Push Starting Sprint Cars: WHY & HOW - Dirt Track Sprint Car Racing

[@bconfer274]

Excellent video on how sprint cars work.

[@sw653j]

Great video. My 1st sprint car had a in/out box at the motorplate, went though the early transition to the simple slider with lever you describe. Most people think sprint cars should have starters, think you just bolt on a starter. You also must have clutch, flywheel and transmission. Long live the push trucks....

[@SuperRoo_22]

"Push utes" here in Australia. Look up the John Day push utes. 😍

[@randallbuzbee2431]

I have a starter that bolts on the back of the quickchange then all you have to do is hook up a battery and press the switch thats hooked to the solenoid and its a one msn operation npush starting is old-school

[@kennethstitt6584]

That's not really true. The super sportsman in central PA are self starting with no clutch or transmission. Although most do run a flex plate to use a block mounted starter. There are bells made that can offer a reverse mount starter that takes a tiny plate bolted to the baçk of the crank and also allows provision for the pumps on the back of the camshafts. And yes I know the compression ratio is much higher in a 410 vs a 358 that would make a block mount starter most likely strain way to much to do the job. How about the 410s get some different engine rules to possibly make things a bit cheaper in the long run. Put some caps on these engines to make the sport maybe just a bit cheaper. LoL! And possibly a bit more affordable for the little guy that want to do it.. sprint cars DO NOT need 900 HP to be entertaining!! LMAO!

[@sw653j]

@@kennethstitt6584 Another guy with no channel content...Oh and super sportsman cars have a clutch, you may know it but they do. They used (may still) a small ram clutch bolted to the flex plate...

[@BUNJIMORALES]

Happy new year to all the Dietrich family

[@paulpeters5199]

Yay finally another video

[@shawnwedge5833]

That's what I was thinking too! CMON Billy we need our fix for the winter!

[@petegregory517]

Just a few hours ago I was checkin' subs and wondered do we gotta wait till spring for video's?

[@drewpierce2273]

Thanks, Billy! Very informative. The material quality of the driveline must be very high to handle the stress it's put under.

[@joshwertz9965]

Happy New year Billy and Heather! Can't wait to see you guys at the track!

[@WilliamDuncan-us7yh]

liked how u explained it great video

[@samfeuster4673]

Excellent Video

[@berniecarson4709]

Great video Billy, good info for us non drivers! Happy New Year to you and Heather!

[@WilliamDuncan-us7yh]

glad your back missed ya

[@robh.7699]

AWESOME VIDEO TO SHOW THE FAN'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S 🎉🎉🎉

[@jeffringley5064]

Great video. Happy new year.

[@CosmosArchipelago]

Happy New Year Dietrich's! Thanks for the educational videos. Invaluable to us enthusiast!

[@RogerFlanagan-l7j]

Nicely done clear and concise .

[@PaulM-yu5jn]

Great to see you making content again, hope the back is better

[@kevins5259]

Bill and Heather, excellent video. Always interested in the mechanical aspects of race cars. Keep em’ coming. Also Happy New Year to you and your families.

[@The1jonnyz]

Awesome video Billy! That was a great explanation of the driveline. I learned something and I've been watching sprint cars for about 60 years!

[@mikewalters7706]

Thanks! Really enjoyed that video! I'm still puckered up thinking about all THAT going on inches below my "business" lol. On the gate when my boys raced motocross I always told them " have fun, be safe, I love ya. So to you , Heather and the crew good luck in '25, have fun and be safe!

[@sterlingdudt3424]

Wishing you and your family a happy new year a safe new year and a winning new year. The content and the information you gave us about the drivelines last night was just awesome. Keep it coming. It’s great to know as we see these wonderful cars go by what it takes to make them function. Bravo well done.

[@MARKMATKO-k8r]

ATTENTION.BILLY,DIETRICH.GOOD JOB ON THE VIDEO ABOUT STARTING THE SPRINT-CAR.GOOD JOB AND EXSPLAINING HOW THE DRIVELINE HOOK'S UP.AND EXSPLAINING NOT HAVIING THE ROOM ON FOR A STARTER AND FLYWHEEL AND ECT.VERY,VERY,GOOD JOB.BE.SAFE.

