how fast do nascar trucks go

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series trucks can reach about 180 mph (290 km/h) on the fastest, long ovals when they’re running flat‑out on the straights.

Quick Scoop: Short answer

• Typical top speed: around 180 mph on big, high‑speed ovals like Daytona or Talladega, depending on rules and conditions.

• Race pace: often a bit lower because of traffic, tire wear, drafting, and safety rules.
• Engine power: roughly 650–700 hp when unrestricted; around 450 hp at tracks where restrictor rules apply.

How fast do NASCAR trucks go?

NASCAR’s truck division (currently the Craftsman Truck Series) runs purpose‑built race trucks that are much faster than street pickups. On long, fast ovals, these trucks can touch about 180 mph at the end of the straights when conditions are ideal. That’s only slightly slower than NASCAR Cup cars, which can get close to 200 mph in similar situations.

In qualifying or with a strong draft, lap speeds are usually in the high 160s to low 170s mph range at many larger tracks. On shorter tracks with tighter turns, average speeds can drop dramatically because acceleration and braking matter more than outright top speed.

What helps them hit those speeds?

• Engines:
  • Displacement around 5.8–6.2 L V8, naturally aspirated pushrod engines.

* Power is roughly **650–700 hp** when not restricted, but rules often cap usable power to about **450 hp** for safety.

• Aerodynamics and weight:
  • Race trucks are modified pickups with aero front ends, big spoilers, and bodies tuned for stability rather than showroom looks.

* Weight is roughly **3,400 lb (about 1,540 kg) including driver and fuel** , which is light for something truck‑shaped but heavier than many open‑wheel race cars.

• Gearing and tires:
  • Four‑speed manual gearboxes optimized for oval racing and long pulls down the straights.

* Slick Goodyear racing tires give the grip needed to hold those speeds through banked corners.

• Fuel:
  • They use a race fuel blend such as Sunoco Green E15 , combining unleaded gasoline with ethanol for high‑performance and consistency.

How they compare to other NASCAR series

Here’s a simple look at trucks vs Cup cars:

[1][5][3] [1][5][3] [7][5][1] [10][7]

Series	Typical top speed on big ovals	Engine output (approx.)
NASCAR Trucks	~180 mph on straights	650–700 hp unrestricted; ~450 hp with restrictions
NASCAR Cup	Up to ~200 mph on superspeedways	Roughly 510–670 hp depending on rules and track

On some weekends and certain tracks, trucks have even posted **qualifying laps faster than Cup or Xfinity** cars, which shows how capable they are despite their boxier bodies.

Why you’ll see different numbers online

When people ask “how fast do NASCAR trucks go,” they might be quoting:

1. Absolute top speed
   • The best‑case number: around 180 mph on a long, fast oval with a clean run and the right rules package.

2. Qualifying speed
   • Averages over a full lap, usually a bit lower than the peak straight‑line speed, but still in the 170 mph range at some large tracks.

3. Race speed
   • Reduced by traffic, tire management, yellow flags, and strategy, so average speeds come down even if the trucks are capable of more.

A good mental picture: if you’re on a highway at 70 mph and a NASCAR truck blasts past you at track speed, it’s going well over twice your pace—and doing it inches from other trucks, inches from the wall. TL;DR: NASCAR trucks in the Craftsman Truck Series are built for serious speed , typically topping out around 180 mph on the fastest tracks, with 650–700 hp V8 engines and race‑tuned aerodynamics making them only a step behind full‑blown Cup cars in raw velocity.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.