Found this from 2016
NASCAR TRUCK RACING SHOP UPDATE.
The team is Owned and run by Mike Miittler of
www.mittlerbros.com who makes a wide range of American made machines and tools (Go look at the website) He has about 12 trucks that are built for various tracks etc.
Situated in a small shop in Foristell, Missouri its a bunch of magicians making magic.
I will not pretend to know anything about the way teams are run. So its a bunch of pics and a few comments.
Hope you enjoy.
Greeted by Kindel who is one of the long serving members, knowing his way around the shop and a great host, he showed me around enthusiastically, encouraging me to look, touch, ask questions and take pics.
So you can thank him for these pics.
Currently being rebuilt is this truck that was thrown into the wall at well over 100 mph by a guest Japanese driver at one of the tracks, the safety technology used these days is enduring drivers mostly walk away with not even a headache. But what would you expect from a carbon fiber race seat valued at $10 000 ?
Business end.
It is all very snug.
Front tyres.
Can you say Girth? Can for size perspective.
Interesting wear patern.
358 cubic inches of enthusiastic V8
Power: 700 horses.
Horses turning into angry Lions when they exit here.
You will see the air dams are all differently set up for different tracks, note the difference in supports as well.
Race trailer is a fully kitted workshop that carries two trucks plus all the stuff needed to do a race. One truck is a spare in case thevfirst gets bent.
This trailer belonged to Richard Petty "The King" before Mike bought it for his team.
NASCAR RACE SHOP PART 2
The whole NASCAR Truck racing game is very tightly governed.
One of the things I was shown was this truck that is being rebuilt. Note, sheetmetal being welded in and the fenders being reshaped and panel beaten back to spec.
Above the body you can see a fixed profile hanging.
It is used to check the build in order to keep trucks homologated.
The nose cone profile draped over some spare motors.
Another lesson learned.
Look closely at the centre of these wheel rims, you will see the wheel nuts are Gorilla glued into place..... WTF??
Now look at the studs on a wheel that is fitted.
The first inch has no thread.
Why??
Well of course everyone but me knew this already.
The rim slips onto the studs during a pitstop and nuts are in place, so the impact gun goes on and zipps them tight. No fumbling ti seat wheel nuts.
Faster pitstops.
Next up. Some engine work.
Look at the state of this head.
And then..........
Engine room. Time for a little sex wee.
Just incredible.
At this point Mike Mittler the owner got there.
He and the guys were making a framed picture of one of their cars that ran at Eldora for a client. Using the side wall of a dirt racing tyre as a frame.
Its the only dirt track in NASCAR owned by Tony Stewart. It has been there for 60. plus years having been built in 1954
Once again, seeing the owner of a very successful company getting on and using tools getting dirty with his team was great.
Once again the hospitality and generosity of the American people touched me as Mike asked Dennis and I if we wanted a personally guided tour of his factory.
Of course we agreed.
We got our tour and was then allowed to roam the factory and speak to various people as mentioned before.
One last pic.
The chassis Dennis is using to build his 1966 NASCAR replica was the one in these photos.
Eventually we left for shop number two.
Not even halfway through the day, things were going well.
