Behind The Wheel: More Than Just Left Turns

 Nascar is a sport that many look past as just something that any average Joe can do. It's a sport that is often associated with Southerns and Rednecks. It's a sport that fans tune in to just watch the crash highlights. It's a sport that the average fan says just makes left turns. It's a sport that many perceive is as simple as just laying your foot on the gas pedal at all times. Truth be told, there is more to the sport of Nascar than meets the eye.

For starters, Nascar drivers drive a stick shift car. This itself requires a lot of skills. Put in another way, less than 25% of Americans know how to drive a stick shift car. To be able to know when to brake, clutch, shift and gas takes a lot of coordination, especially if one is going at 160 mph. A split second mess up could cost you to fall behind many seconds behind your competition.

Nascar also does not compete on similar tracks each race. A Nascar season consists of tracks ranging from 2.6 miles to 0.5 miles. Also, besides the traditional oval shape, Nascar also races on Road courses. Road courses are tracks that consist of both left and right handed turns of varying degrees. Each track runs differently and requires practice and knowledge of where the best line to run.

Due to the many differences in the tracks, one cannot always floor it on the gas pedals. Drivers are usually experts in aerodynamics, needing to know where on the track to run and using the track's banking to make the cars run faster. Drivers also have to know where and how long to hit the brakes when entering a turn. Calculating fuel mileage and knowing how to run on worn tires are also part of the strategy when it comes to race day.

Another crucial and underrated skill that Nascar drivers have is being able to perform under tough conditions. A typical Nascar race lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours. Having to constantly race in hot condition wearing a fire suit, maintaining focus, and also having no bathroom or food break, the stamina and endurance of a Nascar driver can make the difference between a winner and a loser.

Give Nascar a chance. Watch a race and listen to the commentators describe a race. Think about Nascar the next time you're at a red light or when you start falling asleep at the wheel, it's a lot harder than it looks.

-TSM