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NASCAR SPRINT CUP AND NATIONWIDE SERIES NEWS, VIEWS AND COMMENTARY |
NASCAR
RACING TERMS
Aerodynamics - As applied to racing, the study of airflow and the forces of resistance and pressure that result from the flow of air over, under and around a moving car. Apron - The paved portion of a race track that separates the racing surface from the (usually unpaved) infield. Banking - The sloping of a race track, particularly at a curve or corner, from the apron to the outside wall. Degree of banking refers to the height of a track's slope at its outside edge. Bear Grease - Slang term used to describe any patching material used to fill cracks and holes or smooth bumps on a track's surface. Binders - Brakes. 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. See "Slick." 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 or she can safely "blend" back into traffic. Blowed (Motor) - Major league engine failure, for instance when a connecting rod goes through the engine block producing a lot of smoke and steam. "We blowed the motor." Blow Away (Blow Off) - To defeat, pass or win. "I'm gonna blow that guy away." Brain Fade - A momentary lack of attention that leads to making a mistake during a race. Chute - A race track straightaway, either on an oval or a road course. 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. Crew Chief - Team leader. Depending on the team, duties include everything form making assignments in the shop, to calling the shots in the pits, to handling airline and motel reservations. Dirty Air - Turbulent air caused by fast-moving cars that can cause a particular car to lose control. "I got in his air." Downforce - Basically, the pressure of the air on a car as it races. Downforce increases with velocity - that is, rapidity of motion or speed. Drag (Coefficient of) - A resisting force exerted on a car parallel to its airstream and opposite in direction to its motion. A coefficient is a number or constant used as a multiplier in measuring the changes in a formula to measure drag on the frontal area of the (car) body in square feet, air velocity of the body in miles an hour and the non-dimensional coefficient. Basically, the more aerodynamic the body in question, the lower the coefficient of drag. Drafting - Practice of two, or more, cars, while racing, to run nose to tail, almost touching. The lead car, by displacing air in front of it, creates a vacuum between its rear end and the following car's nose. The second car is actually pulled by the first. Dyno - shortened form of "dynamometer," a machine used to measure an engine's horsepower and test and monitor its overall performance. Eiri - "Except In Rare Instance," a handy little term describing NASCAR's ability to enforce its decisions when there may not be a specific rule or regulation to cover such a decision. Equalize - Cars in superspeedway races are required to run tires with both inner tubes and "inner liners," which are actually small tires inside the standard tires. When the inner liner loses air pressure and that pressure becomes the same as that within the outer tire, the tire is said to have equalized and a vibration is created. Esses - On a road course, a series of acute left, and right-hand turns, one turn immediately following another. Fabricator - A team member who is concerned with making car body parts such as door panels, instrument dashboards, special brakes, etc. "Factory" - A term designating the "Big Three" auto manufacturers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The "factory days" refer to periods in the 1950s and '60s when the manufacturers actively and openly provided sponsorship money and technical support to some race teams. Flat-Out - Racing a car as fast as possible under given conditions. Front-Steer - A car in which the steering components (box, etc.) are located ahead of the front axle. Garage - Area of a race track where cars are housed during an event; work area for car preparation while at a race track. 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. Gofer - Runs errands, clean up shop and takes orders from crew chief. "Go fer this and go fer that." 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 then the outside wall. Road racers use the term "line." Handling - Generally, a car's performance while racing, qualifying or practicing. How a car "handles" is determined by its tires, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and other factors. Hand Grenaded - See Blowed. "Independent" - A driver or team owner who does not have financial backing from a major sponsor and must make do with second-hand equipment such as parts and tires. The term, like the breed, is becoming rarer every year. "Jack The Bear" - When someone says his car is running like "Jack The Bear," it's moving at optimum efficiency. See "flat-out." Line - See "groove." Loose - Basically, a handling condition describing the tendency of a car's rear wheels to break away from the pavement, swinging its rear end toward the outside wall. Also called "oversteer." "Loose Stuff" - Debris such