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1976 NASCAR International Stock Car Racing Rule Book
NASCAR Grand National ® Championship Division
Section 20-1 -- Competing Models

INCLUDING
WINSTON CUP GRAND NATIONAL, WINSTON WEST GRAND NATIONAL
and OTHER GRAND NATIONAL DIVISIONS

America's greatest auto race drivers competing with the finest equipment developed by America's automotive manufacturers.

The specifications for the Grand National Division, in essentially the same form as listed here, have been accepted by the Automobile Competition Club of the United States -- FIA and by the FIA for inclusion in the Apendix J. They will be listed in special touring sedans Category C Group 9.

a. NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National races are open to steel bodied 1974, 1975, 1976 models of American-made passenger car production sedans.

NASCAR Winston West Grand National races are open to eligible 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 models of American-made passenger car production sedans.

NASCAR Other Grand National Divisions races are open to eligible 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 models of American-made passenger car production sedans (Including eligible 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, Grand American Challenge Series cars).


Category 1--Standard size cars.

Limited to cars with a minimum of 119-inch wheelbase, a maximum engine size of 433 cubic inches piston displacement, standard body size and complying with minimum weight requirement as set forth in paragraph 1b.


The following 1976 cars have been classified in Category 1 --

BUICK--Electra Coupe, Electra
225 Coupe, LeSabre Coupe

FORD--LTD, LTD 2 Door Pillared
Hardtop, Thunderbird

CHEVROLET--Caprice Coupe,
Impala Custom Coupe

MERCURY--Grand Marquis,
Marquis Brougham

CHRYSLER--Newport, Newport
Custom, New Yorker

OLDSMOBILE--Delta 88, 98,
Royale 88, Toronado

DODGE--Monaco

PLYMOUTH--Gran Fury

PONTIAC--Catalina, Bonneville



The following 1975 cars have been classified in Category 1 --

BUICK--Riviera, Electra 225,
Electra Hardtop Coupe &
Custom Hardtop Coupe,
Luxus Hardtop Coupe,
LeSabre Hardtop Coupe,
LeSabre Custon Hardtop
Coupe

CHEVROLET--Caprice, Impala
Custon Coupe &
Sport Coupe

CHRYSLER--Newport, Newport
Custom, Imperial,
New Yorker

DODGE--Monaco

FORD--LTD, LTD Brougham,
Thunderbird

MERCURY--Marquis

OLDSMOBILE--Delta 88, 98,
Royale 88, Toronado

PLYMOUTH--Gran Fury, Custom,
Brougham

PONTIAC--Catalina, Bonneville



The following 1974 cars have been classified in Category 1 --

BUICK--Riviera, Electra 225,
Electra Hardtop Coupe &
Custom Hardtop Coupe,
Luxus Hardtop Coupe,
LeSabre Hardtop Coupe,
LeSabre Custon Hardtop
Coupe

DODGE--Monaco

FORD--Galaxie 500, LTD,
Thunderbird

MERCURY--Marquis, Monterey

OLDSMOBILE--Delta 88, 98,
Royale 88, Toronado

CHEVROLET--Caprice, Impala
Custon Coupe
& Sport Coupe

PLYMOUTH--Gran Coupe, Fury II,
Fury III

CHRYSLER--Newport, Newport
Custom, Imperial

PONTIAC--Catalina, Bonneville,
Grand Ville



The following 1973 cars have been classified in Category 1 --

AMERICAN MOTORS--Ambassador
Brougham

CHRYSLER--Newport, Newport
Custom, Imperial

BUICK--Riviera, Electra 225,
Electra Hardtop Coupe &
Custom Hardtop Coupe,
Centurion Hardtop Coupe,
LeSabre Hardtop Coupe,
LeSabre Custon Hardtop
Coupe

DODGE--Polara, Monaco

FORD--Galaxie 500, LTD,
Thunderbird

MERCURY--Marquis, Monterey

OLDSMOBILE--Delta 88, 98,
Royale 88, Toronado

PLYMOUTH--Gran Coupe, Fury II,
Fury III

CHEVROLET--Caprice Coupe,
Impala Custon Coupe &
Sport Coupe

PONTIAC--Catalina, Bonneville,
Grand Ville



Category 2--Intermediate size cars.

