NASCAR stands as the most popular motorsport in America. While fans cheer for their favorite drivers at 200 miles per hour, the sport hides a rebellious history. For instance, the first racers were actually criminals running from the police. Furthermore, the cars do not have doors, so drivers must climb through the window. Prepare to start your engines.
NASCAR
Bootleggers fleeing the police invented the sport. During Prohibition, drivers modified their cars to outrun the law while transporting illegal moonshine. Eventually, these skilled drivers met on weekends to race each other for pride and money.
NASCAR Drivers can lose up to ten pounds during a single race. Temperatures inside the car often reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Consequently, the extreme heat causes drivers to sweat profusely for three or four hours straight.
The cars do not have any doors. Mechanics weld the body panels shut to increase the structural integrity of the chassis. Therefore, drivers must climb through the window net to enter and exit the vehicle.
Richard Petty won 200 races in his career. The “King” set a record that most experts believe no one will ever break. For comparison, the second-highest winner, David Pearson, won only 105 races.
Teams glue the lug nuts to the wheels before the pit stop. To save precious milliseconds, crews use a sticky adhesive to hold the nuts in place on the new tires. This allows the tire changer to hit them immediately with the air gun.
The tires have absolutely no tread on them. These “slicks” provide maximum surface area to grip the asphalt track. However, this design makes them incredibly dangerous if even a small amount of rain falls.
Spotters stand on the roof of the stadium to guide the drivers. Because the drivers have limited visibility and wear helmets, they rely on a person high above the track. These spotters tell them when to pass and when to avoid a wreck.
The Daytona 500 happens at the start of the season. Unlike the Super Bowl or the World Series, NASCAR holds its biggest event as the very first race. This creates massive excitement right at the beginning of the year.
Wendell Scott was the first African American to win NASCAR race. He won at Jacksonville in 1963 despite facing severe discrimination and limited funding. Unfortunately, officials did not award him the trophy until decades later.
Track dryers use jet engines to clear the rain. When a storm hits, the track must be completely dry before racing can resume. Therefore, officials use trucks equipped with actual jet turbines to blow the water off the pavement.
A “restrictor plate” once slowed the cars down. At massive tracks like Talladega, cars became too fast and dangerous. Consequently, officials mandated a metal plate that limited the airflow to the engine.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in a crash on the final lap. The “Intimidator” crashed during the 2001 Daytona 500 while protecting the lead for his son and teammate. His death led to mandatory safety improvements like the HANS device.
The “Lucky Dog” rule gives a lapped car a second chance. When the caution flag waves, the first driver one lap down gets to move to the back of the lead lap. This rule keeps the field competitive and gives struggling teams hope.
Drivers use a straw to drink water while racing. A helmet tube connects to a fluid bag inside the car. Thus, they can stay hydrated without taking their hands off the steering wheel.
Finally, the winner often performs a burnout on the grass. This tradition started to celebrate a hard-fought victory. However, it often destroys the carefully manicured lawn of the infield.
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