A
airborne-position a driver does not want to be in. Caused by a car losing control at high speeds and air lifting the car off the ground. Occurs at Superspeedways like Talladega and Daytona. Severe crashes like this caused NASCAR to enforce restrictor plate rules as well as adding roof flaps to the car.
air dam (see also valence) -a front spoiler that catches air at the bottom front of the car, creating downforce that pushes the front end of the car down to the track.
Atlanta Motor Speedway-1.522 mile speedway located 30 miles from Atlanta,GA. NASCAR venue since 1960, has recently been reconfigured for faster more exciting racing.
awesome-favorite word of Mark Martin and many other NASCAR drivers. Can be used to describe car, team, sponsor, track, fans, Easter eggs, Christmas gifts...etc.
B
back marker-slower car that is running near the rear of the field.
banking-degree to which the track is banked. Zero degrees of banking would be a track that is flat while 30 degrees of banking represents a significant amount of banking. The higher the degree of banking the faster the cars can run because the do not have to slow down as much to get through the turns.
behind the wall-place a driver does not want to be. If a driver and his car are behind the pit wall then they have some significant damage that cannot be fixed on pit road. Once a driver goes behind the wall he will be racing for points when he returns to the track.
bite: (1) "Round of bite" describes the turning or adjusting of a car's jacking screws found at each wheel. "Weight jacking" distributes the car's weight at each wheel. (2) Adhesion of a tire to the track surface.
black flag-tells an individual driver to go immediately to the pit area for consultation. If the driver fails to report to the pit area in a reasonable amount of time, scoring of that car may be discontinued.
bladder-each stock car's gas tank is outfitted with a bladder that is filled with the cars fuel. The bladder keeps the fuel from spilling and catching fire in the case of a rear impact.
blend line: Line painted on the track near the apron and extending from the pit road exit into the first turn. When leaving the pits a driver must stay below it so he can safely blend back into traffic.
blue flag with yellow diagonal stripe-indicates to an individual driver to move over to another lane to allow a faster car to pass.
bodywork-the fabricated sheet metal that encloses the chassis.
boogered up-Messed up. Generally said about a car that is wrecked or has spun.
brakes-Carbon metallic pad that stops stock cars on the nascar circuit. Brakes are most important at short tracks. Especially Martinsville, VA where they are apt to overheat and fail if abused.
Bristol International Raceway-Half mile speedway with 36 degree banks located in Tennessee. Has been offering Nascar racing since 1961.
Bud Shootout-race for drivers who had won Busch Pole Awards during the previous season. A non-points event that consists of 25 laps with a pit stop between lap 10-13. Starting order is determined by drawing. (formerly the Busch Clash)
Busch Clash-see Bud Shootout.
Busch Grand National-Racing series that includes varying groups of drivers, some rookies and some veterans competing in what may be considered the minor league of Winston Cup racing. Races are generally half the distance of Winston Cup races and many are run at the same tracks. (Not to be confused with the Grand National Division)
Busch Pole Award-award give to the driver with the fastest qualifying speed at each track. All of the winners of Busch Pole Awards from the previous season participate in the Bud Shootout (Formerly the Busch Clash) during speed weeks at Daytona.
bump drafting-At Superspeedways (Daytona/Talladega) where restrictor plates are the rule and drafting is the key to victory, bump drafting is the act of bumping the car in front of you (while in the draft) to give him a boost (around 200 rpm per) and to speed along the entire draft.
C
California Speedway-2 mile tri-oval near Fontana , CA. Inaugural race won by Jeff Gordon and the qualifying record was set by Greg Sacks (183.753mph). This is the only permanent speedway in Southern California.
camber-denotes an angel adjustment to the front wheels that determines how those tires make contact with the track while cornering.
camera angles-As the coverage of NASCAR has expanded, so has the need to feel as though the viewer is in the car. With modern technology we now can put ourselves anywhere in the car-in the cockpit, on the roof, on the bumper, on the undercarriage...
catch can-small can that is inserted in an overflow port at the rear of the car near the gas fuel intake. This can catches any excess, or spilled fuel and it can then be measured to find out exactly how much fuel the car has in it.