[@hughjass1044]

WOW! This was SUPER informative! Only seen sprint cars (live) a few times and still don't know that much about them so this was a BIG help!! Thanks & Happy New Year / Season!

[@GuyVogt-f5k]

Video was great, I didn’t know about the lever on the rear, I honestly still thought they still had some kind of IN AND OUTBOX. Thanks for explaining.

[@robertallen6848]

Thank you billy for what you and your family and team do I know it's not cheap my uncle raced at the grove in the 70s allen opperman weld smith my uncle ran late model ed duvall I remember these heroes to race a sprint car is absolutely awesome they rock

[@davidburchfield2720]

Great video Billy I kinda new how it worked thanks for showing us how it works good to see you and Happy new year

[@jimdurgin7878]

Another great video Billy. Last time I raced was 1965. Things have changed a tad. Wish I still had my car that I drove. Anyway, Happy New Year Billy to you and your family.

[@larrymiller5049]

Awesome video! Everyone will argue the push truck dilemma until the end of time.

[@RussellHarris-wb7ms]

Happy New Year - great video ... Let go Penn State !!!!!

[@petegregory517]

I'm 72, born, raised PA....can't think of a time those last 4 words even crossed my mind, came out my mouth.

[@jlfastride1]

Awesome job bd. Also sometimes 2 battery’s in a sprint car. Both the size that someone might have in a kitchen drawer. One for the gauge back lighting. One for the race receiver. Also possibly one in the race timing apparatus for lap timing at some tracks? So yeah up to 3 battery’s that I’m aware of. Once again great work on the vjo and all.

[@QLD.Canetoad-yx2gq]

Great video Billy

[@1776vtgmb]

Like an airplane engine.... so light, you can't believe it could take all that power! Neat to see all the components and how small the in/out coupler actually is. Happy and successful new year, Billy! WillyB

[@RA-zl6iw]

Have a happy new year!

[@pelissiergene]

Just subscribed. Great video. You explained everything perfectly.

[@williambarry8015]

I always wondered about all that. Excellent Video.👍

[@JumpTheCushion]

Excellent video! Happy New Years!

[@timtrax918artisan8]

Great explanation sir thank you

[@bradgemmill6621]

Happy New Year! Great video! If you haven't done one on adding/adjusting weight in the car would be great! How it affects the car. What is a turn worth or a quarter turn.

[@libertywayranch2424]

Great Video !

[@MrKyleBates]

Billy D! I use black electrical tape to hold my brake lines too!!! Rocks break plastic zip ties.

[@markstahl4091]

Very informative video. I learned alot

[@freedom6919741]

Great video. Thanks 🙏

[@alvintarrer6914]

Happy new year 🎉

[@jamesyoung1547]

I used to build the Frankland Quick Change rears. Great description of how a sprint car rear end works. I cant tell you all the times ive had to chase those detent balls from dog clutch across floor when they go flying during assembly or disassembly. Did rebuilds on Winters, Tiger and DMI also. I go to Lernerville which is 20 minutes from my house. Laye models and sprints are favorites to watch.

[@LarryJohnson7]

Just found your channel we have similar content here in Ontario. Great explanation We subscribed

[@billmellinger1134]

I remember when I was kid In the 70s early 80s they had in and out boxes in the cockpit.

[@jamieayers2598]

About time Bill . We need more videos. Slacker

[@gullreefclub]

My great uncle race asphalt and dirt Sprint cars back in 60’s and early 70’s. Over the years I have talked to him about his car and about Sprint cars and asked why they are push started. He told me that it all had to with weight and the cranking power of batteries and starters back in the day. Remember back in the day six volt batteries and starters and even twelve volt batteries and starters were pretty wimpy when compared to the stuff made in today. Additionally the Magneto was the ignition system of choice and it didn’t need a battery or alternator/generator to keep the battery charged and lastly a traditional hi torque starter, battery, battery cables, and charging system is going to weigh well over 100 pounds and horsepower was a lot harder to make back then. Fast forward to today weight is still robs speed

[@renegade8002002ify]

Great video, well done!!! Can you start idle and tune in the pits or garage to ensure everything is good, or it all happens on the track to tune..??

