🎧Taking innovation to the racetrack

The UK motorsport industry is the epitome of high-performance manufacturing: the arena where innovative cutting tools are pushed to their limits for cycle time savings, technology advances and the machining of the most challenging lightweight materials. And Kennametal is at the forefront of not just the UK motorsport industry, but also the world-renowned, US-based NASCAR series.

Kennametal’s R&D engineers work with leading OEM and Tier 1 manufacturers across all market sectors, but their NASCAR partnership is next level. NASCAR’s facility depends on premium solutions to produce advanced components that ensure speed, accuracy and above all, safety at every stage of development—and this is where Kennametal plays a vital role.

The NASCAR R&D Centre in Concord, North Carolina, is a 61,000sq/ft facility dedicated to enhancing safety, improving competition and testing new technologies for all NASCAR series. Opened in 2003, it was the first R&D centre owned and operated by a major motorsport sanctioning body.

“The first word that comes to mind when I think of Kennametal is quality,” said Bob Duvall, Managing Director of NASCAR’s Competition Partner Program. “NASCAR teams are always looking for the best in class, and Kennametal aligns perfectly with that standard.”

Behind every race car, there’s a team of dedicated professionals ensuring that each component is perfect. This involves using reliable tooling solutions in a prototyping environment where parts need to be designed, programmed and manufactured.

The CNC Upgrade and Kennametal Partnership
Recently, the NASCAR R&D centre upgraded its CNC machinery to enhance its manufacturing. To fully leverage this new technology, Hank Fowler, NASCAR’s Manager of Manufacturing, turned to Kennametal. It has been instrumental in optimising NASCAR’s machining processes.
“Upgrading machines and moving to Kennametal tools has significantly sped up my cutting processes,” said Fowler. “With the addition of flood coolant and Kennametal tools, I’ve been able to increase my material removal rates as well as improve surface finishes and reduce the need for any post-processing like deburring.”

Fowler also mentions that once he has a part number, he speaks with his Kennametal specialist for additional insight as to whether or not a better option may be available. Shipping tools on time is also critical for success on timely projects. For example, when Fowler was working on a manual turning job that had a 2.38mm groove in chromoly steel, he made a simple phone call and was able to get the tool holder and inserts on time to deliver parts.

“Working with Kennametal and the close technical partnership we have, it’s been a game changer,” said Fowler. “I continuously get the right tool for the job. Additionally, having the correct cutting data, from feeds and speeds to chip load information, this insight has been incredibly helpful.”

It’s All About HARVI™ End Mills
One of the standout features of Kennametal’s tooling solutions is versatility. Whether it’s a 12mm HARVI end mill or another specialised tool, the NASCAR R&D team knows they can rely on Kennametal to deliver consistent performance. This reliability is essential for NASCAR’s fast-paced manufacturing needs, where even a slight delay can impact testing and development schedules.
As part of NASCAR’s R&D group, Hank and his team handle a wide variety of tasks. Their most common machining projects include creating inspection tools for their competition group and fixturing for various types of testing within the R&D team.

Recently, the team worked on an inspection tool made from 303 stainless steel, which featured a tight tolerance slot. In the past, they would have been nervous about this job, but after ordering a 4.76mm HARVI I TE, they completed the task effortlessly. The HARVI I TE is a series of high-performance solid carbide end mills that incorporates a proprietary end face design with a twisted cutting edge, increasing corner stability and enabling gentle cutting action even at the highest ramping angles. This is complemented by a proprietary core design and innovative end face, which together enhance tool stability, while the asymmetrically divided flutes and variable helix enable vibration dampening and unmatched feed rates. With AVF-proprietary relief technology, the HARVI I TE features a precision faceted eccentric relief that further reduces vibration and friction, delivering excellent cutting conditions on everything from steel and stainless to cast iron and high-temperature alloys.

Kennametal’s tools have made a tangible difference at NASCAR’s R&D centre, and being able to deliver under pressure has been a significant achievement. Especially in a world where every second counts.
We had a major wind tunnel test approaching, and a lot was at stake. If we couldn’t produce the parts on time, it would have seriously impacted us,” said Fowler. “Thanks to Kennametal, we got the tool and completed the job.”

The partnership between NASCAR and Kennametal exemplifies how precision tooling can keep speed in high-stakes settings. With Kennametal’s reliable and versatile tools, NASCAR’s R&D team can lead the industry and set an example for the teams across the series. With Kennametal, NASCAR can meet the relentless demands of the motorsport industry’s manufacturing processes, tight deadlines and high-pressure environment, excelling in machining everything from carbon fibre and lightweight alloys to more common materials with innovative solutions.