Charlotte Motor Speedway-Located in Concord, NC,Charlotte Motor Speedway remains the only Superspeedway (1.5 miles) currently capable of offering nighttime racing action.
chassis-refers to the cars floorboard, roll cage, and interior as a single unit.
chassis roll-as the car travels around corners at high speeds, the side of the car facing the inside of the turn becomes lighter, causing it to raise up. The extra weight that shifts toward the outside of the turn causes that side of the car to pitch downward. The term chassis roll describes this up and down movement.
checkered flag-flag that is waved to signify the end of a race.
checking up-this is when a driver has to react quickly to changing racing conditions such as a driver slowing or a wreck in front of him. Often involves getting out of the accelerator.
Chevrolet:"the cars more champions drive." (Gordon, Labonte, Waltrip, Earnhardt) Chevy has won a total of 445 races on the Senior Circuit in NASCAR's 50 year history, topped only by Ford's 464 wins. Chevrolet currently runs the Monte Carlo body style.
chute: A race track straight-away, either on an oval or road course.
clear: A spotter is telling the driver that the track is clear around him to maneuver.
compound: A formula or "recipe" of rubber composing a particular tire. Different tracks require different tire compounds. "Left side" tires are considerably softer than "right side" tires and it's against the rules to run left sides on the right.
contact patch:The portion of the tire that is presently touching the ground. The size of each tire's contact patch changes as the car is driven.
crew chief- Maybe the 2nd most important person on a team. He is basically the coach of the race team responsible for overseeing the pit stops as well as the development of the car and driver. (Arguably the best crew chief in racing: Ray Evernham, ).
cut tire-tire that has been punctured by something on the track or because of a factory defect. Often causes a driver to lose control of the race car and end up in the wall.
D
d-shaped oval-Oval track with a bend in the front or back stretch. Tracks that are d-shaped include Michigan, California, and Richmond.
Darlington Raceway-Nascar's oldest Superspeedway. This 1.366 mile track has become a NASCAR tradition and has recently been converted with new seats added. Opened in 1950 this famous track has been labeled 'too tough to tame'!
Darlington Stripe-term used to describe the marks left on a race car that has been into the wall at Darlington Raceway. Cars get into the wall at this track so often that any car with these marks is said to have a "Darlington Stripe".
dashboard-all dashboards must be constructed of steel and welded in place. The dashboard length when measured at the center of the windshield backward to the edge must be parallel to the frame rails and can be no less than 18 inches and no more than 20 inches in height. A removable panel for easy access beneath the dashboard area, may be installed on the top and fastened with quick release fasteners. All dashboards are subject to approval by NASCAR officials.
Dash Series-Nascar racing series currently sponsored by Goody's. Car's in this series have four cylinder engines and run predominantly on Nascar's short tracks. This popular touring series has become a mainstay at Speed Weeks in Daytona.
Days of Thunder-Early 1990's movie about NASCAR, starring, Tom Cruise as driver Cole Trickle and Robert Duvall as crew chief Harry Hoage. Chronicles a season of up's and downs with a new team/driver on the NASCAR circuit.
Daytona International Speedway - A 2.5 mile, 31 degree banked Superspeedway created by Bill France Sir. It was the first large venue used in NASCAR and remains the most prestigious speed palace in NASCAR. This year lights have been added and the first night race at a Superspeedway will take place. Also home of NASCAR's headquarters.
decals-all of the sponsorship on a Winston Cup car is placed there with decals, similar to those used on plastic models (they don't have to dip them in water!), which become huge for the hood and roof.
dirt tracks-local short tracks, where the racing surface is dirt and where many drivers cut their teeth in late model cars. Often provides exciting racing action for both the local driver and the local fan.
dirty air: Turbulent air caused by fast-moving cars that cause a particular car to lose control. Can also contribute to engine overheating.
dialed in: When the car is tuned to achieve optimum performance for a particular track during race day conditions.
