With NASCARs current fuel supplier announcing intentions to make its way out of the sport at the end of this year, theres little wonder that the engine builders in the sport are showing some early anxiety signs. Fuel, which in NASCAR-style racing dictates engine builds, is one of the often-overlooked commodities in racing. Tosco [76], the current supplier, offers remarkable consistency from track-to-track. Therefore, its very easy for engine builders to take the engine to the limit every week. In this costly process, all of the fuel used in NASCARs top series is made in one Texas-based refinery, then shipped directly to each track for dispensing to the teams gives the teams. But with a new entry on the horizon, that could change. However, NASCAR Winston Cup Director John Darby gives an emphatic No to a change in blending from the new official supplier, which is scheduled to be named sometime later this year. Our goal in bringing a new fuel supplier on board would be that the competitors realize theres a different sign at the fuel pumps and everything else is the same as its always been, Darby said regarding his goals for the supplier change. A lot of that process is going on now with the fuel suppliers that were talking to, which there are a number of right now, said Darby. One of things theyre most amazed about is the accuracy and consistency of our current fuel from track-to-track-to-track all the way across the country. Darby told TFR that NASCAR hasnt given out a recipe or formula for the fuel to any possible supplier, adding, Were not chemists. Anybody can go get a fuel sample from any one of our race tracks and they can figure that out. We dont need to do that for them. Darby added a No, reply to a possible switch to a no-lead blend during the changing of the fuel guard.( Ford Racing )(5-14-2003)
