
NASCAR race cars reach average speeds of 180 to 200 mph (290-322 km/h) on superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega. The fastest officially recorded speed in a race is 228 mph (367 km/h), set by Bill Elliott at Talladega in 1987. However, for safety reasons, NASCAR now uses restrictor plates and tapered spacers on certain tracks to intentionally reduce horsepower and cap top speeds, keeping them in a safer range.
The top speed is heavily dependent on the type of track. On short tracks and road courses, speeds are significantly lower due to the need for constant braking and turning. Drafting—where cars line up closely to reduce air resistance—is a critical technique on superspeedways, allowing a line of cars to go faster than a single car could alone.
The raw power comes from a V8 engine that can produce over 750 horsepower. While these engines are capable of incredible speeds, the focus is on creating close, competitive racing rather than outright speed records. Safety advancements, including the SAFER Barrier (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) on track walls and the HANS Device (Head and Neck Support) for drivers, are paramount given these high velocities.
| Track Type | Example Tracks | Typical Race Pace (mph) | Highest Recorded Qualifying/Test Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superspeedway | Daytona, Talladega | 180-200 | 228 (Bill Elliott, Talladega, 1987) |
| Intermediate | Charlotte, Texas | 160-180 | 204.145 (Kurt Busch, Texas, 2017) |
| Short Track | Bristol, Martinsville | 110-130 | N/A (Focus on cornering, not top speed) |
| Road Course | Sonoma, Watkins Glen | 150-170 (on straights) | N/A (Varies widely per lap section) |
Ultimately, while the cars are engineered for extreme speed, the governing body carefully balances performance with driver safety, making the actual speeds seen in races a product of both engineering and regulation.


