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Unlike drag race engines that only run for few seconds, circle track motors must run for hours at a time. This
presents a different set of challenges when designing an engine, and Wade Welch’s Monte Carlo exposes students to the world of
endurance racing. Wade competes in the United States Racing Association circle track series, which places limitations on
displacement, compression ratio, and carburetor size. Despite being saddled with just 358 cubic inches, 9.0:1 compression, and
a 390-cfm carb, our students and instructors were able extract 600 hp from the engine combination. Most of that is attributable
to an excellent induction package that includes a set of SAM-ported 18-degree cylinder heads. The USRA requires a restrictor
plate when the series heads to Texas Motor Speedway, and Wade dominated the race there in June of 2005 by winning the pole and
the race.
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