Ever since the formation of NASCAR in 1948, stock car racing has been known for its wild cars, incredible top speeds, and thundering V8s barreling down tracks such as Talladega, Daytona, and Dover. But that might all change, if the industry and association decides to embrace hybrid tech in its future race car designs. Exactly what the tech will look like and the impact on NASCAR's various motorsport series events, however, is still very much up in the air. A recent interview with the America's Head of Toyota Racing sheds some light on these developments and more. Let's take a look.

Hybrid NASCAR?

Nascar Hybrid 1
via Washington Post

NASCAR Cup series cars currently use 358 cubic inch engines, but they are due in store for a massive redesign with a next gen car on the way. The Head of Toyota Racing, David Wilson, has commented that changes are in store for both the new powertrains and car designs as well.

While discussions are in the early stages, Wilson has stated that Toyota would like to move to aluminum block with overhead cams and direct injection instead of the venerable cam in iron block pushrod design. He also sees this engine being developed before the integration of a hybrid system which would most likely be an electric motor driven off the transaxle.

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Problems Ahead And Other Developments

Nascar Hybrid 4
via Tech Crunch

However, while this system works to great effect on F1 and road course racers, their might be a problem on NASCAR circuits where there isn't enough braking involved to regenerate the hybrid system. This would make a hybrid NASCAR system very limited in use with race strategy playing a big role in how to successfully deploy it on the track. Wilson sees a 90 to 95 kilowatt unit generating somewhere in the neighborhood of 120-130 hp being the sweet spot for a successful system.

There's More To This Story

And none of this precludes the integration of other novel technologies into NASCAR's future next gen racer as well. But there is so much that has to be ironed out between the respective manufacturers and NASCAR organizing body, itself, making it unclear how this will take shape moving forward. If you're interested in learning more check out the video clip above. Buckle up.

Source: Popular Mechanics

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