NASCAR Language Revealed

NASCAR jargon and language can be quite daunting for fans who are just watching NASCAR for the first few times or the initial time in their NASCAR lives. We’re going to talk about a few of the words and language used in NASCAR that you might have heard around the pit or on TV, to give you a better understanding of some of the jargon and language floating around the world of NASCAR.

NASCAR language and jargon for the new NASCAR fan

You might have seen a large convoy of extra large trucks pull into a NASCAR track before the race, often it will have NASCAR’s that are viewable as it enters the track. These vehicles are transporters for each of the race teams’ two cars, a main and a backup, incase of problems. In addition, these vehicles are the storage garage for parts and tools to repair an entire NASCAR, and a place for the team to unwind.

Racers must change their driving techniques to work in combination with their race cars, which usually changes as a race progress, making their cars either tight or loose. Tight cars are hard to turn and the driver will have to ease-off the accelerator while turning, to slow the car and allow him to steer easier. Teams and drivers usually adjust things like the tire pressure, spring stiffness and chassis weight distribution in order to correct this problem. A race car that is loose, turns too easily, which can tend to make a race car fishtail. Once again, teams will make adjustments to the chassis, tires and springs to correct this problem and give the driver more control and thus greater speed. Confidence breeds speed in NASCAR and a driver who is comfortable with their car is going to run faster and be more successful.

Variables like track temperature and tire wear play important roles in how a NASCAR reacts to the driver during a race and the control a driver has over their ride. Small factors, like the amount of tape over a NASCAR’s grill can change the way a race car handles during a race. Juggling all the factors involved in a fast race car is what the best drivers and racers in NASCAR do better than others, and is often the difference between a champion and runner-up.

The next time you hear any of these words you will have a better idea of their significance in the race you’re watching and this knowledge should increase the entertainment you receive from watching NASCAR. See you at the track!

“Image: Zuma Press”