Dover Downs International Speedway-With tight corners and steep banks, this 1 mile track has been dubbed "The Monster Mile". It is one of only two concrete tracks on the Winston Cup circuit (the other being Bristol).
donuts (as damage): Black, circular, dent-like marks found on the side panels after rubbing against other cars at race speed.
downforce: A combination of aerodynamic and centrifugal force. The more downforce, the more grip a car has. However, more downforce also means more drag. More downforce provides better cornering performance, but loss of top speed.
drafting: the phenomenon that occurs at speeds of 70mph or greater. It is the art of closely following other cars around the track allowing them to break the wind for you allowing you to travel faster while consuming less fuel. A pack of cars that are drafting(in line) can pull away from a pack of cars that are two wide.
drivers meeting: meeting prior to the race where track officials meet with drivers to discuss the day's race. The drivers meeting is mandatory for all drivers.
E
equalized tire: tire in which the pressure between the inner tube and the outside wall have become equal. Major problem for a driver that requires immediate attention and fixing.
expert: any one of the millions of fans of NASCAR who will (and often do) tell you who the best driver is and what they would do differently if they were him.
F
fabricator: one who specializes in creating the sheet metal body of a NASCAR stock car.
fire suit: suit worn by drivers to protect them from a fire that would start in the car. Suits are also outfitted with their sponsorship.
France,Bill Sir-the founding father of NASCAR and the Daytona speedway.
front clip: Beginning of the fire wall, the front most section of the race car.
fuel cell: Race car gas tank. Consists of a metal "box" that contains a flexible tear resistant bladder and foam baffling. A product of aerospace technology, it's designed to eliminate or minimize fuel spillage - and the possibility of fire - in a crash.
G
gas n' go: When a driver is forced to pit to avoid running out of gas, often near the end.
gear ratio: The gear ratio determines how many RPM's the engine turns And thus how fast your car will go. Gear ratio can also determine how much fuel the car uses and can help the driver get the car through turns faster.
Gentlemen...start your engines-most famous words in all of motor sports. Signal given to drivers to start their cars before a race.
gloves: the gloves used by most drivers on the NASCAR circuit are constructed of Nomex, a special fire resistant material. There are usually two layers of Nomex on the back of each glove and one layer on the palm. Leather is often used on the palm to aid in positive wheel and safety feel in all conditions.
gofer: A weekend helper at the race track who is trying to work his way into racing.
Grand National Division-Now the Winston Cup Series. The Grand National Division was the name of the points championship from 1949-1970.
green flag: flag that means the track is under race conditions. Also signals the beginning of the race and the resuming of racing after cautions.
groove: The best route around a race track; the most efficient or quickest way around the track for a particular driver. The "high groove" takes a car closer to the outside wall for most of a lap. The "low groove" takes a car closer to the apron than the outside wall. The groove usually has the most traction from the rubber laid down by the tires. Road racers use the term "line."
H
handling: How a car performs in the turns.
hard -term used to describe road course racing (especially on the race sim. game Nascar for Mac/PC.
hauler (aka Transporter): Tractor trailer that carries the team from track to track. Carries two race cars as well as all the tools and gear needed at the race on Sunday.
happy hour: the last practice before a race. Crews have one hour in which to dial in their car for the race the next day. Coverage includes a number of driver interviews and things to watch during the race.
heating the tires-often times drivers their swerve their cars back and forth on warm up laps or during periods of caution. This causes the tire temperatures to increase giving the cars better traction. It also cleans any debris off of the tires that they may have picked up from the track.
helmet-colorfully painted device worn by the drivers to protect their squash (brain). Helmets have come a long way since racing began much like football helmets.
I
in-car-camera -Camera placed inside of a race car to bring the viewer closer to the action. Often provides exciting views of wrecks and close racing. This type of 'point of view' racing has made nascar as popular as it is.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway-Historic track that is the home of the Brickyard 400, one of the richest and most prestigious races in Nascar. This 2.5 mile venue has historically been the mecca for Indy cars but was invaded by NASCAR in 1994 with Jeff Gordon winning the inaugural race.
infield care center-place where drivers are taken to be checked out immediately following a wreck. They are checked for injury and then released.
inside-line taken by a driver in which he goes under the other car to complete a pass. The most popular place to pass on almost any track is on the inside. At Darlington, in turn four you you must take the inside line.
