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A Language All Its Own

Evolution Of The Racing Language From 1949-Present

1. Setting Off For The Track
   • 1949-70: "I'm driving the tow truck."
   • 1971-80: "I'm riding in the tow truck."
   • 1981-90: "I'm loading the wife and kids in the van and driving straight through."
   • 1991-Present: "I'm taking off as soon as the pilot says my private plane is ready."

2. Pre-Race Prospects
   • 1949-70: "We're gonna run hard as the car will go 'til the wheels fall off or we get the checkered flag." Also, "We're gonna set a pace and see what happens."
     • Translation: "We're going to stroke along on the bottom of the track and hope for real high attrition among the guys runnin' hard as the car will go."
   • 1971-80: "We'll take what the track will give us."
     • Translation: "The best we can hope for is to be in the second pack behind Richard Petty, David Pearson, Gale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker."
   • 1981-90: "We think we'll be competitive."
     • Translation: "Maybe we can run well enough to keep Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace from lapping us."
   • 1991-Present: "We ran well in the 'Happy Hour' and with an adjustment or two the car should be real drivers."
     • Translation: "Gee, I hope Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin don't blow our doors off."

3. Tire Troubles
   
   • 1949-70: "I blowed a tar."
   • 1971-80: "I blew a tire."
   • 1981-90: "A tire equalized."
   • 1991-Present: "I cut a tire (which then blowed)."

4. Engine Troubles
   • 1949-70: "It blowed."
   • 1971-80: "It blew."
   • 1981-90: "We dropped a valve."
   • 1991-Present: "We developed a vibration." Translation: "It blowed."

5. Explaining Wrecks
   • 1949-70: "The track was covered with that ##%%*&&% sealer, damn ##%%*&&% bear grease!" Also, "That ##%%&&% idiot ran all over me!"
   • 1971-80: "Our cars got together and everybody saw whose fault it was. That idiot disconnects his brain when the race starts."
   • 1981-90: "Two or three of us were going for the same spot." Also, "The No. 3 car got me."
   • 1991-Present: "I got help from behind." Also, "I got the air taken off my spoiler."
     • Translation: "That ##%%&&% ran all over me! He disconnects his brain when the race starts."

6. Post-Race Comments In Victory Lane
   • 1949-70: "Thanky." (In receiving congratulations).
   • 1971-80: "Thank The Man Upstairs for a safe race and the crew for a drivers car."
   • 1981-90: "Thank The Lord for a safe race, our sponsors, the crew and the fans."
   • 1990-Present: "Thank ALL our sponsors (blah, blah, blah, blah, blah in listing what seems like a dozen sponsors, plus driversyear and Union 76). Thank my car owner for giving me this opportunity, my crew, and the boys back at the shop, who have been working real hard."

7. Catch-All Comment
   • 1949-70: "That's racin'."
   • 1971-80: "That's racin'."
   • 1981-90: "That's racin'."
   • 1991 Present: "It's like the old-timers used to say, ‘That’s racin'."

So you think you know all about NASCAR there is to know? I bet you won't know all the answers... What does NASCAR stand for? a) Nextel Association of Stock Car Automobile racing b) National American Stock Car Automobile Racing c) National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing d) National Annual Stock Car Automobile Racing What was the name of the organization sanctioned by NASCAR immediately before it became Sprint Cup? a) Nationwide Series b) Nextel c) Cratsman Truck Series d) Winston World Cup Where was the first sanctioned NASCAR late-model stock car race held? a) Nashville, Tenn. b) Charlotte, N.C. c) Indianapolis, Ind. d) Daytona Beach, Fla. Which of these NASCAR drivers won the most championships? a) Darrell Waltip b) Dale Earnhardt c) Lee Petty d) Cale Yarborough When was the first time Richard Petty won the NASCAR championship? a) 1961 b) 1964 c) 1974 d) 1977 Who won the 1994 championship? a) Terry Labonte b) Jeff Gordon c) Dale Earnhardt d) Alan Kutwicki Where is NASCAR's main headquarters located? a) Daytona Beach, Fla. b) Atlanta, Ga. c) Nashville, Tenn. d) Indianapolis, Ind. Who was NASCAR's first Rookie of the Year? a) Doug Cooper b) Richard Petty c) Billy Wade d) Shorty Rollins What goal did Jeff Gordon accomplish in 1995? a) He was the first driver to win the Cup 8 times b) He became the first driver to drive 300 mph c) He won his 6 consecutive races d) He became the youngest person to win the Cup What year did Bobby Allison win the championship? a) 1983 b) 1988 c) 1985 d) 1984 Answers below

