NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. The sanctioning body for the Winston Cup, Craftsman Truck and Busch Grand National series among others.

NEW SPACER

Term used for a new engine because it fills the space between the chassis and transmission.

OFF LINE

Driving off the best racing line. Drivers will go off line to attempt a pass or to move out of the way of faster cars.

ON THE THROTTLE

A driver has the pedal to the metal.

OPEN WHEEL

Formula One and Indy car style race cars which are designed to have the suspension, wheels and tires exposed, no fenders.

OUT BRAKE

A driver gains time and position on an opponent by applying the brakes later and deeper into a corner.

OUTSIDE GROOVE

The outside racing line. Sometimes a car will handle and perform better on the outside/inside line and a driver opts not to use the optimum groove.

OVAL

An oval-shaped track such as Atlanta Motor Speedway.

OVERSTEER

A condition when the front of a car has more grip than the rear. This is the same as a car being "loose."

OVERTAKE

A term commonly used by announcers meaning a pass.

PACE CAR

The car which leads the field to set the pace before starts and restarts after cautions.

PADDOCK AREA

The enclosed portion (or infield) of a race track.

PARADE LAP(S)

The warm-up lap before a race. Drivers use this lap to warm up their engines and often zig-zag to warm up tires.

PARKING LOT

After a big crash which takes out a lot of cars, the track looks like a parking lot.

PHYSICAL CIRCUIT

Usually refers to road courses which require a lot of turning and hence, great physical strength.

PICK UP

Debris built up on tires from rubber bits and small stones.

PIT ROW

The area designated for teams to set up temporary garages during races accessible to ("pit out") and from ("pit in") the track. Each team is allotted one pit area (or space) per car. Drivers pit so crews can refuel, change tires and make any other repairs or adjustments. Simply called the pits most often.

PIT BOARD

A board used by crews inform drivers of lap times, lap until pit and other various information. The board is used along with team radios to keep in constant communication.

PIT LIZARD

Nickname for a racing groupie.

PIT STOP

An integral part of most racing series where drivers stop in pit row so their crews can change tires, refuel, and make repairs or other adjustments.

PITS

Short for pit row or a dejected driver. Also see hot pits for cold pits.

POINT PAYING

In some series (e.g. CART and Formula One), you must finish a certain place or higher to receive points towards the championship. Conversely, NASCAR awards points to any driver who starts a race.

POINTS RACE

The overall competition to win the Drivers' or Manufacturers' Championship at the end of the season.

POLE POSITION

The driver qualifying fastest is awarded the first starting position. This means the driver will start on the inside (relative to the first turn) of the first row.

POP-OFF VALVE

In Indy-style racing, this valve is connected to the plenum exiting the turbocharger. Many racing groups supplies these valves in order to restrict the pressure generated by the turbocharger.

POWER PLANT

Commonly used term for engines.

PROVISIONAL STARTING SPOT

Special performance-based exemptions for drivers who do not initially qualify for a race. A driver awarded a provisional spot must start at the back of the starting grid.

PUSH

The rear end of a car has more grip than the front. This condition makes a car harder to turn into a corner. Commonly known as understeer.

PUSHING AND SHOVING

Race cars making contact.

QUALIFIERS OR QUALLIES

Softer compound tires designed for qualifying only because they provide excellent traction but only for a very short amount of time.

QUALIFY

During designated sessions, teams must meet established lap times to qualify for (or enter) a race based on a predetermined number of spots available.

RACE RUBBER

Race tires as opposed to qualifying tires.

RACER'S TAPE

Heavy duty duct tape used to temporarily repair hanging body parts which might hinder aerodynamic features and decrease performance. Most commonly used on stock cars (e.g. NASCAR Winston Cup) which use more paneling than Indy-style cars and are accustomed to more contact.

RAIN TIRES

Softer compound with better tread for wet-weather conditions. In dry conditions, these softer tires wear faster than harder compound tires with less tread.

RESTRICTOR PLATE

A stainless steel plate used between the carburetor and the intake manifold to limit the amount of fuel and air reaching the engine. It is used to slow down the race cars on certain high speed NASCAR tracks like Daytona Speedway.

RETURN

A vertical flap attached to a Indy car wing for increased downforce. Please see Gurney Flap.

ROAD COURSE

A race track with multiple left and right hand turns. Generally refers to permanent, purpose-built racing facilities. Can also refer to temporary street courses built on big city streets which were popularized in the 1980's.

ROLL BAR

Large, sturdy bars designed to protect a driver's head if the car rolls over. Very functional in race cars but used more for style in production cars. Most production and race cars use anti-roll (or sway) bars as part of the suspension to prevent the excessive rolling in corners.

ROLLING START

The race begins after the pace car leaves the track while the cars are moving. Formula One opts for a standing start where the cars start from a standstill.

ROOSTER TAIL

The spray trailing cars in wet conditions similar to the effect boats create across water.

ROUNDY ROUND

A slang term in NASCAR used to describe an oval track.

RUBBING

Racing announcers use this describe cars that make contact but don't crash. Also called "pushing and shoving."

RUNNING ANYWHERE

A car is handling so well, a driver can use any racing line (or drive anywhere.) Sometimes, handling problems lead to a preferred line where the car handles better.

RUNNING LIGHT

A car is running with little fuel. Teams qualify with a light load to achieve maximum speed.