports)
Joey Gase (Rick Ware Racing)
Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Timmy Hill (MBM Motorsports)
Quin Houff (Starcom Racing)
Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports)
Erik Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Brad Keselowski (Team Penske)
Corey LaJoie (Go FAS Racing)
Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Joey Logano (Team Penske)
Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports)
Ryan Newman (Roush Fenway Racing)
Brennan Poole (JTG Daugherty Racing)
Tyler Reddick (Richard Childress Racing)
Rick Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing)
Daniel Suarez (Gaunt Brothers Racing)
Martin Truex Jr. (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Bubba Wallace (Richard Petty Motorsports)
J.J. Yeley (Rick Ware Racing)
Xfinity Pilots
Anthony Alfredo (Richard Childress Racing)
Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
Michael Annett (JR Motorsports)
Ray Black Jr. (SS Green Light Racing)
Chase Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing)
Brandon Brown (Brandonbilt Motorsports)
Harrison Burton (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Ross Chastain (Kaulig Racing)
Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)
Joe Graf Jr. (SS Green Light Racing)
Noah Gragson (JR Motorsports)
Kaz Grala (Richard Childress Racing)
Justin Haley (Kaulig Racing)
Mike Harmon (Mike Harmon Racing)
Riley Herbst (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Jesse Little (JD Motorsports)
Tommy Joe Martins (Martins Motorsports)
Vinnie Miller (BJ McLeod Motorsports)
Matt Mills (BJ McLeod Motorsports)
Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)
Myatt Snider (Richard Childress Racing)
David Starr (JD Motorsports com Gary Keller)
Josh Williams (DG Racing)
Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Pilots
Jordan Anderson (Jordan Anderson Racing)
Tyler Ankrum (GMS Racing)
Spencer Boyd (Young’s Motorsports)
Jennifer Jo Cobb (Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)
Matt Crafton (ThorSport Racing)
Sheldon Creed (GMS Racing)
Cristian Eckes (Kyle Busch Motorsports)
Grant Enfinger (ThorSport Racing)
Tate Fogleman (Young’s Motorsports)
Stewart Friesen (Halmar Friesen Racing)
Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
Tanner Gray (DGR-Crosley)
Austin Hill (Hattori Racing Enterprises)
Derek Kraus (McAnally- Hilgemann Racing)
Raphael Lessard (Kyle Busch Motorsports)
Ty Majeski (Niece Motorsports)
Brett Moffitt (GMS Racing)
Ben Rhodes (ThorSport Racing)
Angela Ruch (Reaume Brothers Racing)
Johnny Sauter (ThorSport Racing)
Zane Smith (GMS Racing)
Nascar Calendar
Nascar races are held between February and November. Starting in September, the races are started in the playoff system to define the champion.
Nascar Cup Series Calendar
- 3 de fevereiro – Busch Clash at Daytona
- 13 de fevereiro – Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona
- 13 de fevereiro – Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at Daytona
- 17 de fevereiro – Daytona 500
- 23 de fevereiro – Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube
- 1º de março – Auto Club 400
- 8 de março – FanShield 500
- 15 de março – Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500
- 22 de março – Dixie Vodka 400
- 29 de março – O’Reilly Auto Parts 500
- 5 de abril – Food City 500
- 19 de abril – Toyota Owners 400
- 26 de abril – Geico 500
- 3 de maio – NASCAR Cup Series at Dover
- 9 de maio – Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500
- 16 de maio – NASCAR All Star Open
- 16 de maio – NASCAR All Star Race
- 24 de maio – Coca-Cola 600
- 31 de maio – Kansas 400
- 7 de junho – FireKeepers Casino 400
- 14 de junho – Toyota / Save Mart 350
- 21 de junho – Chicagoland 400
- 27 de junho – Kids Free 325
- 28 de junho – Worry-Free Weather Guarantee 350
- 5 de julho – Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered
- 11 de julho – Quaker State 400
- 19 de julho – Foxwoods Resort Casino 301
- 9 de agosto – Consumers Energy 400
- 16 de agosto – Go Bowling at The Glen
- 23 de agosto – Drydene 400
- 29 de agosto – Coke Zero Sugar 400
- 6 de setembro – Southern 500
- 12 de setembro – Federated Auto Parts 400
- 19 de setembro – Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race
- 27 de setembro – South Point 400
- 4 de outubro – Alabama 500
- 11 de outubro – Bank of America Roval 400
- 18 de outubro – Hollywood Casino 400
- 25 de outubro – Texas 500
- 1º de novembro – Xfinity 500
- 8 de novembro – Nascar Cup Series Championship
Xfinity Series Calendar
- 15 de fevereiro – Nascar Racing Experience 300
- 23 de fevereiro – Boyd Gaming 300
- 29 de fevereiro – Production Alliance Group 300
- 7 de março – LS Tractor 200
- 14 de março – Atlanta 250
- 21 de março – 2020Census.Gov 300
- 28 de março – My Bariatric Solution 300
- 4 de abril – Cheddar’s 300 presented by Alsco
- 25 de abril – MoneyLion 300
- 2 de maio – Nascar Xfinity Series Race at Dover
- 23 de maio – Alsco 300
- 30 de maio – Mid-Ohio 170
- 6 de junho – LTi Printing 250
- 13 de junho – Nascar Xfinity Series Race at Iowa
- 20 de junho – Chicagoland 300
- 28 de junho – Pocono Green 225
- 4 de julho – Indiana 250
- 10 de julho – Alsco 300
- 18 de julho – Nascar Xfinity Series Race at New Hampshire
- 1º de agosto – U.S. Cellular 250
- 8 de agosto – Henry 180
- 15 de agosto – Zippo 200 at The Glen
- 22 de agosto – Nascar Xfinity Series Race at Dover
- 28 de agosto – Coca-Cola 250
- 5 de setembro – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200
- 11 de setembro – Go Bowling 250
- 18 de setembro – Food City 300
- 26 de setembro – Las Vegas 300
- 10 de outubro – Drive for the Cure 250
- 17 de outubro – Kansas Lottery 300
- 24 de outubro – O’Reilly Auto Parts 300
- 31 de outubro – Nascar Xfinity Series Race at Martinsville
- 7 de novembro – Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200
Gander RV Calendar & Truck Series Outdoors
- 14 de fevereiro – NextEra Energy 250
- 21 de fevereiro – Strat 200
- 14 de março – Vet Tix Camping World 200
- 20 de março – Nascar Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race at Homestead
- 27 de março – Vankor 350
- 18 de abril – ToyotaCare 250
- 1º de maio – Nascar Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race at Dover
- 15 de maio – North Carolina Education Lottery 200
- 30 de maio – Kansas 250
- 5 de junho – SpeedyCash.com 400
- 12 de junho – Nascar Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race at Iowa
- 19 de junho – Chicagoland 225
- 27 de junho – Nascar Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race at Pocono
- 9 de julho – Buckle Up In Your Truck 225
- 30 de julho – Eldora Dirt Derby
- 8 de agosto – Nascar Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race at Michigan
- 21 de agosto – WWT Raceway 200
- 6 de setembro – Chevrolet Silverado 250
- 17 de setembro – UNOH 200
- 25 de setembro – World of Westgate 200
- 3 de outubro – Sugarlands Shine 250
- 30 de outubro – Nascar Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race at Martinsville
- 6 de novembro – Lucas Oil 150
Now that you know the entire Nascar racing calendar and who are the drivers of the different categories, you can now prepare to follow the championship and cheer for your favorite.
While we wait for the definition of the next champion, take the opportunity to expand your knowledge about motor racing: