Cup Series Stock Car

• A NASCAR Cup Series stock car involves a whole team of engineers and technicians to build and prepare. It drives at over 800 horsepower and reaches speeds up to nearly 200 miles per hour. All the cars are built the same, they reach the same speeds and they are also equally equipped with safety measures to protect the drivers.
  
  

Identification

• All drivers racing in a NASCAR event have to display numbers on the roof and door areas of the vehicle. They are also allowed to display their sponsors on the car.
  
  

Before the Race

• A NASCAR racer's setup consists of shocks, springs, gear ratios and chassis weight distribution among other factors. All of these factors are managed by top professionals and adjusted by the best racing mechanics in order for the car to be at peak performance come race day. Before race day, each car is checked by a panel to ensure that it fits all the rules and regulations.
  
  

Having a Good Team

• Even though all cars have limits and regulations to follow, the setup has to be accurate, and the mechanics have a crucial job in making sure that the car is able to reach top speed. When a driver has a car that is in top racing condition, his driving control is enhanced and he will have a better chance at winning the race. When the setup is inaccurate, the car is harder to control and isn't as fast, causing the driver slower lap times. It is crucial for a crew chief to have an excellent team as much as an excellent driver.
  
  

Equipment on a Cup Series Stock Car

• Stock parts on a Cup series race car include safety measures such as a roll cage, windshield clips that allow for easy removal of the windshield in case the driver needs to exit quickly, double frame rail and energy absorbing material, a window net that keeps the driver's head and arms inside the car during an accident, an alternate exit known as a roof hatch, and roofing panels that keep the car from going airborne if in a spin. Every car is equipped with a video camera so the crowd can see the race from the driver's perspective. Body panels are fabricated from 24-gauge/0.0247-inch (minimum) cold-rolled sheet metal and every car is required to use Goodyear Eagle racing tires.