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About This Quiz
Do you know the difference between drafting and drag at the race track? Can you tell a spoiler from a splitter or a short pit from a wave around? If you know the answers to these questions, start your engines - and see if you have what it takes to earn a perfect score on this NASCAR slang quiz!
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing hosted its first race in Daytona, Florida on February 15, 1948. Eleven years later, 41,000 race fans showed up to watch the first Indianapolis 500. By the 21st century, NASCAR had become a multi-billion dollar industry, with millions of fans watching on TV and at racing venues around the world.Â
While there's plenty of diversity among NASCAR participants these days, there's one thing everything involved in this sport has in common - speed! From drivers who put the pedal to the metal at 200 miles per hour or more, to the pit crews that can service a vehicle in 12 seconds flat, there's nothing about this sport that's slow, and that includes the lingo.Â
At the track racers, announcers and pit crews have their very own language that allows them to keep moving at top speed and keep cars in tip-top condition. Think you can decipher this NASCAR lingo? Take our quiz to find out!
What does “AERO†mean?
It is Aric Almirola’s nickname based on a character in the New X-Men.
It is what happens when a car comes flying off the track.
It is short for the NASCAR sponsor Aeropostale.
It’s an abbreviation for aerodynamics.
“In NASCAR, you don’t have to be as physically strong as in some other forms of racing. You’ve just got to be able to endure the heat and endurance of it.†–Jeff Gordon
What does “marbles†mean?
Ball bearings.
Book learning as opposed to track knowledge.
Small bits of tire.
“Marbles†are pieces of tire rubber that build up in the turns of a track. Marbles reduce traction so drivers will weave from side to side to get them off their tires.
Good luck charms.
What is a “restrictor plate?â€
A metal wheel chock that keeps the car from rolling when it is worked on in the Pit.
An aluminum plate used for controlling speeds by reducing the flow of air to fuel.
The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car. It’s the one who refuses to lose.†–Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
The name of the award given in NASCAR.
The part of a seat belt that snaps into the latch.
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What does “spoiler†mean?
A bar in rear of the car that presses the rear into the track at high speeds.
The spoiler is a metal blade attached to the rear of the car. It helps press the rear of the car into the track and gives the rear wheels more traction.
A wreck that ruins another car’s race time.
When the pit crew takes longer than usual to perform maintenance.
A driver who doesn’t slow down for a caution.
Which of the following means “lucky dog�
The driver who gets a lap back during a yellow flag.
The “lucky dog†is the guy who gets a free pass. When a caution is called, the first lapped driver gets a lap back.
The driver who goes through the pit to gain a lap.
A driver who walks away from a bad accident.
A driving team’s mascot.
What does “blown motor†mean?
An air-cooled motor.
Major engine failure.
When a driver pushes his engine to the point of major engine failure, such as when there is a piston rod that goes through the main engine block, it is said he has “blown his engine.†Usually these cars have a lot of smoke and steam coming out of their hood.
When a motor is not as good as the others it is “blown out†by the competition.
Broken engine.
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What does “downforce†stand for?
The gravity a car must overcome to move faster.
The feeling you get when you lose a race.
When aerodynamics and other effects press a car down into the track.
“I’d say [success in NASCAR] is probably 50% car, 30% driver, and 20% luck. When it comes to driving, if the driver doesn’t do his part, then it’s just kind of like multiplying a negative times a positive: The end result is going to be negative.†–John Wes Townley
When you are in too low of a gear and it is slowing you down.
What does “banking†mean?
Finding sponsors.
The slope of the racetrack especially at the corners.
Banking is the slope of a racetrack from the apron to the outside wall (especially at a curve or corner). The degree of banking is the height of a track’s slope at its outside edge.
When a driver deposits his winnings in the bank.
When one driver passes between two others.
What does “aero push†mean?
When the car behind you gets close enough to push a cloud of air against your bummer and make you move faster.
When you are forced into the wall on a turn.
When a car is designed in such a way that it moves faster.
When traction is reduced in a car that’s trailing another.