Intimidator-nickname give to Dale Earnhardt because of his rough driving style early in his career. Earnhardt would often bump or rub his competition to get a win, thus earning himself the nickname.
in the draft: When a driver runs as close as possible to the car in front of him to take advantage of the reduced air resistance. Two cars in the draft can run faster than one car alone.
J
jack man-person responsible for lifting the car during pit stops.
jumping the restart-phrase used to describe someone who anticipates the restart but takes off to early and is caught. This person is black flagged and is given a stop and go penalty. This can often cost the driver a race.
K
King,the-nickname of Richard Petty, arguably the greatest driver in Nascar history, Petty won 200 races as a driver with the most in one season being 27. Now the car owner of the #43 STP Pontiac driven by John Andretti.
Kulwicki victory lap-the late Alan Kulwicki after winning a race took a victory lap, which is normal, but he took his backwards running the opposite way around the track. Drivers often will pay tribute to Kulwicki, who died in 1994, by taking a 'Kulwicki' victory lap.
L
lapped traffic: cars that are off of the lead lap and cause often cause problems on restarts by getting in the way of faster cars in an attempt to get a lap back. Cars that are off the lead lap often yield to lead lap cars under green flag, racing conditions.
lead lap: Lap that the leader is currently on.
loose: a loose condition occurs when the rear wheels lose grip before the front wheels. Feeling that the rear end will swing around. Caused by too little downforce, excessively worn tires, and steering lock set too high.
lugs: the five nuts that hold each wheel on the axle.
M
marbles: (1)small pieces of rubber that build up in the turns at race tracks. These marbles come off of the tires and make racing hazardous. A driver that gets into these marbles often loses control of his race car. (2) Debris such as sand, pebbles or small pieces of rubber that tend to collect on a track's apron or near the outside wall.
Martinsville Speedway: .526 mile track located just outside Martinsville,VA. Originally built as a dirt track in 1947, Martinsville was paved in 1955 and has evolved into a modern racing mecca.
match tires-the racing tires used come out of the factory in sets of four and are number that way. The sets of tires are then broken up and distributed to the teams. Before races crew members check the tires of other crews to find tires that have come from the same series or run form the factory. These tires are said to 'match' and offer a more balanced handle for the driver.
Michigan International Speedway-This 2 mile D-shaped oval located 70 miles south of Detroit is banked at 18 degrees in the turns, 12 degrees down the front straight can get both speeds and blood pressures up in the red zone in a hurry.
Monte Carlo-Make of car fielded by Chevy and driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, and others. The winningist make in Nascar history with over 250 wins to its name.
Mr. Excitement-nickname of driver Jimmy Spencer from Berwick,PA. Jimmy drives the Team Winston Ford for Travis Carter. Has two career NASCAR Winston Cup wins as well as a number of Busch Series wins and a national modified championship.
MRN-(motor racing network) Network that broadcasts all NASCAR events as well as other racing related shows like NASCAR live.
N
NASCAR-National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing.
NASCAR 2 Day-pre race show on espn2 that previews the weeks race with interviews, practice notes and things to watch on race day.
NASCAR Thunder-Theme store by NASCAR that has locations in a select number of major cities where fans can get merchandise from their favorite drivers. Grand Opening includes appearances by NASCAR drivers.
New Hampshire International Speedway-this 1.058 mile flat track offers racing one hour outside of Boston, MA.
neutral: a car that is neither loose or tight.
nitrous oxide: 'laughing gas', that dentists use, that when hooked up to an engine allows a car to go significantly faster by enhancing combustion. Illegal to use in any NASCAR stock car series. Both A.J. Foyt's and Darrell Waltrip's qualifying times in the 1976 Daytona 500 were thrown out because of evidence of Nitrous Oxide use.
No Bull Five-offers a total of $5 million to drivers, comprising possible $1 million payouts at 5 different events this season. Drivers qualify for the No Bull Five event by finishing in the top 5 in the previous No Bull Five event. A driver will earn a million dollars if he wins the next No Bull Five event. The first five entries were Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte, Ken Schrader, John Andretti, and Ernie Irvan. The five races include the Daytona 500,the Coca Cola 600, the Southern 500, the Brickyard 400, and the Winston 500.
