Artist rendering of a restrictor plate

Restrictor plates are devices installed between the carburetor and intake manifold that restrict the amount of air and fuel entering the engine's combustion chamber. Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Restrictor plates ... Image File history File links File links The following pages link to this file: Restrictor plates ... The carburetor (American spelling, carburettor or carburetter in Commonwealth countries, carb for short) is a device which mixes air and fuel for an internal-combustion engine. ...

Since their inception, they have only been used at three tracks on the NASCAR circuit. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

The first use came in 1971 as part of NASCAR's plans to reduce the size of engines from 427 cubic inches (7.0 liters) to 358 cubic inches (5.87 liters). In order to allow teams with smaller budgets to race the larger engines, NASCAR imposed a restrictor plate to be placed on the larger engines to equalise the performance with the smaller engines. The transition ended in 1974, when NASCAR banned the larger engines, and went to the current 358 cubic inch formula.

Following the terrifying crash of Bobby Allison at the 1987 Talladega events, NASCAR imposed restrictor plates again, this time at the two fastest circuits, both superspeedways, Daytona and Talladega. They are still used at those tracks today. Bobby Allison (born December 3, 1937) was one of the first NASCAR drivers and was named one of NASCARs 50 greatest drivers. ... In North American motorsports, a Superspeedway is a race track over one mile (1. ... Daytona International Speedway is a superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. ... Talladega Superspeedway is now the official name of a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, that was formerly Alabama International Motor Speedway. ...

Following fatal crashes at the New Hampshire during the May Busch Series and July Cup Series races, NASCAR imposed in September 2000 restrictor plates for Cup cars to slow the cars headed towards the tight turns as part of a series of reforms to alleviate stuck throttle problems which were alleged to have caused both fatal crashes. The plates, used in Whelen Modified Tour races at the circuit, were used just once in the Cup series, and created a dominating race for Jeff Burton, who led all 300 laps in the ensuing race. New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1. ... 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December This is a timeline for events in September, 2000. ...

The device limits the power output of the motor and hence slows both the acceleration and the overall top speeds obtainable on the tracks where the cars are so equipped. These restrictions are supposedly in the interest of driver and fan safety, although many members of both of those groups feel that the close packing of cars and their inability to achieve separation may actually make the racing at these tracks more dangerous than before the restrictor-plate rules were implemented in the 1980s, as there are often massive and frightening multi-car pileups during those races, such crashes are dubbed "the big one" by drivers and fans and usually happen once per race if it does happen (on rare occasions there are multiple such incidents, or on even rarer occasions, none.). It certainly makes for a different style of racing at these events than that which occurs at the other superspeedways used by NASCAR, as reduced power makes it more difficult to pass other drivers. // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ...

Drivers often form long chains, which, due to the lack of air resistance, typically travel faster than single cars. This type of racing is often referred to by fans, drivers, and crew members alike as restrictor plate racing.