In the adrenaline-fueled world of No Prep Kings Season 7, the spotlight is on two powerhouse combinations – the twin turbo setup and the screw blown configuration. Today, we'll dissect the challenges and triumphs these setups faced throughout the season, exploring the nuances that shaped their performance.
Let's start with the Twin Turbo combination, a topic that has sparked fervent discussions among street racing enthusiasts. Despite its potential for incredible speed, the twin turbo cars faced a series of setbacks in Season 6. Notably, Jeff Lutz, driving the fastest twin turbo car, found himself finishing 21st in points, a surprising turn for the dedicated fanbase.
The challenges of Twin Turbos and Screw Blower Combo. Photo by Chris Rankin Racinge
While Lutz's twin turbo machine has demonstrated impressive speeds, consistently running in the 3.70s, the real obstacle lies in its inconsistency. Even Chris Rankin has demonstrated similar performance. The struggle to maintain reliability and performance was evident throughout the season. Even with a midseason weight break, twin turbo cars, including those driven by Chris Rankin and Mike Murillo, couldn't bridge the gap in performance against other formidable combinations.
The Challenges of Twin Turbos and Screw Blower Combo. Photo by Chris Rankin Racing
The key challenge for twin turbo setups lies in achieving consistent performance on No Prep Kings tracks. A recent highlight includes Todd Moyer's remarkable 3.56-second run at 228 mph in Pro Mod. However, it's crucial to note that this achievement unfolded on a prepped Pro Mod track, an environment that significantly differs from the unpaved surfaces of No Prep Kings tracks.
Getting a twin turbo car to achieve similar speeds on an NPK track is far from easy. In comparison, screw blown and procharged combinations seem more adept at hitting 3.70s or 3.80s on NPK tracks. Even with weight breaks and notable victories of Jeff Lutz and Chris Rankin in Outlaw Big Tire races, twin turbo cars struggled to leave a lasting impact in the main invitational races.
Photo by Street Outlaws Live
While the twin turbo cars exhibit the necessary speed to win races, their inconsistency poses a significant hurdle. The question arises: can further weight reduction or rule adjustments make these cars more competitive? The recent overdrive addition for screw blown cars implies that weight reduction alone might not be the solution.
The ProCharger cars, already among the fastest, are unlikely to see adjustments to their weights. This suggests that the overall field speed is likely to remain consistent, leaving the twin turbo combos facing an uphill battle.
Now, shifting gears to the Screw Blown combination, particularly the recent adjustment in overdrive for Season 6. In a surprising turn of events, Justin Swanstrom's high-powered machine experienced a rare failure, breaking the crankshaft during the intense competition. While it's not uncommon to witness engine components like pistons or rods succumb to the demanding nature of street racing, a crankshaft failure, especially in the context of the screw blown combination, is a rarity.
Photo by Dean Images
The unique aspect of Swanstrom's setup is the overdrive reduction that the screw blown combination underwent in Season 6, dropping from 6% to an even lower level. This reduction in overdrive puts extra strain on the engine, demanding racers like Swanstrom to push their machines to the absolute limit to remain competitive. In Swanstrom's case, this extreme effort to secure victory resulted in a broken crankshaft.
Photo by Justin Swanstrom
The discussion around the overdrive reduction becomes crucial, especially considering the distinct challenges faced by screw blown setups. The 6% overdrive reduction from Season 5 to Season 6 translated to a potential loss of two to two and a half pounds of boost, depending on various factors such as cylinder heads, engine size, and air conditions. In the realm of screw blow Hemi setups, even a two-pound boost reduction could mean a significant power loss – estimated at 150 to 200 horsepower, given the efficiency of screw blowers as a power adder.
Photo by Street Outlaws Live
To stay competitive under the existing rule set, racers employing the screw blown combination find themselves compelled to push their engines to the extreme, reaching RPMs of 10,000 to 10,500 or even higher. This intense demand puts tremendous strain on various engine components, including the crank, rods, valves, and pistons.
Photo by Justin Swanstrom
The alternative approach, as hinted at in recent discussions, involves a potential return to the 98% overdrive limit that was in place before Season 6. This adjustment could provide a fair balance, allowing racers to generate slightly more power while maintaining reliability. The proposal includes maintaining the current weight, offering a compromise that aims to preserve the integrity of engine components while enhancing competitiveness.
Video by Street Outlaws Insider
As we look ahead to No Prep Kings Season 7, the fate of twin turbo and screw blown combinations remains uncertain. Jeff Lutz, Mike Murillo, and Chris Rankin are expected to stick with the twin turbo setup, but the challenges faced this season raise questions about their competitiveness. Despite Jeff Lutz running 200 pounds lighter than the procharged setup, he struggled to stay competitive. While it's believed that Jeff Lutz will make improvements, the heavier twin turbo setups may face a more challenging path.
In conclusion, the intricate dance between consistency, power, and weight adjustments will continue to shape the destiny of these high-powered machines in the world of No Prep Kings. Fans eagerly await the unfolding drama, ready to witness the evolution and revolution of twin turbo and screw blown setups in the upcoming season. Subscribe, comment, and stay tuned for more updates on the street outlaws' saga!
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