“If you don’t cheat, you look like an idiot; if you cheat and don’t get caught, you look like a hero; if you cheat and get caught, you look like a dope. Put me where I belong.†–Darrell Waltrip
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What does “track bar†mean?
A jack for changing tires.
A wreck on the track.
The fence around the outside of the track.
A bar that adjusts how the rear axle is related to the centerline.
This lateral bar assembly can be raised or lowered to affect how the car corners. In 2015, NASCAR allowed the controls to be placed where the driver can adjust them during the race.
Which of the following is the resistance a car experiences as it goes through the air?
“Weight.â€
“Drag.â€
“I think when you look at our team, you have to say that the weak point is probably still the driver.†–Tony Stewart
“Piston.â€
“Interval.â€
What does “drafting†mean?
When one car runs tail to nose with another car.
Drafting is when two or more cars run nose to tail, almost touching each other. The lead car displaces the air in front of it and creates a vacuum between it and the following car.
When the crosswind affects car handling.
When one car bumps into another one on the side of it as they go into a turn.
When one driver is asked to replace another during the middle of a race.
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What does “interval†mean?
The time a yellow flag lasts.
The time it takes for a pit stop.
The time distance between two cars.
“Why did I take up racing? I was too lazy to work and too chicken to steal.†–Kyle Petty
The place where a car must at the beginning of a race.
What does “tight†mean?
When a space between two cars isn’t wide enough to pass them.
Poor turning through corners.
The term “tight†is used to describe a car that has difficulty turning, usually requiring the driver let off the gas. Officially, it is when the front tires of a racecar lose traction before the rear ones.
When you get PIT seating so you can get in “tight†with the race experience.
The beginning of a race when al the cars are close to each other.
Which of the following is sheet metal on both sides of the car below the deck lid but above the wheel well from the C-post to rear bumper?
“Rear clip.â€
“Sway bar.â€
“Quarter-panel.â€
“Finishing races is important, but racing is more important.†–Dale Earnhardt
“Trailing arm.â€
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What does “200 mph tape†mean?
A prerecorded sound tape of cars going 200 mph.
The outside camera mounted on cars that records the race at 200 mph.
The recording of a wreck at 200 mph.
Really strong duct tape.
Racer’s tape is sometimes called “200 mph tape.†It is special duct tape designed to hold a beat-up car together until the end of the race.
Which of the following means a pass that allows you access to the pit even during the race?
All-Access Pit Pass.
Racing Restricted Pit Pass.
Hot Pit Pass.
“Members of Congress should be compelled to wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers, so we could identify their corporate sponsors.†–Caroline Baum
Cold Pit Pass.
What is a “SAFER Barrier?â€
A shock-absorbing wall around the outside of the track.
NASCAR engineers designed the Steel And Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barrier as a method of absorbing impacts in a way that better protects drivers who crash into them. Fused steel tubes are connected to the concrete wall with foam spacers to absorb the energy of a wreck and lessen car damage and personal injuries.
The electrically charged barrier that prevents spectators from walking onto the track.
A bouncy wall around the infield that shoots cars back onto the track if it is bumped.
A 2-foot thick, cinderblock “hard†wall that separates the pit road from the infield.
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What does “dirty air†mean?
Turbulence from a lead car.
“When a car's ahead of you, as long as you can see it, you get a tow, just like the draft in NASCAR. Even if it's a long ways down the track, it punches a hole in the air that has to help. When you're running alone, you can feel the difference, and it shows on the clock, too.†–Mario Andretti
The polluted air at a racetrack.
The exhaust from a racecar.
When a racecar goes airborne after coming in contact with track dirt.
What does “loose†mean?
The point at racing speeds where parts of racecars can fly off from vibration.
It is used to describe the lead car.
When a car goes careening off the track into the pit.
It is the opposite of tight.
Describes a car’s back end wiggling and losing traction when entering or exiting a corner creating a “fishtail†effect. It is also called “oversteer.â€
What does “happy hour†mean?
The single hour prior to a race that drivers and crews have to prepare.
A pit stop.
The final practice before a race.