Limited to cars with a minimum of 115-inch wheelbase, and less than 119-inch wheelbase, a maximum engine size of 433 cubic inches piston displacement, standard body size and complying with minimum weight requirement as set forth in paragraph 1b.



The following 1976 cars have been classified in Category 2 --

AMERICAN MOTORS--Matador
Brougham & Brougham DL

FORD--Gran Torino, Gran Torino
Broughanm, Gran Torino Sport,
Gran Torino Sport Sportsroof

BUICK--Regal Coupe, Century
Custom Coupe, Century
Coupe

MERCURY--Montego, Montego
MX, Montego Brougham,
Montego GT

CHEVROLET--Monte Carlo, Malibu
Series Classic Coupe & Coupe,
Laguna S-3

OLDSMOBILE--Cutlass S,
Supreme, Salon

PLYMOUTH--Fury, Sport, Road
Runner, Custom

CHRYSLER--Cordoba

DODGE--Coronet, 2 Door, Custom
Brougham

PONTIAC--Grand Prix, Grand Am,
Grand LeMans, LeMans,
Sport Coupe



The following 1975 cars have been classified in Category 2 --

AMERICAN MOTORS--Matador
Brougham & Brougham DL

FORD--Gran Torino, Gran Torino
Broughanm, Gran Torino Sport,
Gran Torino Sport Sportsroof

BUICK--Regal Coupe, Century
Custom Coupe, Century
Coupe

MERCURY--Montego, Montego
MX, Montego Brougham,
Montego GT

CHEVROLET--Monte Carlo, Malibu
Series Classic Coupe & Coupe,
Laguna S-3

OLDSMOBILE--Cutlass S,
Supreme, Salon

PLYMOUTH--Fury, Sport, Road
Runner, Custom

CHRYSLER--Cordoba

DODGE--Coronet, 2 Door, Custom
Brougham

PONTIAC--Grand Prix, Grand Am,
Grand LeMans, LeMans,
Sport Coupe



The following 1974 cars have been classified in Category 2 --

AMERICAN MOTORS--Matador
Brougham & Brougham DL

FORD--Gran Torino, Gran Torino
Broughanm, Gran Torino Sport

BUICK--Century Series--Regal
Luxus Colonnade Hardtop
Coupe, Gran Sport Colonnade
Hardtop Coupe, 350 Colonnade
Hardtop Coupe,
Colonnade Hardtop Coupe

MERCURY--Montego, Montego
MX, Montego Brougham,
Cougar XR7

OLDSMOBILE--Colonnade Hardtop
Coupe, Cutlass S, Cutlass Supreme

CHEVROLET--Monte Carlo, Malibu
Colonnade Coupe Hardtop,
Malibu SS Colonnade Coupe,
Deluxe Colonnade Coupe,
Leguna Colonnade Hardtop
Coupe

PLYMOUTH--Satellite, Road
Runner.

DODGE--Charger Hardtop, Charger
Coupe, Charger Rallye &
Rallye Coupe, Charger SE

PONTIAC--Luxury, LeMans Colonnade,
LeMans 2 Door Colonnade,
Grand Prix, Grand Am,
Luxury LeMans Sport Coupe



The following 1973 cars have been classified in Category 2 --

AMERICAN MOTORS--Matador

BUICK--Century Series--Regal
Colonnade Hardtop Coupe,
Luxus Colonnade Hardtop
Coupe, Gran Sport Colonnade
Hardtop Coupe, 350 Colonnade
Hardtop Coupe,
Colonnade Hardtop Coupe

FORD--Gran Torino, Gran Torino
Broughanm, Gran Torino Sport,
Gran Torino Sport Sportsroof

MERCURY--Montego, Montego
MX, Montego Brougham,
Montego GT

CHEVROLET--Monte Carlo, Malibu
Colonnade Coupe Hardtop,
Malibu SS Colonnade Coupe,
Deluxe Colonnade Coupe,
Leguna Colonnade Hardtop
Coupe

OLDSMOBILE--Colonnade Hardtop
Coupe, Cutlass S Colonnade
Hardtop, Cutlass Supreme
Colonnade Hardtop Coupe

PLYMOUTH--Satellite, Road
Runner.