North Carolina Motor Speedway-Nicknamed 'the Rock' this is a high-banked, 1.017 mile oval that produces some of the fiercest racing of the season. Also holds the annual pit crew championships each year (won by Bill Elliott's team in 1997).
North Wilkesboro Speedway-The oldest charter member track in NASCAR racing, the uphill/downhill NW speedway features long sweeping corners connected by two relatively short straightaways (.625 miles).
O
off track time-the amount of time a driver is off the track while making a pit stop. Includes the time it takes a driver to driver in and out of pit road as well as the time it takes to complete his pit stop.
oil pressure-normal operating oil pressure is 80psi. Continuous over revving is a serious condition, often causing the engine to blow.
offline racing league-simulator racing league that allows participants to be in a racing league without having to race against competitors online. Schedule often follows the NASCAR Winston Cup series schedule and the race settings (weather, competitiveness of drivers) are determined by the real WC race for that weekend. Two such leagues include MACAR for Macintosh and NASSCAR for PC.
one to go: The last lap under a caution before the next green flag.
outside-line taken by a driver in which he chooses to pass another car closer to the wall. At a track like Darlington, you do not pass on the outside of turn four because history has show that more than likely you are going to end up wrecking.
oversteer-see loose.
P
pace car-Manufacturers production car that leads the stock cars around the track prior to the race and during periods of caution. The official pace car of NASCAR is the Pontiac Grand Prix.
pace lap-first lap or couple of laps taken just before the start of a race to warm up the cars.
penalty box: Taken from ice hockey to describe when NASCAR officials penalize a driver for infractions by holding them in the pits or behind the wall for a specified time during the race.
Phoenix International Raceway-This 1 mile track set in Phoenix, AZ is a very demanding short-oval.
pit crew - Crew that services and repairs a teams car on race day. It consists of tire changers, a fuel man, a jack man, etc.... Only six of these men are allowed over the wall at any given time during a pit stop as mandated by NASCAR.
pit pass-pass available to fans that allows them to go into the garage area during the race weekend (up until race day) and get a close up look of what goes on prior to races.
pit road -very busy location at any track where crews do all of their work. Often the place that can determine whether you win or lose a race. Also holds some of the closes races as cars a racing to get back on the track. NASCAR sets a predetermined speed limit on each tracks' pit road (Superspeedways:65mph, medium sized tracks:55 mph, short tracks:45mph) any driver caught breaking this speed limit will be assessed a stop and go penalty.
pit selection-The qualifying order determines how pits are chosen. The Bud Pole winner chooses his position first. The remainder of the field chooses in the order each driver qualified.
pit stall: The area along pit road that is designated for your teams use during pit stops. Each car stops in the team's pit stall before being serviced.
pit stop-point during the race in which a drive will pull into their pit stall and receive service on his car. Normal pit stops include tire changes, refueling, grill cleaning, window cleaning and any other adjustments that are necessary as well as damage repair.
Pocono International Raceway-Located in Northeast PA, this 2.5 mile cross between a Superspeedway, road course and oval offers three turns, each at a different banking and radius.
pole position: The foremost position on the starting grid, awarded to the fastest qualifier.
Pontiac: One of the three manufacturer's that currently compete in NASCAR Racing. Their entry is the Grand Prix, which is driven by drivers such as Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty and Ernie Irvan.
post race inspection: Inspection process in which NASCAR requires that the top two finishers in the race and one car at random is torn down, part by part, by the crew while NASCAR officials watch looking for any parts that would be considered illegal.
post race interview: chance for reporters to ask drivers how their day was. Chance for drivers to mention every sponsor on the car and complain about how they got 'run over' or how 'awesome' their car was and team is.
provisional: drivers who fail to qualify for the race may also be able to make the feel by using a provisional, which is one of four starting spots reserved at the end of the field for each race. Each team that finished among the top 40 in points during the previous season is awarded four provisional starts at the beginning of next season. Eligible teams receive on additional provisional after every 10 current season events. Teams use provisionals based on their current points standings. Their is also a past champions provisional for the most recent past champion not to qualify for a race.
pumpkin: The rear end assembly where the gear ratio can be altered. Listen for "Halloween" slang over the scanner that indicates transmission failure or gear loss.
push: feeling that the car cannot turn sharply enough. Caused by the front wheels losing grip with the pavement before the rear wheel. Caused by too little front downforce or too much speed going into the turn.
pyrometer: an electronic device used to measure tire temperatures.
