 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DISCLAIMER: Caution, you have entered PIT STOP SHOP's own version of decoded NASCAR terminology. We give you the basic definition with a splash of our own fun! Enter at your own risk.
Choose a Letter:
|
|
AEROThe car's ability to cut through the air, reducing drag.
APRONOn oval tracks, the apron is the very bottom. Some apron's may be concrete instead of asphalt.
|
|
BALANCEWhen a car glides around the racetrack as if on rails, then it is in balance.
BITEThis is the car's ability to stick or adhere to the track.
BLACK FLAGConsultation Flag. The driver's are asked to report to pit road to have a "consultation" with NASCAR officials.
|
|
CAMBERThe angle at which a tire makes contact with the track surface. Positive Camber = the angle a tire is tilted away from vehicle's centerline. Negative Camber = the tire is tilted toward the centerline.
CAUTION FLAGYellow Flag. Displayed to entire field when there is danger on the track. Driver's are required to slow down when this flag is displayed.
CHEATIN'Gray area in all forms of racing. Examples: Altering fuel or boring out restrictor plates.
CTSCraftsman Truck Series. NASCARS truck series.
|
|
|
DIRTY AIRThe air coming off the lead car.
DONUTBlack circle you see in side of a car after rubbing along side another car's tire. Or when a driver wins, he spins his car around in circles.
DOWNFORCEThe pressure of air traveling over the surface of the race vehicle creates a "down-ward" weight on a particular area of the car. By creating downforce that increases tire grip, teams will increase corner speeds.
DRAFTINGTwo or more cars running nose to tail almost touching each other. The lead car creates a vacuum between its rear end and the nose of the car behind him and actually pulls the second car along with it.
DRAGThe slowing effect a car experiences when passing through air at high speeds.
|
|
FUEL CELLThe holding tank for the car's gasoline. It is designed to eliminate or minimize fuel spillage.
|
|
GROOVEThe best route around the racetrack. High Groove - close to the outside wall for most of the lap. Low Groove - close to the apron. Driver's look for fastest groove. This can vary depending on track conditions , such as weather.
|
|
HAPPY HOURLast official practice session before start of race.
HANDLINGA race car's performance while racing. The handling of a car is usually determined by the tires, suspension and aerodynamics.
|
|
INFIELDThe interior of the racetrack where fans can park and/or camp in the infield to watch the race. For hardcore race fans.
|
|
KITTY LITTERUsed primarily for road courses. These are the small pebble pits which surround the race track. If a car gets into the kitty litter it usually requires a tow truck to remove it.
|
|
LOOSEThis is when the back of the race car wants to overtake the front end either entering or exiting a turn. In qualifying the teams will make the car as loose as possible without causing the driver to lose control.
LUG NUTSLarge nuts applied to wheels during pit stops to secure the tires.
|
|
MARBLESPieces of rubber the size of marbles which build up on the outside of the track that can cause the drivers to loose control.
|
|
NASCARNational Association of Stock Car Racing
NBSNASCAR Busch Series is the Minor League to the Nextel Cup Series.
|
|
PIT ROADThis is where the crews service the cars. Pit road is usually located at the front straightaway.
PIT STALLAlso known as pit box. It is located along pit road and each team has a designated box.
PIT STOPPit stops are used for the driver to come into his pit box to get gas, tires and other adjustments.
POLE POSITIONStarting position for the race. This position is the inside of the first row. You achieve this position by being the fastest qualifier.
PUSHPush occurs when the front tires of the vehicle will not turn sharply in the corner. If this occurs, the driver must get out of the throttle until the front tires grip the racetrack again.
|
|
QUALIFYINGTime Trials. This procedure is used by NASCAR to determine the running order for the race.
QUALIFYING TRIMQualifying Set up. The trim is the over all setup for a car, i.e. qualifying engine, lighter weight oil and taped front end. The purpose is to make the car go as fast as possible for one lap.
|
|
RACE TRIMRace Set Up. This setup is a particular set of shocks, springs, swaybars and engine which will be used during the race.
RESTRICTOR PLATEAn aluminum plate that is placed between the carburetor and intake manifold with four holes drilled in it. It is designed to reduce the flow of air and fuel into the engine's combustion chamber, therefore reducing the horsepower and speed.
ROAD COURSEA course with turns to the left and right.
ROOKIE STRIPEThe yellow stripe which is painted across the back of all Nextel Cup rookie cars is so other drivers will realize they are racing a ROOKIE.
|
|
|
SCUFFSThese are tires that have a few laps on them. Team will sometimes run scuffs during qualifying.
SHORT TRACKTracks that are less than one mile in length.
SPRING RUBBERSThis is used to adjust the car's spring rebound or stiffness. You can remove or insert these spring rubbers to adjust the car's handling.
SPOILERA strip of aluminum that is across the vehicle's rear decklid. It is designed to create downforce at the rear of the vehicle. This increases traction.
SPOTTERThis is the person who sits high above the track and stays in constant communication with the driver. The spotter is used to tell the driver when another car is outside or inside of him and also tells the driver of any trouble on the track.
STICKERSNew tires. This name is derived from the manufacturer's stickers affixed to each tire surface.
SUPERSPEEDWAYRacetrack one mile or more in distance. Road courses are also included.
SWAY BARAnti-Roll Bar. This is used to resist or counteract the rolling force of the car through the turns.
|
|
|
TECHThis is where the cars are inspected before being allowed on the race track after the race is over. All cars must pass NASCAR's specifications before racing.
TEMPLATEThis is used to check body shape and size to ensure driver's are meeting the rules. The template is a close resemblance with the factory version of the car.
TIGHTThe car is said to be tight if the front tires lose traction before the rear tires do. A tight race car is hard to steer through turns.
TRACK BARRaising or lowering the track bar changes the rear roll center and determines how well the car will travel through turns. This is done through the rear window with an extended ratchet. Lowering the track bar will usually tighten the vehicle and raising it will loosen it.
|
|
200 MPH TAPERACER'S TAPE. This is duct tape that is so strong it will hold a banged up race car together long enough to finish a race.
|
|
VALANCEFront Air Dam. The location of the front air dam affects the amount of downforce the car creates.
VICTORY LANEWinner's Circle. This is where driver's go to celebrate their win.
|
|
WEDGEThe relationship from corner to corner of the weight of the race car. A 'typical adjustment would be made to a loose car by decreasing the 'weight of the left front and right rear corners and increasing the weight of the right front. The adjustment for a tight car would be increase the weight of the right rear corner which decreases the weight of the right front and left rear and increases the weight of the left front.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
©2006 Pit Stop Shop. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
