Sprint cars have very high power-to-weight ratios. Premier 410-cubic-inch (6.7 L) cars weigh approximately 1,400 pounds (640 kg) including the driver and produce over 900 horsepower (670 kW), a power-to-weight ratio exceeding that of contemporary Formula 1 cars. They are powered by naturally aspirated, methanol-injected overhead valve American V8 engines capable of 9,000 rpm. A popular lower-budget class uses 360-cubic-inch (5.9 L) engines producing up to 775 horsepower. Sprint cars have no transmission, using instead an in-or-out gearbox and quick-change rear differentials, and have no electrical systems beyond an ignition magneto — they require a push to start.
Many IndyCar and NASCAR drivers used sprint car racing as an intermediate stepping stone, including Indianapolis 500 winners A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Parnelli Jones, Johnnie Parsons, Al Unser Sr., and Al Unser Jr., as well as NASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Kyle Larson. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum is located in Knoxville, Iowa.
Wingless cars are considered the traditional form of the sport, dating back to the 1930s and 1940s. Their relative lack of grip creates distinct driving characteristics, making them more difficult to control through corners. Several sanctioning bodies operate wingless series. The United States Automobile Club (USAC) oversees the USAC National Sprint Car Championship — a division of wingless 410 cubic inch cars on asphalt and dirt — as well as regional 360 ci wingless series: the USAC East Coast, Southwest, and West Coast Sprint Cars. After taking over the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA), USAC became the USAC/CRA on the West Coast.
The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), organized in 1915 and the oldest active auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, sanctions traditional 305 non-winged and winged sprint cars under the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car class.
The world's first small-track winged race car was driven by Jim Cushman at Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio in 1958, using a wing created by Gene and Floyd Miller. By 1959, up to half the field at Columbus was running wings. In the early 1970s, drivers standardized wings with sideboards on both the top and front of their cars, increasing downforce and traction while improving safety by reducing the likelihood of going airborne.
In 1978, Ted Johnson formed the World of Outlaws (WoO), the premier promotional body for winged sprint cars, racing throughout the United States from February to November. Featured tracks include Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania, Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, and Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In 2003, Johnson sold the World of Outlaws to DIRT Motorsports. The NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws cars use 15-inch wide right rear tires, 410 cubic inch engines with mechanical fuel injection, and no batteries or starters. A tradition at WoO A-mains is for cars to line up four wide before the start.
The All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC), founded in 1970, sanctions 410 ci winged sprint car races across Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Florida, averaging 40 races per year.
The United Racing Company (URC), started in 1948, runs winged sprint cars primarily in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware using 360 cubic inch (5.9 L) engines generating approximately 650 horsepower.
The American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) sanctions both winged and wingless racing. ASCS winged cars use 360 cubic inch engines. The series was started by Emmett Hahn; its all-time wins leader is Texan Gary Wright with 127 A-main victories. The series relocated its national headquarters from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Concord, North Carolina in 2024 following World Racing Group's purchase.
In 1987, Australia formed its own national winged series, the World Series Sprintcars (WSS), founded by Adelaide-based promoter John Hughes. Featured tracks include Speedway Park in Adelaide, Claremont Speedway and Perth Motorplex in Western Australia, Valvoline Raceway in Sydney, Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane, and Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, Victoria. The Australian Sprintcar Championship has been run since 1963 and only Australian drivers are permitted in its meeting.
Until the early 2000s, Australian cars were restricted to 6200 cc (372 cui) engines; Brian Healey pushed for the change in 2003 to align with the US and New Zealand 410 ci standard. Today Australia follows both the 410 ci and 360 cui formulae with separate championship meetings.
The Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Warrnambool is the largest sprint car meeting in the world; in the 2014–15 season the Classic outdrew the Knoxville Nationals in entries.
Despite over 50 years of the sport, only one unofficial world championship has been held. In 1987, at the one-third-mile Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia, an international field from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and the World of Outlaws contested the event. Australian veteran Garry Rush from Sydney — a ten-time Australian Sprintcar Champion — won the race.
Midget Cars: Smaller versions of sprint cars, traditionally non-winged, powered by four-cylinder engines producing approximately 350 horsepower. They date back to the 1930s and are also sanctioned by USAC and POWRi.
Mini Sprints: Similarly sized to midgets, featuring upright chassis and centre-mounted, chain-driven four-cylinder motorcycle engines with displacements between 750 and 1200 cc.
Micro Sprints: Smaller still, using 250/270 cc single-cylinder two-cycle or 600 cc motorcycle engines producing around 140 hp. They run on small dirt tracks usually a fifth of a mile or less. Minimum weights are 775 lb for winged and 725 lb for non-wing.
SpeedSTR: A 1,250-pound open-wheel car with a 72-inch wheelbase, essentially a self-starting midget. Originally powered by a 250 hp Dodge Neon engine, the division has transitioned to the K20 C1 Honda Turbo.
Outlaw Karts: Go-karts with roll cages and wings. The largest division runs 450 cc four-strokes, 500 cc two-strokes, or 550 cc four-strokes.
Modern regulations typically require: an emergency shut-off switch, a quick-detach steering wheel, aluminium seats with high-impact headrests, fire-resistant suits and gloves, a full-face helmet meeting Snell or SFI ratings, a five-point safety harness, and a neck restraint. Facility requirements include guard rails, retaining walls, concrete walls, electronic caution lights, a DOT-standard ambulance, fire equipment and staff, and track communications. Facilities are typically inspected before events. The introduction of roll cages and, especially on dirt tracks, wings has significantly improved the safety record of the sport.
This article is based solely on the supplied corpus. No external sources were consulted; claims that could not be substantiated against the corpus were omitted under the drop-the-claim rule.
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