Why do drivers push each other in a Nascar race?

Answer 1

Once a race car's engine is started, it's crucial that the car begin to move very soon. Modern engines are designed to operate when moving through air, which provides necessary cooling. When the cars are stationary, however, mechanical stress and heat builds up quickly, so there is little lag time between starting the engines and moving into the single formation lap that precedes the race start.

It's also a rule in the NASCAR handbook, so that nobody could gain an unfair advantage.

Wow! Everyone is an expert! These days the motors are cooled as they always have been! AIR! Those types of motors do not run well at all, at lower temps, and speeds. The warm up process on a race motor is torture. Those motors are designed to run at 230 degrees, at 10,000 rpms, for 500 miles. When metal heats up, it gets bigger. So, to clearance that motor, at temp, at rpm, for distance, it has to be pretty ill fitting when cold, at low rpm. They knock, rattle, and just do not function well under those conditions. Also, to get the air/fuel mixture proper for the expanded version of the motor, you have to make them run extremely rich when cold. So, consequently, the spark plugs foul, carbon builds up rapidly on the pistons, which can cause contact between the chaser valve, (exhaust), and the piston, negating any racing potential. Finally, those cars are so high geared in the rear end, to achieve those high speeds, that you have to fry the clutch to get the car to act at all civilized around pedestrians, that it is just easier to push. I have never heard that Nascar rule, however, I can believe it. You would end up hurting people, and damaging the car. Drag race cars are the opposite. They have real low gears to accelerate quickly, but do not have to sustain speed. They run out of rpm's in a quarter mile, by design, therefore they are really easy to get rolling. Example: get into a stick shift vehicle. Put it into 1st gear, let out the clutch. Nice and smooth. That would be the drag car. Now put it into 4th gear, and let out the clutch. Motor bogs, you have to slip the clutch, it's a real pain, right? That's a stock car. Also, for an engine to make horsepower at 10,000 rpm's, you have to give up elsewhere. A small block Chevy will give you a power band of about 4-5000 rpm. To make power at 10 grand. you can't start making power till about 5,000 rpm. So at idle speed, the motor doesn't even want to run.

Answer 2

Because the drivers push down on the gas pedal..... its called horse power Also because the curves are banked at a scientifically tested angle allowing them to achieve speeds faster than if they were on a normal non-banked track.

Answer 3

you have to push it to start because the clutch is too light to cleanly start off normally, without spinnign the tires. if you spin the tires (in a race car) you risk snapping the axle, and unnecessary tire spin.

Answer 4

Because it's how they earn their living

Answer 5

To make the car in front go faster.