as sand, pebbles or small pieces of rubber that tend to collect on a track's apron or near the outside wall. Magnaflux - Short for "magnetic particle inspection." A procedure for checking all ferrous (steel) parts - suspension pieces, connecting rods, cylinder heads, etc. - for cracks and other defect utilizing a solution of metal particles and fluorescent dye and a black light. Surface cracks will appear as red lines. "Marbles" - See "loose stuff." NASCAR - National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing - Organization founded in December 1947 by William Henry Getty "Big Bill" France (Sr.), and others, that sanctions races, sets rules and awards points toward championships for several types of "stock" cars. "P&G" - Basically, the procedure for checking the cubic-inch displacement of an engine. The term comes from the manufacturer of the particular gauge used. Penalty Box - Derived from ice hockey. NASCAR's way of penalizing drivers for infractions by holding them in the pits or behind the wall for a specified time during a race. "He screwed up and they put him in the penalty box." Pits - Area of a race track, off the racing surface, where a car stops for servicing. Post-Entry (PE) - A team or driver who submits an entry blank for a race after the deadline for submission has passed. A post-entry receives no Winston Cup points. Pushing - Handling characteristics of a car where its front end tends to "push" or "plow" toward the outside wall in a corner. Also called "understeer". Ragged Edge (running on the) - Driving a car to its extreme limits while either qualifying or racing. Going "over the ragged edge" can result in loss of control. Rear-Steer - A car in which the steering components are located behind the front axle. "Reasonable Suspicion"; "Substance" - Both refer to NASCAR's drug-testing policy. Under it, if a NASCAR official is "reasonably suspicious" a driver, crew member or another official is abusing drugs, he or she may be required to undergo testing. "Substances" include cocaine, heroin, PCP and other illegal drugs, as well as alcohol and prescription drugs while participating in an event. Restrictor Plate - Device that limits the flow of the fuel mixture into the engine greatly reducing horsepower and therefore speed. "Right Combination" - Catchall phrase to describe why a car, team or driver has performed well or won a race. Included are engine horsepower, tire wear, correct weight distribution, performance of the driver on the track, the crew on pit stops and so on. Sand bagger(ing) - Driver who allegedly fails to drive a car to its full potential in practice or qualifying, thus being able to provide a "surprise" for his or her competitors during a race. "Scuff" - A tire that has been used at least once and is saved for further racing. A lap or two is enough to "scuff" it in. Short Track - A speedway under a mile in distance. Slick - A track condition where, for a number of reasons, it's hard for a car's tires to adhere to the surface or get a good "bite". A slick race track is not necessarily wet or slippery because of oil, water, etc. Slingshot - A maneuver in which a car following the leader in a draft suddenly steers around it breaking the vacuum; this provides an extra burst of speed that allows the second car to take the lead. See "Drafting". Spoiler - A metal strip that helps control airflow, downforce and drag. The front spoiler or "air dam" is underneath the car's front end near the axle; the rear spoiler is attached to the trunk lid. "Adding more spoiler" refers to increasing the rear spoiler's angle in relation to the rear window and generally aids a car's cornering ability. "Less spoiler" - decreasing its angle - aids straightaway speed. Sponsor - An individual or business establishment that financially supports a race driver, team, race or series of races in return for advertising and marketing benefits. Stagger - The difference in size between the tires on the left and right sides of a car. Because of a tire's makeup, slight variations in circumference result. Stand On It - When a driver depresses the gas pedal as far as possible. See "Flat Out." Stick - Tire traction. "The car's sticking to the track." "Sticker" - A new tire. Term comes from the manufacturer's stick-on label denoting the type of tire, price, etc. 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. Superspeedway - A race track of a mile or more in distance. Road courses are included. NOTE: Racers refer to three type of oval tracks. Short tracks are under a mile, "intermediate" tracks are at least a mile but under two miles and "speedways" are two miles and longer. Tri-oval - Said of a race track that has a "hump" or "fifth turn" in addition to the standard four corners. Not to be confused with a triangle-shaped speedway which has only three distinct corners. 200-MPH Tape - "Racer's Tape." Duct tape, so strong it will hold a banged-up race car together long enough to finish a race. Wedge (round of) - Same as "Bite" (first definition). Wrench - Slang for racing mechanic.
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