Q
qualifying: Official start of the race weekend (after practice sessions) that consists of two rounds. Each driver is given one or two laps depending on the track to turn the fastest lap that he can. The driver with the fastest lap then is the pole winner. Half of the field qualifies with the other half able to stand on their time or re-qualify, forfeiting their first time.
quick: way to describe someone getting back on the gas leaving the turn. The quicker you get back on the gas the greater your top speed will be at the end of the straightaway thus increasing your avg. lap time.
R
rear bias: refers to the amount of weight that you pre-load into the front and rear end of the car. Affects how the car will behave during acceleration and braking. In general, moving weight forward will tighten the car while moving weight backward will loosen the car.
red flag: usually waved after a yellow flag, declares that all drivers must come to a complete stop because of unsafe conditions, often due to an accident or weather. Pit stops are not allowed and no work may be done to the cars under red flag conditions.
restart: restart of the race after a period of caution. Cars are lined up double file with lapped cars on the inside and lead lap cars on the outside.
restrictor plate: Plate distributed by NASCAR that limits the flow of fuel into the engine. Plate is placed over the carburetor allowing less fuel to reach the engine thus decreasing the top speed of a stock car. They are only used on the high speed Superspeedways (Talladega & Daytona) to make the racing safer. Many drivers complain about them because they have a tendency to bunch up the field thus increasing the chances of a multi-car wreck.
ride height: the distance between the cars frame and the ground.
road course: track that has a number of right and left-handed turns. Some toughest tracks on the NASCAR circuit, they include Sears Point, CA and Watkins Glen, NY.
road racers: Drivers who specialize in road racing and are brought in by teams that are without a driver or who have a driver that is injured. Basically a ringer.
roll cage: The steel tubing inside the car's interior. Designed to protect the driver, the roll cage must meet strict NASCAR safety guidelines.
roof flaps: flaps, developed by NASCAR, put on the roof of stock cars to keep them from becoming airborne when they wreck at high speeds.
round: One revolution or turn of a wrench; usually used in conjunction with Wedge adjustments, such as "adding a round and a half of bite."
RPM's-revolutions per minute. A driver will watch his tachometer to know how fast he is going while entering and leaving the pits because a NASCAR stock car has no speedometer. You will often hear crew chiefs remind them to keep it on xRPM's to remain under the imposed speed limit.
Richmond International Raceway-NASCAR has been coming to Richmond for over forty years . Originally this track was built as a 1/2 mile oval, but it now sports a 3/4 mile D shape following a 1988 makeover.
rubber: (also known as spring rubber) A single rubber disc inserted between one of the coils on each of the four springs. Each rubber is quartered to allow for race day tweaking. If necessary the rubber, or portion of the rubber, can be taken out to loosen or tighten the car.
rubbin': also know as trading sheet metal or trading paint, it is the act of making contact with another car while racing. There are many reasons to rub: revenge, dislike, let the other car know you are back there, get a car loose (unfortunately sometimes your own). The results of any good rub can vary (from a donut on the door to nothing at all).
S
save: the act of a driver keeping his car from wrecking once he has lost control.
sawing on the wheel: when a driver violently turns the wheel back and forth to regain control of the race car.
scanner: device available to fans that allows them to listen to radio talk between the driver and the crew during the race.
scuff tires: tires that have been run for a few laps to build heat into them. This gives them a little bit better tire wear.