1. A pit crew can win or lose a race. In a sport driven by speed, even a few seconds can make a difference. In search of faster, stronger crew members, NASCAR drivers recruit former college and pro athletes, including NFL players and pro wrestlers. Each pit crew has a coach, a trainer, and, sometimes, a sports psychologist.
2. The technology in a NASCAR vehicle is far behind what you’ll find in the average family car. While your Toyota Camry is packed with computers, Tony Stewart’s car runs on an engine that was designed in 1965. But don’t mistake old school with primitive—up to $150,000 can be sunk into aerodynamics and engineering.
3. The favorite race of NASCAR drivers is one that fans don’t see. Drivers’ love of competition extends to their trips home. Traditionally, the first one back to Charlotte, N.C., where most of them live, texts smack talk to his rivals.
4. Racing is only a small part of a driver’s job. A driver’s off-track duties—test sessions, interviews, and sponsor appearances—eat up more hours than racing, even on race days. “I have a lot of friends in major league baseball,” says Jimmie Johnson. “They can’t believe everything I have to do before a race. Can you imagine Derek Jeter doing meet-and-greets right before a World Series game?”

To an extent, team owners and sponsors dictate drivers' communication such as messages to fans and media, but if a driver has something to say, he's going to say it. Consider this a public service. Things you will hear from race folk, along with what they really meant to say ...

• Start-Up Owner: Nobody will work harder than this team. Our first step is to become competitive on a weekly basis, then maybe in a year or so become a legitimate top-10 contender.

  Translation: You don't know how happy it made me to talk our sponsor into a four-year contract. Because we all know, we're gonna suck for a long, long time.

• Driver, After Wreck: It's really a shame, because the boys in the shop really busted their tails to give us a fast race car.

  Translation: If looks could kill, those grease monkeys would have me strung up from that big oak outside the shop.

• Driver, After Wreck #2: We were just biding our time, turning laps. On the next round of pit stops, we were hoping to make a little adjustment and start running toward the front.

  Translation: Is anyone buying that? I didn't think so. Really, all this does is give us a 35th instead of a 30th. We had nothing today. Nothing.

• Driver, After Wreck #3: I don't know why guys feel like they need to start racing like idiots so early in the race.

  Translation: As long as I'm in front of all that crap, I'm all for it. Next week, I've gotta qualify better.

• Driver, After Causing Wreck: I can't tell you how it happened. I’ll have to look at the replay, then maybe I’ll have a better idea.

  Translation: It’ll also give me time to think of an excuse. I sure hope the sponsor buys this one like he bought the others.

• Driver, After Spinning Alone: I'm not really sure what happened. I think someone took the air off my spoiler and the back-end just got around on me.

  Translation: This is soooooooooo embarrassing.

• Driver In Victory Lane: I also want to thank my wife, who's back home. Honey, wish you were here. I miss you and I love you. This one's for you, and we'll celebrate tonight when I get home.

  Translation: Maybe I got to her before she calls her lawyer. I am so close to losing half of everything. I have to find a better hiding place for my black book.

• NASCAR Official, At drivers' Meeting: OK, remember, let's be smart out there.

  Translation: But if you decide to do something dumb, please remember to do it in front of the main grandstand. These people paid drivers money for those seats.

• Driver, After Getting Fired: It was a chemistry thing.

  Translation: I really hate those guys.

• Fired Driver #2: I'll find another ride. Next time, I think I’ll wait and get with an established team that's ready to challenge for a championship.

  Translation: I have GOT to get out of the house. At this point, I'll listen to offers from ARCA owners. Anything. Am I too young to test IROC cars?

Answers: Question 1=c, Question 2=b, Question 3=b, Question 4=b, Question 5=b, Question 6=c, Question 7=a, Question 8=d, Question 9=d, and Question 10=a

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