High Horsepower and Heavy Metal: Big NASCAR at Pelican Park – 7/9/25
Pelican Park delivered another unforgettable night of slot car racing on July 9th, featuring the high-octane chaos of the Big NASCAR class. The competition was fierce, the wrecks were real, and the challenge of wrangling these brutal machines around Pelican’s tight layout pushed every driver to their limits.
While I didn’t make the “Top Eight”, I still had a blast battling some of the toughest club racers in the region. Even though the basic design of Pelican Park is similar to STR or even Electron Raceway, serious track time is the only way to improve. I did learn a bit more this week but I have some way to go before I feel comfortable racing at Pelican—and you can bet I’ll be back.
The Class: Big Power Meets Big Trouble
Big NASCAR is one of the most demanding and dramatic classes in Pelican Park’s 13-class rotation. Like all Pelican classes, these machines ride on handcrafted brass and wire inline chassis—miniature engineering marvels.
But what sets this class apart is pure power. Big NASCAR is one of only two classes at Pelican that uses “Super” motors—higher-output beasts that deliver blistering speed and equally dramatic consequences. On a tight track like Pelican Park, more power means more wrecks, more carnage, and a whole lot of white-knuckle driving.
As the locals say:
“Slot car racing is the systematic destruction of miniature works of art.”
These cars are modeled after 1/24 and 1/25 scale NASCAR stockers from 1980 to the present day. Big, fast, and unafraid to trade paint—both figuratively and literally.
The Format: Two Roads to the Top Eight
Pelican Park has two formats for qualifying into the coveted Top Eight, depending on the number of entrants:
- Basil’s Way (fewer than 11 racers): Points are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each heat. The eight highest point scorers move on—rewarding consistency and strategy.
- Win to Get In (11 or more racers): No points. No mercy. Win your heat or you’re headed to the Hooligan round. This format turns every lap into a fight for survival.
With 13 racers in attendance, the Win to Get In format was in effect—turning up the pressure and keeping everyone on edge. Every heat was a battle, with racers pushing the limits for that golden ticket into the Top Eight.
Race Prep: Two Builds, One Decision
To improve my chances, I brought two builds: one wide-chassis NASCAR and one narrower variant. Both tested well at my home track, but Pelican Park is its own beast. After some quick tuning and test laps, I chose the Chevy Monte Carlo on the wide chassis. It offered better stability through the technical sections—but the Super motor was a handful. I never quite got fully comfortable behind the controller.
Race Night: Enter the Shark Tank
This wasn’t like the recent Trans-Am event, where a few top drivers were MIA. The full Pelican Park shark tank was in attendance—and ready to bite.
In classic "Win to Get In" style, four drivers sealed their Main Event spots on the first try: Cully, Gary T, James, and Basil. Some cruised to victory, while others clawed their way to the front in nail-biting heats. With each round, more heavy hitters joined the fray.
Eventually, Paul, Bob, Gary K, and Greg rounded out the Top Eight.
In the semis, the action heated up even more. The top two from each semi—Cully, Bob, Gary T, and Basil—advanced to the Main Event. The rest battled it out in the Consi, where Paul claimed victory.
The Main Event was a true slugfest. In the end, Gary T came out on top, holding off Basil, who finished more than a lap behind.
The Hooligan Rounds: Redemption Runs Deep
With 13 entries, we saw two Hooligan races. Hooligan #1 featured Mike, Kevin, Chris, and Tom, with the top three—Mike, Kevin, and Tom—moving on to join Rich in the Hooligan Main.
That final was a showdown between Rich and Mike, with the lead changing multiple times. But Rich ultimately pulled away, winning by over a lap.
The Cars: Rolling Thunder
As always, the field was a visual feast—beefy, beautiful, and battle-scarred. The grids for the Main, Consi, and Hooligan races were filled with stunning hand-built machines, each a tribute to American stock car glory.
[Photos attached below: full field and close-ups of every car in each final.]
Final Thoughts: Bruised but Not Beaten
Big NASCAR at Pelican Park is not for the faint of heart. It’s fast, punishing, and brutally competitive—but that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. Even so I left smiling, already thinking about how to come back stronger.
Huge thanks to the Pelican Park crew for putting on another stellar night of racing. I’ll see you next time—hopefully with a little more luck and a lot less carnage.