Sears Point Raceway: located in California wine country, this 2.52 mile road course is a challenge for any driver with 12 turns in all. No day at the beach.
seat time-term for the amount of time, or experience a person has in a race car.
self cleaning track-tracks that have high degrees of banking are said to be self-cleaning because a wrecked car rarely stays at the top of the track. Because of the high degree of banking, cars and debris often slides to the bottom of the track either out of the way or directly into the way of oncoming traffic. Self cleaning tracks include Dover Downs and Bristol.
shocks-
short track-track that is less than one mile in length. Often the closest and most competitive racing of the year, short track events are held at Bristol, Martinsville and Richmond. Each of these events has two races per year with one of them being a night races (except Martinsville). This racing is the closest to the original NASCAR as there is. Speeds are fast, traffic is tight and a car rarely goes home without a scratch.
silly season: describes the jockeying of drivers from one car owner or team to another. This often occurs late in the race year and does not end until the beginning of the new year.
sling shot-prior to the restrictor plate rule imposed by NASCAR a car running behind another car at a Superspeedway had the advantage because of the draft. The car behind would be able to pull out of the wake of the car in front and would receive a kick in the ass allowing him to pass the leading car easily.
smoking the tires-this usually occurs when a driver is entering leaving the pits. In order to reduce the off-track time a drive will speed down pit road as fast as he can, without breaking the speed limit. In order to stop in his pit stall he must slam on the brakes often causing a large cloud of smoke and dust. When leaving the pits the driver often spins the tires in an effort to get out of the pits as fast as he can.
speedy dry: Similar to cat litter, this substance soaks up fluids (water, gas, oil, brake and transmission fluid) deposited on the surface from damaged or malfunctioning cars. Also know as Chem-Dry, the manufacturer's name.
splash and go-quick pit stop in which a driver only takes gas. The gas can puts in just enough fuel to get the driver to the checkered flag. If they put in too little gas then the driver will not make it the rest of the way, if they put in too much gas then they will lose valuable time off the track.
spoiler-must be made of 0.125 inch thick aluminum, and must be mounted in such a way that as not to flex or bend under pressure and must be fastened with a minimum of six 1/4 inch or larger bolts. Often the way that NASCAR keeps the manufacturer's equal, by lowering or raising the spoiler for a particular make.
sponsors: the dream of every race car driver. Allows them to get paid to race. A sponsor will pay varying amounts of money depending on the size and degree of their sponsorship. In return they get a billboard that moves at almost 200 mph every Sunday in front of millions of people.
spotter-member of a drivers team that is perched at the highest point at the track (usually the roof of the grandstand). The spotter tells the driver where he is in relation to other cars on the track. Also tells the driver of wrecks on the tracks and what lines to take to avoid it.
springs-
spring rate-amount of bounce a tires sidewall has when inflated to a certain level. One factor in deciding and determining how a car will be set up on any given weekend.
stagger-running slightly larger tires on the right side of the car enhances the ability of the car to turn in the corners. If your car is pushing on an oval track then try increasing the stagger slightly. Stagger adjustments are only effective on ovals.
starter: The person in the flag stand at the start/finish line who controls the race with the different flags.
sticker tires: brand new tires that have no wear or track time on them. Called sticker tires because they still have the factory stickers on them.
stop and go: penalty in which a driver must come in to the pits and come to a complete stop and then they are allowed to go back on the track. The off-track time is significant usually dropping the driver to the end of the field.
stroking: Said of a driver who allegedly "lays back" in a race so as not to punish or wear out equipment before the end of an event.
T
taking air off the spoiler-condition that occurs when one car pull up behind another car making the lead car get loose. The lead car then must slow down allowing the second car to pass.
T-Bone-or also know as T-Boned, occurs when a car is hit ,during a wreck, in the door. The two cars make a Tshape. Is a very dangerous type of wreck for a driver to be involved in.
Talladega Superspeedway-Since 1969, Talladega has been know as the biggest (2.66 miles), fastest track on the NASCAR circuit. Talladega's qualifying record (212.809) set by Bill Elliott represents a world record for stock car competition.
template: A device used to check the bosy shape and size, to insure compliance with the rules. The template closely resembles the shape of the factory version of the car.
testing-off-season or off-week track time in which race teams rent a track to work on set up's and find other ways of making their car better for upcoming races.
three wide: -term describing racing in which car are spread across the track 'three' wide. Occurs mostly at Superspeedways in which cars can get 3,4 or even 5 wide.
that's racin': Generally uttered when describing an acident or human error. Also referred to as "One-a-them racing deals."
