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Turning The Heat Out of NASCAR
Keeping NASCAR stock cars cool is as important as keeping them fast. For long races at big tracks, engine cooling is the primary focus. On a short track, where the driver is constantly zooming to full power on the straights and braking on the turns, brake cooling becomes a top priority.
Brake temperatures over 900 degrees are not unusual in NASCAR racing, and can actually reach 1,400 degrees, something the everyday driver may have a hard time even imagining. In fact, at some short-track races, brake rotors will glow red hot.
"The rotors for the average passenger car weigh approximately 16 pounds. The braking surface where the pad presses against the rotor is approximately 10.8 inches and will withstand temperatures up to 900 F," said Roger Hogeboom, Director of Motorsports for Raybestos Brakes. "NASCAR rotors weigh an average of 10-18 pounds depending on the track."
The braking system is one of the most relied-upon components in a passenger car, and the same holds true for NASCAR stock cars. Just as it's important to be able to stop and control a car in an emergency situation during a simple drive to the grocery store, a NASCAR driver wants the same dependability. Though many races may be run flat out, with the driver never taking his foot off the gas (such as at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway), a dependable brake system is vital to racing safety.
A NASCAR Winston Cup Series car brake system bears little resemblance to the brakes...