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The Thrill of Stock Car Racing

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Anyone who says that stock car racing is nothing more than a bunch of hillbillies driving around in a circle just doesn’t get it. There is much more to the sport than a bunch of people driving in a circle. There is a certain level of skill, timing and judgment every racer must have, not just to win the race but to avoid the tragedies that come with this dangerous sport. In many ways, these racers are putting their lives on the line each and every day to become champions and that in itself is the thrill of the game. Don’t believe me? There are television channels you can get through places like http://www.directstartv.com/ that actually give you a firsthand experience. I mean it. You are literally in the driver’s seat as rivals are passed, corners are rounded and accidents occur – you really can’t get closer than that and if you can watch this sort of thing and then come back and tell me that stock car racing is nothing but a bunch of circle driving, then you better check your pulse, son. Because if that doesn’t excite you then there is a pretty good chance that you are already dead.

Just How Important Are Pit Crew Anyway?

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Whether it’s a dirt track or the smooth paved courses of NASCAR, a pit crew plays a vital role for any race car driver. Think about it for a second? A driver needs to focus on the track, their speed, control, and ability to race. That includes drafting with opponents, passing for position, and of course, staying out of trouble if and when an accident occurs.
The pit crew is responsible for maintaining the race car so it can make it through the entire race. When a driver needs a full tank of gas, the pit crew is there to fill it up. When the tires are worn down, the pit crew changes them. And even in those times when there’s an accident, the pit crew is right there with any and all equipment to try and fix the race car to get it back on the track.
Those are the members of the crew who are hands on, working on the car.
But we cannot forget about the other members of the pit crew. Those who are called spotters. They watch the race from various angles, reporting back to the driver of track conditions and of any activity on the track. When the driver is focused on a turn, the spotter can help them by telling them who is near them and what to expect.
Without the pit crew, a race car driver would have difficult not only navigating around a track but also maintaining their car.

In A Boy’s World – Women in Stock Car Racing

www.racing17b.com — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Stock car racing is, without a doubt, considered a man’s sport. Yet, the history of stock car racing is littered with women who have made their marks on the racetrack. As early as the 1940′s, women were hopping into the driver’s seat. The first female drivers in NASCAR history were Sara Christian and member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Louise Smith. These two trailblazers paved the way for future female stock car drivers.

The 2000′ s have seen a significant increase in attention on female racers.Want more? Click here. Jennifer Jo Cobb is a prominent racer and spokeswoman; she began racing in 1991 and in 2002 she drove nine races with three top 10s. Currently, she owns her own CWTS team and drives the 41 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing. The spotlight of 2011, however, undeniably shines on Danica Patrick, the five year winner of IndyCar’s “Most Popular Driver” award. In 2009, she placed third in the Indianapolis 500 behind Dan Wheldon and Helio Castroneves. This achievement ranked her as the highest finishing woman racer in the history of the Indy 500.

Despite the few women who have become high profile stock car drivers, most young female racers are met with much resistance when it comes to sponsorship and racing.

The Black Number One – How Did the Death of Dale Earnhart, Sr. Become the Catalyst for Stock Car Safety?

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was arguably the best NASCAR driver in history. He was hardcore racing at it’s finest and people LOVED to hate him! His final race at Daytona in February 2001, and the wreck that concluded it, would come as a shock to all and would help wake up many drivers, and NASCAR itself, as to just how safe they were out on the track. It was a wreck that Dale lost his life in and a wreck that many still refer to as “it didn’t look that bad”. The wreck taught NASCAR and it’s drivers many lessons. They installed safer barriers so when a car does hit the wall it has added give and protection. The HANS device, a helmet anchoring system, became mandatory and has become many drivers best friend, since Dale’s death was attributed to head injuries. Even the race cars underwent changes to make them safer. They now have larger crash zones, spoilers, and escape hatches in the roofs for the drivers. NASCAR took loosing Dale, Sr. very seriously and didn’t want the NASCAR family, another drivers family, or the fans to loose another driver. Thankfully it worked, there have been no deaths since Dale’s.

From Weekend Warriors to Famous Faces – How did Stock Car Racing Become a New Phenomenon?

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Stock car racing has its history in the 1920s and prohibition. People that used to run moonshine had to elude law enforcement and they learned how to modify their cars to do so. They had to develop great skill to navigate the roads in these modified cars. Eventually they started holding racers among each other with the winner getting bragging rights. Soon after that these races were held for prize money.

In the late 1940′s NASCAR was founded and stock car racing started to spread and become more popular. Races started being held in Canada in the 1950s and stock car racing was no longer just a Southern thing. With stock car racing gaining more and more fans some of the better racers started to gain a fan base. Fans would come out to see a particular racer and their signature cars.

Television helped to increase the popularity of NASCAR and stock car racing and people could now enjoy the races from the comfort of their own homes. Television brought stock racing to an international audience and now the sport and its racers are popular the world over. Stock car racing now has some of the most attended sporting events in the world.