Thunderbird-Car fielded by Ford teams from 1977 to 1997. Fastest car ever raced in NASCAR competition (Bill Elliott set the qualifying speed record in 1987 by turning a lap of 212.809 mph at Talladega Superspeedway).
tire changer: crew member who is responsible for changing either the front or rear tires. [video clip of a tire changer at work 1.4 mb]
tire profile: A term that describes the shape of a tire. Under inflated tires tend to sag, while over inflated tires have a very upright profile.
tire temperatures-stock car racing tires are designed to operate best when maintaining a two-hundred twenty-five degree temperature. When tires overheat they deteriorate quicker.
trading paint: term used to describe two cars that are bumping or rubbing each other. You often hear announcers say "you don't trade paint with Earnhardt!" or "those two cars were trading sheet metal through turn three!". Often occurs at short tracks where the action is fierce.
tri-oval-curved section of track that connects two straightaway's. Tracks with tri-ovals include Charlotte, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Daytona and Talladega.
Twin 125's-twin 50 lap (125 mile) qualifying races that decide the order of the running of the Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt has won 9 of the twin 125's.
Twin Ring at Motegi-egg shaped oval, much like Darlington, where NASCAR will run its annual race in Japan in 1998.
200 MPH TAPE: "Racer's Tape." Duct tape so strong it will hold a banged-up race together long enough to finish a race.
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understeer-see push.
Unocal 76 racing fuel-104 octane, leaded fuel used by all NASCAR stock cars. A single gas pump is located in the garage area and all teams must fill their 11 gallon gas cans from it.
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victory lane-ultimate destination of any race car driver. The most famous victory lane is at Daytona for the 500. Drivers are mobbed in victory lane by reporters, friends, the hat man, sponsors and anyone else who can get close enough to schmooze.
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war wagon-also know as pit wagons are used in the pits for a variety of reasons. Some teams have satellite dishes hooked up to watch the race or review instant replays. They may also have camera that hangs over the pit lane attached to video tape pit stops. There is also usually a chair and/or umbrella mounted atop the wagon for the crew chief and lap scorer. Is also used as storage for jacks, pit guns, catch cans, brooms, etc.
Watkins Glen International-Located in upstate NY, this 2.454 mile, nine turn road course provides the only other road racing of the season for the NASCAR circuit.
wedge-Also know as cross weight, is a way of varying the amount of weight carried by the right-front and left-rear wheels. By decreasing or taking out wedge you can alleviate a push or understeer. By increasing the wedge setting you can tighten the car helping to alleviate a loose condition. Wedge can be put in the car during a pit stop to make a quick chassis adjustment. To put a round of wedge in the car you use a wrench similar to a large ratchet wrench and turn it 360 degrees (or any varying amount depending on the condition and its severity) in the back above the springs.
weight jacking: NASCAR Winston Cup stock cars must weigh 3500 pounds. That weight can be unevenly distributed, however, to provide maximum grip at the wheels that need it most. The art of shifting the car's weight to favor certain wheels.
wheel and pedal combo-equivalent of a joystick for racing games. Actually a steering wheel and gas/brake pedal combo. Enhances the driving experience of and racing simulator.
white flag: indicates to drivers that they have started their last lap.
window net: A woven mesh that hangs across the driver's side window, to prevent the driver's head and limbs from being exposed during an acident.
Winston,The-A mid-season All-Star race for winners in the past year. A non-points event with a large payout for the winner. Race is held at Charlotte every summer. The Winston has a format that consists of 3 segments with the field being inverted after the first segment.
Winston Million, The-One Million dollar bonus for any driver that can win three (out of four) select races throughout the season. Races include-Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, and the Winston 500. The driver that wins 3/4 of those races earns a $1 million bonus. In it's 12 years of existence only two drivers have claimed it, Bill Elliott (1985) and Jeff Gordon (1997). Will be replaced in 1998 by the No Bull Five.
wrench - Slang for racing mechanic.
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yellow flag-cautions drivers to slow down and hold their positions because an unsafe condition exists on the track. Drivers may not pass each other under yellow, but may catch up to the leader. Cars may pit under yellow after officials have opened pit road.
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