Video: Donny Schatz Talks Sprint Car Wings

The first thing that stands out about any sprint car is the huge wing which sits atop the car. 10-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz talks us through the technical aspects of his Tony Stewart Racing sprint car. The wings on a sprint car are made of all-sheet metal aluminum, and the shape has to be 5 by 5 square and flat.

When people see these cars, they will think that the downforce of the wing is what does it, but It’s actually sideboard. The sideboard grabs the air, and it pulls it left, and that’s what allows the speed to stay consistent. Most importantly, this is one of the biggest safety factors in all of the sport because in the event of a crash this is the first thing that absorbs all that initial impact.