Truck Series

[DeeDee]

I have to admit I don't follow the truck series at all. I am not real sure but for some reason I just can't get into it.
But the other day I watched (actually just caught bits and pieces) an interview with a truck series driver, I didn't catch his name. But he said something I thought was interesting. He said that he feels the natural progression from the Truck series is Cup. And he thinks Truck racing is more like Cup than Busch. I wouldn't think that would be the case. So I just wanted to see what you guys think.

 

[HardScrabble]

Can't imagine exactly how the driver is referencing this.

First look would say the BGN cars and tracks more closely resemble the WC. Certainly from an aero standpoint there would be no doubt. But it should be noted that more than one BGN driver has said the WC cars handle completely differently from the BGN cars.

OTOH, I have never heard anyone intimate that the trucks handle at all like the WC cars.

If he addressing the move from CTS direct to WC and bypassing a season or two in BGN, there are probably enough dissimilarities between either one that if a driver is ready in the CTS for WC competition, the vehicles themselves are of little concern. WC is a whole new game either way.

 

[NateDogg]

The only similarity that I can see is the beating you are going to take when you jump into cup from other drivers is the same as the beating from the other trucks

The trucks are great, when you can draft on a 1.5mile track and take that much abuse, how can you not like the trucks?

 

[Rebel20]

I thought I heard that the engines in the trucks are the same as cup cars. So maybe he was refering to the power plant instead of aero.

 

[de7xwcc]

I heard the same thing it was the Martinsville race, driver said driving the trucks was more like the cup cars than the bush cars were. I could be wrong but i think it may have been Harvick they were talking to.

 

[big m]

DeeDee Bobby Hamilton is the guy you heard talking. also musgrave has said the same thing.

 

[17_Fan]

Bobby Hamilton & Teddy Musgrave have run in the WC in the past & now run the CTS series. And before Teddy & Bobby went to the CTS, guys like Joe Ruttman have run the CTS series with some sucess. I enjoy watching these guys race along with young guys starting out more so than the Busch series. Kurt Busch was a driver who jumped from the CTS to WC. I saw his 1st CTS win at Milwaukee & saw his latest win at Bristol.

IMO...this series is ten times better than the Busch series & is sometimes better the the WC show we see on Sunday...these guys race their hearts out.


& Go Teddy, the 2003 CTS title is yours!!!!...:lol:

 

[DeeDee]

Originally posted by big m@Apr 21 2003, 07:02 PM
DeeDee Bobby Hamilton is the guy you heard talking. also musgrave has said the same thing.

Thanks. has either of them won the CTS championship, cause I think they may have said something about him winning the cahmpionship.

 

[Eagle1]

Just one other thing I'd like to add, if I'm not completely mistaken, the chasis is the same as a WC car.

I love the truck races, and at some tracks think they are the most exciting racw of the weekend.

 

[HardScrabble]

Specs for all three series, WC, BGN, and CTS, are somewhat similar.

All the series have commonalities and differences.

Differences in three series are in several areas, in some areas the trucks and WC are more alike and in others the trucks and BGN cars are more alike.

Engine - All three series run 358 cubic inch (max) engines with 12:1 compression ratios. The Winston Cup cars run an 830 CFM carb, while both the BGN and CTS engines are restricted to a 390 CFM carb. Additionally both the BGN and CTS teams can run a roller cam instead of the flat tappet required in WC. The BGN and WC cars draw air into the carb through the cowl area, the opening and its airbox being closely regulated in size by NASCAR. The CTS engines draw their air from 2 openings in the grill area which feed through 2 three-inch ducts directly to the air cleaner. The size of the grill openings is also regulated.

Chassis - All three series run a 60.5 inch tread width chassis. Wheelbase length is different in all three. The WC cars run a 110" wheebase, the BGN cars a 105" wheelbase and the CTS trucks run a 112" wheelbase.

Weight - Both WC cars and CTS trucks carry a minimum of 3400 pounds without driver. The BGN cars carry a 3300 pound minimum.

Overall Dimensions - Overall width of a WC car or a BGN car is about 74". The trucks run an overall width of 76.5" to 80". Overall lengths depend somewhat on manufacturer, but all three series are around 194" to 203". Height is closely regulated and minimums are established for all three series. The WC cars must be 51" , BGN cars must be 50.5" and the CTS trucks must be 59".

With all these similarities and variances, it is impossible for me to determine which is more like the other. I would think it would depend a great deal, if not almost entirely, on which type track you were discussing. Certainly on the superspeedways it would appear the BGN and WC would more likely be most similar, simpy becuase the aero factors are more closely aligned. On a short track, perhaps the weight and wheelbase of the CTS trucks would make them more similar to the WC cars.