NASCAR A to Z

APRON --- The portion at the bottom (inside) of a racetrack separating the racing surface from the infield areas, marked by a yellow line.

BANKING --- The slope of a race track, higher near the outside walls than it is toward the infield area, even moreso in the corners. The degree of banking refers to the track’s height by the outside wall as opposed to its height near the apron. Banking is to allow cars to take the corners faster more safely.

BUMP DRAFT --- Done in stock car racing while drafting (see “draft”). The rear driver literally pushes the front car. This makes make both, or several, cars faster, and is mostly done in restrictor plate racing.

CHASSIS --- The underside of the race car that includes the springs, shocks, brakes, axels, wheels, etc.

CREW CHIEF --- The team leader of the race crew. When the team arrives at the track, the crew chief is in charge of the car and mechanical crew. During the race the crew chief makes the decisions regarding pit stops, tire changes, and chassis adjustments.

DNF --- An abbreviation for “Did Not Finish.” This relates to a driver that started but failed to finish a race.

DNQ --- An abbreviation meaning “Did Not Qualify.” This relates to a driver that failed to qualify (see qualifying) for a race.

DOWN FORCE --- The pressure caused by air traveling over the surfaces of a race car creates "down force" or weight on the area. To increase cornering speed teams strive to create down force which increases tire grip. The tradeoff for increased corner speeds derived from greater down force is increased drag that slows straightaway speeds.

DRAFT --- The gap in air currents left by a vehicle traveling at high speeds. When another car gets close to the car in front, it faces much less wind resistance. Riding in the draft, or “drafting” behind another car, creates more speed per horsepower, and also lessens fuel use.

FLAG STAND --- Spot from where the lead race official or flagman (or flagwoman) runs the race with the use of different colored racing flags. The flag stand is located in front of the grandstand right above the start/finish line, across the racetrack from the pit area.
GROOVE --- The term used for the route that a particular driver takes to circumvent a race track the fastest. The driver’s groove can change depending on tires, race car set-up, driving style and weather conditions.

HANS DEVICE --- A head and neck safety collar that prevents severe whiplash. The use of a head and neck safety device became mandatory in NASCAR after the investigation into the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.

HAPPY HOUR --- The last practice session before a race. Happy Hour sessions are held the day before an event, and are usually an hour in length. In order to make it fair for all competitors, teams can only take their cars onto the track during NASCAR sanctioned practice sessions.

LAP --- A lap in one turn around the racetrack.

LAPPED TRAFFIC --- Or “lapped car” means that the race leader has traveled around the track one lap ahead of this car and passed him. A car that is three laps down has been passed by the race leader three times.

LEAD LAP --- This is the lap that the race leader is on.

LOOSE --- When the back end of the car loses traction and slides around to the right toward the outside wall. This usually happens entering or exiting a corner.

MARBLES --- These are pieces of tire rubber along with dirt and gravel that has been swept out toward the outside wall by the wind created by the speed of the race cars. When cars drive too close to the walls in corners and get into the “marbles,” they lose traction, and possibly control.

NASCAR --- An abbreviation for the “National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.”

PACE CAR --- The official “stock” car or truck of the race that is usually provided for each track’s events through sponsorship from a local car dealer. The pace car sets the pace when leading the cars to the green flag for the race start or restarts. During a caution period within the race, the pace car takes to the track and all competitors must line up behind it. Drivers are not allowed to go in front of the pace car.

PIT BOX --- The designated area marked off for each team to service their race cars during a race.

PIT ROAD --- The road leading to each team’s pit area where they can service their cars during a race.

PIT STALL --- The area behind the pit box on the back side of the pit wall where each crew keeps their race tires, tools, equipment, and war wagons.

PIT STOP --- When a race car stops for service during competition for fuel, tires, chassis adjustments and mechanical problems.

POLE --- The first position of a race event. When a driver qualifies and records the fastest speed of all qualifiers, he wins the “pole” and gets to start the race at the inside (next to the pit area) front position. The second place qualifier gets the “outside pole” starting on the outside (next to the grandstands) of the front row.

RESTRICTOR PLATE --- An aluminum plate that is placed between the base of the carburetor and the engine's intake manifold with four smaller sized holes drilled in it that are inline with the four holes in the carburetor. The smaller holes are designed to reduce the flow of air and fuel into the engine's combustion chamber, thereby decreasing horsepower and speed.

ROOF FLAPS --- Flaps attached to the race car’s roof are designed to activate, or flip up, if a car should spin backwards to prevent the car from going airborne.

SPLASH ‘N’ GO --- A quick fuel stop that is made toward the end of a race that will allow the racecar to take on just enough fuel to finish the race.

SPOILER --- The spoiler is an adjustable upright strip of aluminum that stretches across the width of a race car's rear deck lid. It is designed to create down force on the rear of the car to increase traction.

SPONSOR --- An individual or corporation that finances a race, race team, or racing series. Usually corporate sponsors finance racing ventures as part of their advertising campaigns. A sponsor will have their logos on the cars, team uniforms, and team equipment haulers.

SPOTTER --- A team member who is placed in a high position where they can see as much of the racetrack as physically possible. The spotter relays information to the driver via two-way radio concerning activity on the track and activity near the driver that he is unable to see for himself.
TIGHT --- A condition also known as “push” that occurs when the front tires of a car will not turn in a corner. The car tends to want to head for the outside wall. When this occurs, the driver must get out of the throttle until the front tires grip the race track again.

WEDGE --- This refers to transferring the weight of the car by the use of jacking screws that are mounted on the rear corners of the race car. Adjusting these ratcheting screws during a race will alleviate tight and loose conditions.

YELLOW LINE --- A painted yellow line that is used to mark the separation of the race track from the apron. In restrictor plate races, NASCAR deems it illegal for a car to go below the yellow line or pass another car below the yellow line to gain a track position.