DODGE--Charger Hardtop, Charger
Coupe, Charger Rallye &
Rallye Coupe, Charger SE

PONTIAC--Luxury, LeMans Colonnade,
LeMans 2 Door Colonnade,
Grand Prix, Grand Am



Category 3--Compact or GA Cars. (Not eligible in this division)

Limited to cars with a wheelbase of less than 115 inches, with a maximum engine size of 335 cubic inches piston displacement.

Category 4--Sports cars. (Not eligible in this division)

Category 5--Grand American cars. (Not eligible in this division)

b. FIA category 1 and category 2 Standard approved bodies may run with 305 or 433 cubic inch displacement engine equipped with one four-barrel carburetor.

(1) All FIA category 1 and category 2 cars, regardless of engine displacement, must weigh a minimum of 3,700 pounds ready to race (gasoline, oil, water, etc.) without driver. Any weight added to the car must be located within the body shell.

c. Eligibility.

(1) It is mandatory that a street version engine be produced by the manufacturer as a regular production option for installation and sale to the public in a regular product offering. The 1975 eligible bodies will be volume production models as selected and approved by NASCAR. Engine production requirements will continue to be 500 engines installed in cars before approval to compete is granted, and in the case of engines reduced to 358 cu. in., 500 identical basic engines must be produced and installed in cars before approval to compete is granted.

(2) Production models and production engines introduced by January 15, 1976, will be classified eligible for competition in 1976. New models or engines introduced after January 15, 1976, will not be eligible for competition until April 15, 1976, if approved by NASCAR. Any equipment introduced after April 15 will not be eligible during 1976.

The following characteristics must be identical with the production engine upon which recognition of type has been granted:

CYLINDER BLOCK
Material
Number of Cylinders
Angle of Cylinders
Number of Main Bearings and Type
Integral or seperate Cylinder Sleeves
Location of Camshaft
Overall Configuration

CYLINDER HEAD
Material
Number of Valves per Cylinder
Type of Combustion Chamber
Location of Spark Plug
Orientation of Spark Plug
Arrangement of Valves
Type of Valve Actuation
Number of Intake Ports
Number of Exhaust Ports
Center Distances of Intake Ports
Center Distances of Exhaust Ports
Shape of In & Ex Ports at mating faces of manifolds
Angle of Port Face relative to mating face of Head to Block
Firing Order

GENERAL
All above listed parts must originate from stock production castings and forgings which have been machined according to the normal machining schedule utilized for standard production parts. They may be subsequently refined, modified and improved by further machining or rework.

(3) NASCAR will determine if the eligibility requirements have been met.

(4) All eligible engines can be used in the standard size (Category 1) or the intermediate size (Category 2) cars.

(5) There will be no weight or displacement handicap on any car or engine in 1976.

(6) Maximum engine displacement for Category 1 and Category 2 cars is 433 cubic inches.

(7) All model, engine or equipment changes or modifications not governed by NASCAR rules (1), (2) and (3) of this Section must be submitted for consideration of approval, not less than 30 days prior to the date of intended usage in NASCAR competition. The applicant will be notified of approval or rejection no less than 15 days before the date of intended use. No equipment will be considered as having been approved by reason of having passed through inspection unobserved. Any equipment which does not conform to specifications or tolerances contained in the NASCAR Rule Book, will not be eligible for approval during 1976.

NO CHANGES FROM THE NASCAR APPROVED STANDARD PRODUCTION AUTOMOBILES OR COMPONENT PARTS WILL BE PERMITTED EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING NASCAR RULES FOR CAR PREPARATION: