Balance Shaft Removal

[VPCalais38]

I noticed all the guys who run V6's here at the local speedway track remove the balance shaft from their engine.

Anyone done this in a street car?

I have been told mixed reasons for this. Main one is the engine seems to rev harder (providing rev limiter is disabled/altered of course), but I would think that a vibrating engine would not rev faster due to harmonics etc.
The other reason is less reciprocating parts so less strain on engine and less things to fail.

But no-one has given me a reason which makes much sense (to me at least).

I know that the engine will vibrate really badly at idle etc with this mod, but just wanted to find out how badly and if there is any benefit on the road.

I guess speedway cars rev constantly so it may be of no benefit for a street car at all.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Generally you only remove the balance shaft to be able to run a double row timing chain. I dare say that speedway engines would be running double row timing chains for durability, hence the balance shaft removal. On a street engine, there isnt really a lot of point as even if you are running a nice cam, an aftermarket single row chain will be more than capable.