"We have modern technology all through the engine, but not with the air/flow process," Yates says. "The manufacturer of our vehicles supports this sport. It's how we got here. I've been working on the four-valve engines for the Grand American series and I'm beginning to finally see what is under the engine of my passenger car. A fuel-injected engine will put on just as good a show as we've been seeing and I think it's healthy that we allow the manufacturers to move into modular-designed engines."
Yates believes fuel injection, over time, would be more cost-effective than the current carburetor.
"We need to start thinking about it," Yates says. "I think the manufacturers will look at it. NASCAR has never designed nor built the first engine. NASCAR is the promoter; the manufacturers are the ones that supply it. Bring the product, get it right, spend some time with the teams, and then the manufacturers can say, 'In 2010, this is what we are going to race and this is what we are going to support.'
Outdated work? Crewmen attach...
Outdated work? Crewmen attach a carburetor at Talladega.
"Let's modernize this sport. I would be the first one to lose a job because I don't know how to use a computer. But I want to see my son and grandsons move into the future a little bit. It will not screw the cars up one bit and you might have more cars running at the finish."
Inevitable?
Today's NASCAR Winston Cup engine produces over 800 horsepower. By comparison, the high-speed, fuel-injected Indy Racing League engines used in the IndyCar Series produce 675 horsepower. The reason the cars in the IRL run so much faster is they weigh half as much as a stock car, have wings for downforce, and huge tire contact patches.
But the point is the technology can crank out horsepower, which would still put on a competitive and more cost-effective show for Winston Cup and Busch.
Robin Pemberton is a former crew chief and has worked at Petty Enterprises, DiGard, SABCO and Penske Racing South. He is currently the Winston Cup manager for Ford and works with all of Ford's NASCAR Winston Cup teams.