Regan Brown
Fuel mileage is a critical aspect of NASCAR races, with fuel-saving strategies often making the difference between winning and losing. While NASCAR cars can use over 100 gallons of fuel per race, the exact amount varies based on several factors, including track size, race length, and driving strategies. The fuel tanks in NASCAR Cup Series cars typically hold around 18 to 18.5 gallons, but calculating actual fuel consumption during a race is complex due to factors like drafting, caution flags, and individual driving styles. Teams rely on a combination of mathematics, experience, and instinct to estimate fuel mileage and develop strategies to optimise performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank capacity | 18 gallons or 18.5 gallons |
| Fuel type | Sunoco Green E-15 |
| Fuel composition | 15% ethanol and unleaded gasoline |
| Octane rating | 98 |
| Fuel consumption per race | 100+ gallons |
| Fuel consumption per car per race | 125 gallons |
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What You'll Learn
NASCAR cars can use over 100 gallons of fuel per race
Fuel plays a crucial role in NASCAR races, and teams must carefully strategize their fuel usage to ensure their cars have enough fuel to finish the race. While NASCAR cars typically have fuel tanks with a capacity of around 18 to 18.5 gallons, the amount of fuel used during a race can vary significantly.
Additionally, teams must consider the weight of the fuel, as a full tank can make the car heavier and impact its performance. Therefore, crews may not always fill the tank to its maximum capacity, especially towards the end of a race when every edge matters. The density of the fuel can also fluctuate, impacting the exact amount of fuel required.
The type of fuel used in NASCAR races is also worth noting. NASCAR uses a special type of fuel called Sunoco Green E-15, which is a blend of 15% ethanol and unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 98. This fuel is exclusive to NASCAR and is designed to provide the high performance required for these races.
While NASCAR cars can use over 100 gallons of fuel per race, it's important to note that fuel calculations and strategies are complex and dynamic. Teams must consider numerous factors and make educated guesses to ensure their cars have sufficient fuel to cross the finish line.
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Fuel tank capacity is 18.5 gallons
Fuel tank capacity is a critical aspect of NASCAR racing strategy. The fuel tank capacity of NASCAR Cup Series cars is 18.5 gallons. This capacity is carefully regulated to ensure that fuel mileage, rather than tank capacity, is the determining factor in race outcomes.
The fuel used in NASCAR races is called Sunoco Green E-15, a blend of 15% ethanol and unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 98. This fuel type is exclusive to NASCAR and is designed to provide high performance while also reducing environmental impact.
NASCAR teams must carefully calculate their fuel usage based on various factors, including track size, race length, and driving conditions. These calculations are complex and involve estimating fuel mileage through a combination of mathematics, experience, and instinct. Fuel consumption can vary significantly from race to race, with NASCAR cars using over 100 gallons of fuel per race on some occasions.
The red refueling cans used by NASCAR teams hold 12 gallons of fuel, which means that multiple cans may be needed during a pit stop. NASCAR crews must work efficiently to refuel the cars and ensure they have sufficient fuel to complete the race without running out of fuel, as this can significantly impact the outcome of the race.
In summary, the fuel tank capacity of 18.5 gallons in NASCAR Cup Series cars plays a crucial role in racing strategy and performance. Teams must carefully manage their fuel usage and refueling strategies to optimize their chances of success on the track.
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Fuel mileage calculations
Fuel Tank Capacity
NASCAR cars typically have an 18-gallon fuel tank capacity, although some sources mention 18.5 gallons. This capacity is strategically chosen to prioritize gas mileage over capacity, ensuring that gas mileage helps determine race outcomes.
Track Length and Speed
Caution Flags
During caution flag laps, cars run at slower speeds, reducing fuel consumption. As a rule of thumb, two caution flag laps are equivalent to one green flag lap in terms of fuel usage. Caution flags can significantly extend the fuel window, especially with a higher number of yellow flags.
Drafting
Drafting is a technique where drivers maintain speed by drafting behind other cars without applying full throttle. This reduces RPMs and fuel consumption, allowing drivers to conserve fuel, especially on superspeedways like Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta.
Temperature and Humidity
Temperature and humidity influence the density of the E15 fuel used in NASCAR. Sunoco provides teams with precise density values each day, considering these environmental factors. Teams must account for these variables in their fuel mileage calculations to ensure accuracy.