[@timkis64]

j remember driving by the old shop goIng back to baker to pick up lime in a dump truck.was a nice looking shop.

[@DarrenShaw-ev5tb]

First & Formost ( New Sub ) - Had Me @ Sprint Car !! - Follow a Shite Tun of M-sports but S-Car shoes are cut of a Different cloth & for that - Freakin Thanxs

[@1919champ]

Billy, looking for a follow up on the CASM seat system install. Looks like a really good product. See that Larson, Sweet and Macedo are running it. Great video.

[@Hazmatt3446]

Great stuff, Bill! Love understanding these magnificent beasts more and more! Happy New Year to you and Heather. Question... why would a sprint car driver or car owner use a combustable metal like, MAGNESIUM, for a morotplate/FIRE WALL!? Hardened aluminum... thumbs up! Titanium... expensive, but, sure. Magnesium? Help me understand how saving weight at the expense of potentially turning your race car into a roman candle is even considered as an option 😂😂😂

[@bf760]

you forgot to tell viewers about the battery. thank you for the video I enjoy your content.

[@Ottos_ScLm_Race_videos_2009_on]

California has a spec sprint class. It has a starter but you start the car in gear. And has a carb on the engine. Dirt late models have a Burt or Brinn. They have reverse on one shifter and low and direct on the other shifter. And 3 pedals in low you push the clutch peddle to go forward. The outlaws tried starters with a hand clutch like the Big Block Mods from the Northeast have. The Big Block/Small Block mods are sprint cars from the motor plate forward and late model in the backs axle.

[@COYOTE_N8]

I love motor sports and cars and I never knew sprint cars were direct drive, pretty damn cool.

[@Happy-Camper]

Great video Billy . Are you going to be at the York racing extravaganza??

[@claytonjohn6473]

Cool video. Do you ever break the drive shaft with all that power?

[@Iowa599]

Ever tried a Coffman starter?

[@scotthall434]

Is there an advantage to the 32 spline front with the ball coupler vs the 10/10 coupler in the rear end

[@russellalford5684]

How do you run it in the shop when getting ready to go racing ?

[@ldnwholesale8552]

I run classic SuperModifieds here in Oz. All original cars. Up until about 75 they ALL had a clutch and a starter. My classic hate about modern Sprintcars is the continual pushing the things,, every red light of which there is often way too many. 1 hour and 15 min for a B main of an Aussie title was the killer. Most of our classic cars have at least a starter, once the engine is warm they drive off on the starter. A clutch makes it easier. Mine always had a clutch, hand lever on the right. Left foot brake and go pedal where expected.. Shortened 3 speed gearbox. Very short [really too short] tailshaft to in my cars case a big Austin diff. The 'better' cars of the period where all in out boxes with quick changes. ALL quick change rear ends are styled on A model/ Ford V8 diffs. THAT is what most midgets still use aftermarket Ford ring and pinions. The bigger version was a Ford truck, same design just everything larger. Modern quick changes may look different but the side bells generally interchange with a old Ford. The Ford ring and pins are a bit brittle and these blokes have had to lash out and buy new aftermarket gears. Which do not break. One of these cars has a homemade quickchange from a V8 diff, made in the late 60s. Heavy but now with decent gears has not lost a gear set since. And it has well over 400hp and is about 850 kilo

[@tommyschirnhofer9696]

Most Late models have 3 pedals, a few cars out there use two pedals and and a hand clutch attached to the shifter like a dirt bike.

[@MrKyleBates]

I think the Bert transmission messes up the driveline geometry…the torque tube gets shortened and it changes how it reacts with the torsion arms, radius rods, pick up points, etc. They definitely work, I’ve seen people use them. Unfortunately I have only seen them on cars that are not winning. If someone starts running in the top 5-10 every night in PA land, outlaw tour, or high limit series and shares the notes with the manufacturer they may see sales increase. Just my thoughts….

[@JasonZehnder]

Any form of transmission used is gonna cause drag and not be as quick as a direct drive. That pretty much sums it up in a nutshell. Bert/Brinn are kind of a pain in the ass as well. I've got 3 seasons now using my 2nd generation Bert and I'm still not used to it.

[@mattmoore5398]

This is unbelievable man. Well done. So why can you sit there out of gear but started and just pop it in gear and go? Because no clutch?

