Bobby Pierce adapting to numerous changes for 2018 season

[old17ford]

, the Fords are considered a much better piece at the present.

I knew one day you would come around !!!!

[Bubstr]

There is a big difference in engines, not just Ford to Chevy but all engines. A old friend that worked for NASCAR told me a story once about back in the day about Dale sr and Tony Eury sr. In them days Daytona was the first race and Martinsville came shortly after. At Daytona Dale says,"not enough horsepower, Im flat footing all the way around and losing ground." The next week at Martinsville, Dale says, "I can't touch the gas coming out of the corner or it will spin out." Tony says,' ah ha, too much horsepower".

I believe the Pierces only had one used engine over 400 cid and had to save it for the big tracks. The other was bullring engines used for all them northern bullrings. A lot less finesse is needed with the small engine. The draw back is when you go to a small engine track and it rained and made it a big engine track. You can turn them up a bit, but it wastes refresh money. If your smart on the big engine, you have your port profiler make you a set of restrictor plates to calm it down for different tracks. Restricting and keeping fuel suspended, can be a tricky process. These are just some of the hurtles when changing equipment. I know a racer that had trouble after a header change. Just the sound threw him off.

[Centeroff]

Here we go with the engine BS again

[Illtsate32]

There is a big difference in engines, not just Ford to Chevy but all engines. A old friend that worked for NASCAR told me a story once about back in the day about Dale sr and Tony Eury sr. In them days Daytona was the first race and Martinsville came shortly after. At Daytona Dale says,"not enough horsepower, Im flat footing all the way around and losing ground." The next week at Martinsville, Dale says, "I can't touch the gas coming out of the corner or it will spin out." Tony says,' ah ha, too much horsepower".

I believe the Pierces only had one used engine over 400 cid and had to save it for the big tracks. The other was bullring engines used for all them northern bullrings. A lot less finesse is needed with the small engine. The draw back is when you go to a small engine track and it rained and made it a big engine track. You can turn them up a bit, but it wastes refresh money. If your smart on the big engine, you have your port profiler make you a set of restrictor plates to calm it down for different tracks. Restricting and keeping fuel suspended, can be a tricky process. These are just some of the hurtles when changing equipment. I know a racer that had trouble after a header change. Just the sound threw him off.

Valid points Bubs but I would think your seat of the pants feel you could adjust in a night or two..especially with the driving caliber of Bobby...

[Centeroff]

These builders now dyno these engines on 3-4 different tunes. Timing, carburetor etc. If the track slicks up he will have you a tune sheet and maybe change the timing. Or just do it like Scott and take off a plug wire lol

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

These builders now dyno these engines on 3-4 different tunes. Timing, carburetor etc. If the track slicks up he will have you a tune sheet and maybe change the timing. Or just do it like Scott and take off a plug wire lol

But some engines just have a better torque curve.

[Centeroff]

Engines are the most overrated piece to the puzzle. Whats the difference in 790HP for 38000$ and 875HP for 65000$. If you have a local builder who builds not the best but strong power thats where you go. I watch a bunch of the Lucas drivers with the in car camera and very rarely in the feature are the full throttle. Big HP looks good in practice, qualifying and especially Knoxville lol but if I was a regional driver on a fairly open budget i would save on the engines and invest in shocks

[Josh Bayko]

Engines are the most overrated piece to the puzzle. Whats the difference in 790HP for 38000$ and 875HP for 65000$. If you have a local builder who builds not the best but strong power thats where you go. I watch a bunch of the Lucas drivers with the in car camera and very rarely in the feature are the full throttle. Big HP looks good in practice, qualifying and especially Knoxville lol but if I was a regional driver on a fairly open budget i would save on the engines and invest in shocks

An awful lot of local and a lot of regional drivers do spend less on motors so they can invest more on the car itself.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Engines are the most overrated piece to the puzzle. Whats the difference in 790HP for 38000$ and 875HP for 65000$. If you have a local builder who builds not the best but strong power thats where you go. I watch a bunch of the Lucas drivers with the in car camera and very rarely in the feature are the full throttle. Big HP looks good in practice, qualifying and especially Knoxville lol but if I was a regional driver on a fairly open budget i would save on the engines and invest in shocks

In comparing raw horsepower, you are absolutely correct. But if the builder can't give you an engine with the correct output profile, you can struggle mightily.

[Illtsate32]

Maybe the builders know all these numbers form dyno sheets..but all the drivers know is if the car is hooking up or not..the engine is not making a guy struggle either the power is getting to the ground or its not...

[Centeroff]

Illtsate32, Thats what separates the great ones. They know what the track is gonna do late. Zero is a smooth as we will ever see but he will also adjust timing and occasionally jerk a plug wire. Pay attention to drag racing. Those guys know when to turn it up and get it to the ground. Watch Scott's in car video on YouTube at Boyds 2018. He was never full throttle. He rolled off the throttle and went back to half maybe 3/4 throttle down the straights. A guy I worked for ran up front a bunch with the local builder and bought a clements and we couldnt tell any difference other than the check$$

[Jim11h]

Shocks don't buy wins (yes their still a timing device & after all other setup perfect you tune them to squeak out that tenth), motors only good if it's driveable (too much torque too soon and tires spin). No matter how these cars change things still stay the same. It takes total package to run good and win. Car, motor, suspension, and driver must all be together. In this way racing hasn't changed in ions and that's what makes the sport great

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Maybe the builders know all these numbers form dyno sheets..but all the drivers know is if the car is hooking up or not..the engine is not making a guy struggle either the power is getting to the ground or its not...

I can tell you have never raced a DLM.

A peaky engine will kill you in the slick.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Illtsate32, Thats what separates the great ones. They know what the track is gonna do late. Zero is a smooth as we will ever see but he will also adjust timing and occasionally jerk a plug wire. Pay attention to drag racing. Those guys know when to turn it up and get it to the ground. Watch Scott's in car video on YouTube at Boyds 2018. He was never full throttle. He rolled off the throttle and went back to half maybe 3/4 throttle down the straights. A guy I worked for ran up front a bunch with the local builder and bought a clements and we couldnt tell any difference other than the check$$

All very true. And an engine that peaks like a Honda VTEC will blow the tires no matter how good you are.

[Illtsate32]

I can tell you have never raced a DLM.

A peaky engine will kill you in the slick.

No I have not,but I have drove and I stand by my statement, in a nutshell im just trying to say I have a hard time believing somebody struggling night in night out because of that issue, it could and should be handled after one night...