NASCAR Home Tracks
NASCAR Home Tracks 101
Who's Who And What's What In NASCAR Home TracksIt takes a special blend of talent, ambition and perseverance to rise to the top levels in NASCAR racing. But there are opportunities everywhere.
FIRST STEP: REGIONAL SERIES SERIES AS GRASSROOTS FOUNDATION
A network of nearly 60 race tracks across North America comprises the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (Twitter hashtag #NWAAS) – and provides the first step. NASCAR-sanctioned short track races are held on dirt and asphalt tracks of all shapes and sizes. A national championship is awarded, along with U.S. state and Canadian province championships, rookies of the year, and track championships.
In this locally-based series, many drivers race as a weekend hobby on their hometown tracks, while others move up the ladder. Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Travis Kvapil, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, and Elliott Sadler all began their careers in this series.
In 2011, NASCAR lowered the minimum age to 14 to run in all NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned track, further cementing the series status as the foundation for drivers looking to make their way up the NASCAR ladder.
2011 champion: Philip Morris
THE NEXT LEVEL: TOURING SERIES
OFFER DRIVER DEVELOPMENT
• NASCAR K&N Pro Series, East and West
• NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
• NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
For local short track competitors who aspire to reach NASCAR’s three national series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – NASCAR’s touring series are the place to go. These regional series compete on a variety of tracks, providing valuable experience for up-and-coming drivers, while providing special events for local fans.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series, which includes the East (#KNEast) and the West (#KNWest), is the top step in NASCAR’s developmental series before drivers make the jump to the three national series. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series race cars are similar to the cars used on the NASCAR Nationwide Series. For NASCAR K&N Pro Series racers, new cost-saving technology makes this division a more cost-effective driver development program.
An optional “spec” engine was introduced in 2006. It is designed to be powerful and durable, yet is made from a precisely-specified set of components that help to keep engine costs down. A composite body, molded from synthetic materials, is also available as an alternative to expensive sheet metal bodies. These items help teams control costs while providing them the opportunity to advance from their hometown short tracks to the next level. In 2007, the minimum age for the touring series was lowered from 18 to 16, allowing for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series to become a proving ground for drivers signed by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams to development deals.
Many of today’s top drivers established their careers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, including Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday Jr., Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Truex, Cole Witt and others. It’s a feeder system for NASCAR’s three national series.
2010 Champions: Max Gresham (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) and Greg Pursley (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West)
Along with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, two open-wheel NASCAR Modified series are found on the East Coast. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour traces its roots back to the very first NASCAR race, held in Daytona Beach, Fla. in 1948.
Many of the early NASCAR race cars were “modified” and the division evolved from there. Today, these unique race cars remain wildly popular along the Eastern Seaboard. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (#NWMT) competes across the Northeast while the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour (#NWSMT) races throughout the Southern states.
2011 Champions: Ron Silk (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and George Brunnhoelzl III (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour)
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
• NASCAR Toyota Series
• Euro-Racecar
NASCAR announced the addition of two international touring series in 2007 – the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (#NCATS) and the Mexico-based NASCAR Toyota Series (#NTSMx). Both series offer new opportunities for Canada’s and Mexico’s top teams and drivers to showcase their talents in the NASCAR system.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (right), which features cars similar to those used on the former CASCAR Super Series, operates throughout Canada with a schedule from May to October. The series is broadcast on TSN, Canada’s leading sports network. The NASCAR Toyota Series (below right) features cars similar to those used in Late Model classes at short tracks in the U.S., with fiberglass composite bodies and spec engines. The series is broadcast in Mexico on Televisa and throughout Central and Latin America on FX and SPEED.
In January of 2012, NASCAR and Team FJ reached a licensing agreement to recognize Euro-Racecar (#EuroRC) (below left) as a NASCAR Touring Series. NASCAR will hold its first oval race in Europe on Sunday, July 8 in Tours, France.
2011 Champions: Scott Steckly (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) and Germán Quiroga (NASCAR Toyota Series)
DRIVE FOR DIVERSITY / REV RACING
Drive for Diversity is the industry’s leading development program for minority and female drivers and crew members. Managed by Max Siegel Inc., the Drive for Diversity program (#D4D2012) currently supports drivers in two of NASCAR’s developmental series – the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Drive for Diversity also supports crew member candidates through a year-long pit crew training program. Crew members have gone on to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Headquartered in Concord, N.C., Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, brings together championship caliber executives, competition staff and equipment in a unique academy-style environment. Rev Racing currently operates four NASCAR K&N Pro Series East teams and two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams. In addition, Rev Racing manages a youth racing initiative that allows kids ages 8-14 to compete in the INEX Bandolero and INEX Legend cars. The team also trains aspiring female and minority pit crew athletes through the Drive for Diversity Crew Member Development program presented by Sprint.
NASCAR DIVERSITY WEBSITE | REV RACING WEBSITE
UNOH BATTLE AT THE BEACH
The bright lights of the “World Center of Racing” will shine on the stars of NASCAR’s regional and touring series, as NASCAR announced Daytona International Speedway will host the inaugural “UNOH Battle At The Beach” on Feb. 18-19, 2013 (#NASCARBattle).
The two-days of racing will be headlined by three non-points special events: the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified tours, and the Late Model division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. A temporary oval will be set up on Daytona’s Superstretch to host the races, It is tentatively slated to be approximately .4-mile.
NASCAR-APPROVED SPEC ENGINE
The NASCAR-Approved SPEC Engine is an alternative for competitors in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. It is also an option for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at select tracks.
During the 2011 season over 300 engines ran in competition. Combined they produced 36 victories, 180 top-five finishes and 347 top ten finishes; with teams reporting an average annual cost savings of $70,000 – $80,000 when compared to running “built” engines.
ROBERT YATES RACING ENGINES WEBSITE
NASCAR GENERAL INFORMATION
SPONSORS & COMPETITION
ON TRACK
REVIEW & RECORDS
| 2011 REVIEW | RECORDS |
|---|---|
| K&N Pro Series East | K&N Pro Series East |
| K&N Pro Series West | K&N Pro Series West |
| Canadian Tire Series | Canadian Tire Series |
| Whelen Modified Tour | Whelen Modified Tour |
| Whelen Southern Modified Tour | Whelen Southern Modified Tour |
| Whelen All-American Series | Whelen All-American Series |
At A Glance