[@demarmels6686]

I’m curious to see if you make up a schedule now for the upcoming year or do you “wing” it. (Pun not intended) it would be an interesting video no doubt

[@addictedtobeaters2897]

Billy now Iam curious about that ball swivel setup ..if you have any junk parts I could use them .. may be a fix for a starion/ conquest torque tube

[@briangrosenheider7075]

Another Karl Kinser innovation

[@TheBullet51]

We went to silver crown race in Hutchinson Kansas this year and those guys started the cars from a starter at front of engine and then pushed em off.....I always thought they were big sprint cars....so does a silver crown car have a trans and clutch??

[@phillipgulett8749]

Im running a Bert transmission to a sprint car rear end in my a mod it has a different set up cause the j bars torque arm springs shocks and bird cages let rear end hang by Jack stands fork lift or something to make sure there not binding it's so easy to bind them I find 3 link works better than 4 link with this setup

[@donames6941]

With no flywheel how was the motor balanced and how did you test start the motor for in shop

[@raykaufman7156]

We had a TCR starter and bellhousing on the original version of my supermodified. It made life a lot easier, but didnt help anything performance wise. It always freaked people out when they would walk up and see the driveshaft spinning while the car was idling in the pits...lol.

[@ricardofierro7041]

When I was 17 years old I was working at a service station ( not gas station, FULL SERVICE ) . On Sundays it was a slow day and I worked by myself. So my boss raced one of those cars. I decided to take the car into the empty field next to the service station. I did a couple of laps in the field then the car died at the far end. I couldn’t get it started. I was scared.I had to run back to the station because I saw a couple of customers pull up . When the customers were taken care of I ran back to see if the car would start. WOW it started and I drove it back to the station. NEVER NEVER did I try that stunt again. I was scared.

[@billy9995]

Does the u joint housing connect directly to the crank? Thats the only thing ive never fully understood

[@bobfoder3387]

How do the north East Wing less Sprints have self starters.These sprints race at Bridgeport and New Egypt Speedway and other tracks.

[@lance9580]

Hey Billy I have a question you were discussing the rear end and the shifter have you ever had mud knock the car out of gear for the way that it is designed with that lever on the rear? Thank you and Good luck in 2025

[@ReRoll-d1d]

I blew up my 3onthetree in my squarebody pushing sprints at San Jose in 1990

[@brycestrawser398]

Do you get pumped up when you are about to get pushed off for a race?

[@robertadams6606]

I bet WoO cars have over 1000 HP. I saw a story about driving such a car. Them boys got some serious power in their cars.

[@RustyorBroken]

No flywheel eh? I've always been of the understanding that some sort of rotating mass is needed for the engine to run correctly amd with smooth power. Learn something every day. So here's the question, how do they start the engine on a dyno?

[@kmack747]

The dyno itself has a starter to crank the engine as the engine is connected with a adapter and a shaft

[@shoominati23]

I thought I've seen Sprint Car motors with the injectors spraying right into the chambers in the cylinder head?

[@BrandonLuckenbaugh-x6k]

Excellent video what would cause the car to jump out of gear?

[@billydietrich]

Typically the cable isn’t adjusted properly and the coupler’s not fully engaged

[@bradyosmon8980]

Latemodels have 3 pedals, clutch has to be pushed in in reverse and low gear

[@GuyVogt-f5k]

Hey not to be silly but if a fan doesn’t know that sprinters are push started…….. I’m still going to watch the video though. Hey let’s talk tire doping at the Chili Bowl. Explain that to us!!

[@3rweldingandfabrication375]

Nice but I will say you have a little more room than my front engine dragster but I could definitely see weight being an issue and hot transmission fluid in a accident

[@dirtlyfe69]

When is the first race of 2025 billy?

[@dennismaynard9392]

If I were to drive that sprint car I would need to get me some Kevlar underwear!

[@Iowa599]

Jesus... Those cars are more Chapman than Lotus has ever been!

[@joracer1]

Don't care for sprint cars, highlights are ok, watching in person, last one I went to, took them 30 minutes to get them going, race lasted 9 mins... they need starters, and a clutch. Like late models.. I ran mini sprints back in the 90's motorcycle motors. Yes they're plenty fast, and imo very dangerous.