Weight Considerations
In NASCAR, fuel equals weight. Cars stopping later in a run require less fuel, resulting in shorter pit stops. Additionally, teams may opt for "splash and go" stops, taking on just enough fuel to complete the race, aiming for a lighter car during the final laps.
While these factors provide a framework for fuel mileage calculations, it's important to note that the calculations are estimates, and actual fuel consumption can vary based on various race dynamics and strategies employed by teams.
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Fuel-saving techniques
NASCAR Cup Series cars are not equipped with fuel gauges, so it's challenging to determine the exact fuel consumption during a race. However, fuel mileage plays a critical role in NASCAR races, and saving fuel can be the difference between winning and losing.
Chassis Setup
The crew chief can select a chassis setup that minimises friction between the tires and the track, allowing the car to run as freely and balanced as possible. This setup helps to reduce the energy required to move the car forward, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
Smooth Throttle Application
Applying the throttle smoothly and avoiding abrupt changes can help conserve fuel. While drivers typically aim for 100% throttle on straights, slightly lifting off the throttle a second or two before the brake zones can save fuel without significantly impacting speed.
Short Shifting and Early Lifts
Short shifting, or upshifting earlier than usual, can help reduce fuel consumption. Additionally, early lifts before brake zones, also known as lift-and-coast, can save fuel without sacrificing speed.
Drafting
Drafting is a technique where drivers maintain speed by drafting behind other cars, reducing the need for full throttle. This is particularly effective on superspeedways, where drivers in the middle of the pack often use less throttle due to the draft.
Steady Foot Pressure
A steady and consistent foot pressure on the throttle, rather than aggressive acceleration and deceleration, can help conserve fuel. This technique was demonstrated by David Pearson, who set the fastest time by driving smoothly and steadily without touching the brakes.
Carburetor Management
In NASCAR, the "butterflies" in the carburetor, which control the flow of fuel and air into the engine, open all at once when the accelerator is pressed. Closing these butterflies by lifting off the throttle can help save fuel, as demonstrated by Juan Pablo Montoya's engine guru, Rudy Wade.
While these techniques can help save fuel, NASCAR's regulations and the transition to hybrid technology further impact fuel usage and race strategies.
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The impact of track size and race length
The fuel mileage of NASCAR racecars is a critical aspect of the race, often making the difference between winning and losing. Although there are no fuel gauges in NASCAR Cup Series cars, teams use math, experience, and instinct to determine fuel mileage.
Fuel consumption in NASCAR races depends on several factors, including the length of the race in terms of miles, the size of the track, and the speed of the cars. Shorter races on smaller tracks burn less fuel than longer races on bigger tracks. For example, a 500-lap race at Martinsville is a shorter distance than the Daytona 500, so cars cover about half the distance.
The speed of the cars also affects fuel mileage. Faster speeds mean the engine burns fuel at a faster rate. Some 1.5-mile tracks, like the Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, have faster pole-winning speeds, resulting in higher fuel consumption. Additionally, running a race during the day can lead to higher temperatures, impacting fuel mileage. Cooler conditions under the lights during night races often mean higher speeds and increased fuel consumption.
Other factors that influence fuel mileage include drafting, caution flags, and driving styles. Drafting allows drivers to maintain speed without using as much throttle, reducing fuel consumption. Caution flag laps also impact fuel usage, as cars run slower and burn less fuel under caution. Driving styles, such as charging deeper into a turn before easing off the gas pedal, can also affect fuel mileage.
While it is challenging to determine exact fuel consumption figures due to these variables, estimates range from 50-60 gallons for shorter tracks to 80-90 gallons for superspeedways. NASCAR racecars typically get about 4.6 miles per gallon, and the fuel tank capacity is approximately 18 gallons.
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Frequently asked questions
A NASCAR car’s fuel tank typically holds 18 gallons, though some sources state 18.5 gallons. NASCAR cars can use over 100 gallons of fuel per race.
There are a lot of factors that go into how much fuel NASCAR cars use. Teams must include these factors in their fuel calculations to figure out how much their cars need. Some of these factors include the size of the track, the length of the race, the number of laps, the speed of the car, and the driver's fuel-saving techniques.
NASCAR Cup Series cars are not equipped with fuel gauges, so teams must determine fuel mileage based on math, experience, and instinct. To calculate fuel mileage at a given point, a team would divide the amount of fuel replaced by the number of laps completed since the last fuel stop.
NASCAR cars use a high-octane blend made exclusively for NASCAR by Sunoco called Green E-15. It is a blend of 15% ethanol and unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 98.
