Editing Production car racing (section)

==Oval track racing==
{{Further|Stock car racing}}
When the first oval speedway built for automobile racing was constructed in England in 1906, ordinary street cars were the vehicles of choice for racing.<ref>{{cite web|title= Cars as Entertainment: A Brief History of Racing |url= https://klairmontkollections.com/a-history-of-racing/|website= Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum |accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref>  These cars were typically procured directly from dealerships, with minimal alterations made to meet the demands of the racetrack. The affordability and accessibility of stock cars allowed racing enthusiasts from all walks of life to participate, contributing to the growth and popularity of the sport. <ref name ="NCRA1">{{cite web|title= Why Is It Called Stock Car Racing |url=https://www.racencra.com/why-is-it-called-stock-car-racing/ |website= National Championship Racing Association|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref>

As the sport evolved, so did the modifications made to the stock cars. Drivers started customizing their vehicles by enhancing performance and safety features, such as reinforcing chassis frames, installing roll cages, and improving engines and suspension systems. These modifications allowed the stock cars to withstand the intense demands of racing, turning them into formidable competitive machines.<ref name ="NCRA1"/>

These modifications increased the cost to compete, and in order to attract new competitors, race promotors responded by adding new divisions for "lesser modified" passenger cars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murto|first=Craig|title=Origins: The Creation of Late Model Stock Origins: The Creation of Late Model Stock Cars  |url=https://race22.online/origins-the-creation-of-late-model-stock-cars/|publisher= RACE22.com |date=March 19, 2019|accessdate=September 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Blount|first=Robert|title=What Types Of Cars Are Used In NASCAR Racing?|url=https://www.floracing.com/articles/11194846-what-types-of-cars-are-used-in-nascar-racing|date=August 20, 2023|publisher=[[FloSports|FloRacing]]|accessdate=September 24, 2024}}</ref>
Requirements for these introductory divisions can vary greatly, but all are based on a full-bodied passenger vehicle and an [[original equipment manufacturer]] (OEM) production engine. Roll cages must be welded into the frame, and all glass, vinyl, upholstery and lights must be removed from the vehicle.<ref name="HSW1">{{cite web|last=Winter|first=Richard|title= How Dirt Stock Car Racing Works |url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/nascar-basics/dirt-stock-car-racing.htm|website=[[HowStuffWorks]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref>  

In various regions, they may be known as hobby stocks, street stocks, pure stocks, bombers, factory stocks or stingers.  In British [[oval racing]], the term "production car racing" has been used as an alternative for [[Hot Rods (oval racing)|hot rod]]s, as run in the [[West Country]] during the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, and a production car world championships.  The West Country production cars were later reclassified as hot rods to come in line with the country's other promoters although this causes some confusion with the history of the West country racing as there was another class called hot rods that ran on those tracks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oneill|first=Shaun|title=National Hot Rods & National Ministox Headline Oval Racing Weekender |url=https://www.ballymenaguardian.co.uk/motor-sports/2024/05/23/gallery/national-hot-rods-national-ministox-headline-oval-racing-weekender-51682/|date=May 23, 2024|newspaper=[[Alpha Newspaper Group|Ballymena Guardian]]|location= Moygashel, NIR|accessdate=October 8, 2024}}</ref>  

The major U.S. sanctioning organizations – [[International Motor Contest Association]] (IMCA),  [[World Racing Group|DIRTcar]], [[NASCAR]], and [[American Speed Association|Championship Racing Association (CRA/ASA)]] -- generally promote these classes as one of three levels: entry, intermediate, or advanced.<ref name="HSW1"/><ref>{{cite news|last=McFadden|first=Kyle|title= Speedway has many races coming from many places |url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/sports/2019/03/21/speedway-has-many-races-coming-from-many-places/44271987/|date=March 20, 2019|publisher=[[The Herald-Mail]]|location=Hagerstown MD|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref>

=== Entry-level ===
The Sport Compact (IMCA, DIRTcar) or Pure Stock (NASCAR) or Mini-Stock or Bomber divisions are the lowest entry-level racing class.  Four-passenger vehicles with a four-cylinder or limited six-cylinder engines, the rules for these race cars mandate a stock body and a stock suspension.   The vehicles can be made race ready for $500 to $2,000, and involve merely gutting the interior and adding a   racing seat and roll cage.<ref>{{cite news|title= Mini-Stock Classes - Engine Tech - Overview |url= https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ctrp-0511-mini-stock-class-engine-tech/|date=June 14, 2016|publisher= Circle Track|via=[[Motor Trend]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Bomber Race to Headline Memorial Day Weekend at Goodyear |url= https://www.racingamerica.com/news/other-cars/bomber-race-to-headline-memorial-day-weekend-at-goodyear|date=March 26, 2022|publisher= Racing America|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref name ="ER1">{{cite web|title= EIR Race Classes & Rules |url= https://www.edmontonraceway.com/index.php?area_id=1023&page_id=1072#:~:text=The%20NASCAR%20PURE%20Stock%20Class,and%20off%20you%20go%20racing!|website=[[Edmonton International Raceway]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= DIRTcar Sport Compact |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-sport-compact/ |website=[[World Racing Group|DIRTcar Racing]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref>  

=== Intermediate ===
The Hobby Stock (IMCA) or Factory Stock (DIRTcar) or Thunder Car (NASCAR) are also divisions designed to give new competitors the chance to go racing.  The body and frame must match, and very few alterations are allowed to the stock frame and suspension. The engines produce roughly 300 horsepower and must reflect the correct pairing to the model. Racers can generally build competitive cars for between $3,500 and $10,000.<ref name ="ER1"/><ref>{{cite web|title=DIRTcar Factory Stock |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-factory-stock/ |website=[[World Racing Group|DIRTcar Racing]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref> 

=== Advanced ===
The Stock (IMCA, DIRTcar) or Street Stock (NASCAR, CRA/ASA) or Pro Stock (DIRTcar Northeast) divisions characteristically have bigger engines that produce roughly 360 horsepower, yet still require an OEM passenger vehicle production block.  The rules also allow for some changes to the suspension, including the addition of screw jacks. While a used race car can be purchased for around $6,500, competitive stock cars can cost upwards of $25,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacLaren|first=Ian|title= Race Cars 101 |url= https://www.the-journal.com/articles/race-cars-101/|date=July 18, 2013|publisher= The Journal|location=Cortez, CO|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Rob|title= IMCA Racing - Ruling The Costs Of Racing |url= https://www.motortrend.com/features/ctrp-0612-imca-racing/|date=June 14, 2016|publisher= Circle Track|via=[[Motor Trend]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Crowse|first=Shawn|title= So you want to race? Here are ways to throw the green flag on your career |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/so-you-want-to-race-here-are-ways-throw-the-green-flag-on-your-career/|date=June 15, 2016|publisher= Circle Track|via=[[Motor Trend]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CRA Street Stocks Introduce 'Five Crown' Format |url= https://www.speedsport.com/stock-cars/other-stock-cars/cra-street-stocks-introduce-five-crown-format/|date=December 21, 2023|publisher= [[Speed Sport]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DIRTcar Stock Car |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-stock-car/|website=[[World Racing Group|DIRTcar Racing]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= DIRTcar Pro Stock |url=https://dirtcar.com/rules/division-rules/dirtcar-northeast/dirtcar-pro-stock/ |website=[[World Racing Group|DIRTcar Racing]]|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Racing 101|url=https://merrittspeedwaymi.com/racing-101/|website=Merritt Speedway|accessdate=October 7, 2024}}</ref>