[@ChrisS-oo6fl]

They truth is, THEY DONT need pushed off. It’s all due to antiquated stubbornness of those desperately clinging to nostalgia with no other logical or common sense reasoning. The racing demographic is extremely conservative by nature. With this topic they are like when a boomer refuses to replace that old Flip phone with a smart phone. There’s ZERO Performance Reasons for the status quo. It’s not necessary for increased HP at the wheel and certainly not a matter of necessary weight savings. Space is the only issue however new innovative, condensed product designs mitigates that problem. Plenty of people have came up with light weight solutions yet the community refuses to entertain them because of that boomer style thinking and nostalgic thought process. The battery isn’t an issue as we we have lithium batteries that fit in our pocket weighing less then 1lb powerful enough to drive that car around the track locked up. The solutions are there for room, weight and power. The original argument was always weight savings but weight rules negate that stupendous argument. It only makes the racing redundant, frustrating and boring. Fans don’t like to sit through the push starting and restarting process. So much so that many tracks stoped inviting sprint series to run multiple times a year like they always had. They totally stall the momentum of the event. They Take forever to line up, take forever under a red flag. Make a mess of the pits and often make the pits cluttered and more dangerous. Even Larson said he enjoys the late model more for its ability to line up the grid and start (he obviously likes the sprint car better as far as racing) he’s not the only superstar or sprint car guy to call out the nonsense. Also make no mistake nearly all forms of dirt track racing is directly locked into gear when they are racing. DLM and Big blocks and other Modifieds are all locked up when they race. Even street stocks. But they don’t stall the show and are lined up ready to run on the grid. The clutch packs and friction cones that move them are extremely small and can be put in other packages. There’s many systems that would work. The drivers will just never take to them because they always do the opposite of what’s good for the sport. Plus for some deranged reason they think the push starting is “cool”….it’s NOT. Besides the die hard sprint simps only new a select few fans think it’s cool until the novelty of that wares of. Dirt racing has struggle to survive across the nation. Primarily due to fan acquisition and retention. The stands are difficult to fill and this even more true for sprint cars primarily due to the time it takes for an event and all the down time. American attention spans are about as short as sprint car drivers ability to accept change. It’s about as cool as having to install a hand crank and spin the car over that way like it’s 1927.

[@andythomas95s]

Love this! I’m pro self starting. I’ve hear Larson comment a few times about hinting that sprintcars should have starters. I run a wingless sprintcar albeit a v6 but it’s self starting. We simply run two spacer blocks off the engine approximately 3/4 of an inch thick to run the fly wheel. We also have a crank adapter to the uni but that’s just an engine specific deal.

[@sw653j]

Went this channel it says---(This channel doesn't have any content)---Sum how I'm not surprised...

[@andythomas95s]

@@sw653j Who’s channel?

[@sw653j]

@@andythomas95s The one I replied too...

[@billy9995]

​@andythomas95s you talking about the aussie v6s? How does that work then the flywheel is in front of the motorplate? Imo unless there's a flip it's almost like bitching about the players being introduced before the game in other sports

[@jessejames2546]

Shafts and ball couplers, sounds kinda dirty when you say it

[@billydietrich]

😂😂

[@at9370]

We don't want transmissions, starter motors, etc, etc, in Sprintcars. It's blasphemy!!

[@reddmann2216]

Less parts less weight less loss of Hp is another reason..more weight with equal hp makes for slower car

[@billymanilli]

Why do they need to be push started?? No starter. The end. :) Imagine a kick-start... "CR500" cold start vids would have NOTHING on those... lol ...or the crank on the front (like a model T) 🤔😂

[@eddiereichel9354]

Heritage and or people think its cool. Engine would start in gear no problem.

[@Nova-1977]

How about a video of the fuel system I run methanol in as a small block drag car with a belt driven pump . It only makes 700 on a good day . I race NASCAR modified division in the 80s mostly NJ and Conn . Pocono also . Always wanted to try dirt Too dam old now .

[@VickiLandrum-u4k]

Billy short and length and scrutinize that spraying on your throttle pedal for safety-wise please

[@VickiLandrum-u4k]

You're beautiful wife need to do weekly videos