“To be sure, [NASCAR] stars were initially ex-bootleggers for the most part drawn from that talent pool in the Carolinas hills: ‘good ol' boys’ as they referred to themselves. That's exactly how they would be described in the press that slowly became enamored with their raucous life style. That has all changed, with the drivers of today polished and clean-cut athletes who are expected to behave like commercial puppets in public.†–Brock Yates
The 30-minute refreshment rush after a race.
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What does "camber†mean?
When a car is too heavy.
Tire tilt.
Camber refers to how many degrees a tire is slanted outward (positive) or inward (negative) as opposed to being perpendicular to the track. Some racetracks may require a single racecar to have positive and negative cambered tires.
A car that is slow at the start.
It is when a driver burns out his camshaft.
What does “groove†mean?
The wear on a racing tire.
The best way around a racetrack.
“Dale Earnhardt was the best race car driver there will ever be in NASCAR. I would hope you don't expect me to replace him because nobody ever will.†–Kevin Harvick
The handgrips on a racecar steering wheel.
It is slang for the pit road.
What does “short pit†mean?
A pit stop where the tires are not changed.
A method of going to the pit earlier than usual.
The strategy of pitting well before running out of fuel, getting fresh tires to make up time on the leaders and theoretically taking the lead once those lead cars need to pit. Short pitting puts a car on an alternate pit cycle and could be beneficial or not depending in part upon how cautions fall the rest of the race.
A pit stop where the racecar is not refueled.
A smaller racetrack where two cars must share the same pit space during the race.
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Which of the following is “a metal piece that limits the air entering the engine cylinder�
“Tapered spacer.â€
“My dad knew that if I wanted to make a career out of it, I needed to go to NASCAR rather than dirt racing. Personally, I like dirt racing a little bit more. It's a little more fun.†–Tanner Berryhill
“Cylinder head.â€
“Deck lid.â€
“Dyno.â€
What does “side drafting†mean?
When one car “nudges†another by rubbing sides.
When one car pulls next to another one and interferes with its aerodynamics, which causes it to lose momentum.
When one car pulls alongside another car, the air flow from that car's nose flows into the spoiler of the other car. This causes the other car to slow down and the side-drafting car can pull forward.
When a crash occurs on the pit road.
When one car rubs the wall but is not thrown out of control.
What is a “splitter?â€
The part of the racetrack that branches off into the pit.
A brake component.
A valve used to reduce tire pressure.
A bar in front of the car that provides downforce.
“I was very against pink and purple when I was young, because they were girls' colors, but that was only because I didn't want people to write me off for what I can do. When I got into my 20s, I decided that was stupid.†–Danica Patrick
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What does “round†mean?
Making chassis adjustments to the racecar’s springs.
To adjust the chassis, a member of the pit crew uses a wrench to tighten or loosen a jack bolt that adjusts the play in the spring. This affects the way the racecar handles.
One lap.
The number of revolutions per minute an engine makes.
The corner of a racetrack.
What does “pole position†mean?
In the pit.
The car in last place.
The lead starting position.
“My grandfather is the King; my dad is the Prince. I guess that makes me the butler.†–Adam Petty
A driver who has submitted a late race entry and gets no owner or driver points.
Which of the following is when one car steers around a lead car and breaks the vacuum?
“Splash and go.â€
“Slingshot.â€
A slingshot is when a car following the leader in a draft suddenly steers around it. This breaks the vacuum and gives the following car an extra burst of speed that propels it into the lead.
“Hauler.â€
“Jet.â€
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What does “stagger†mean?
It is the formation cars get into when they are under a yellow flag.
When you pull into the pit accidentally and must stay in your spot for a full second.
When there is a slight difference in size between tires on the left and right side of the car.
“His wife wears the firesuit in that family and tells him what to do.†–Joey Logano talking about Kevin Harvick
When a driver is able to walk away from a wreck.
What does “splash ‘n go†mean?
When a car is in good enough condition to finish the race after a wreck.
When a car makes a pit stop just to get gas
To “splash ‘n go†or to “gas ‘n go†means a driver took a quick pit stop for gas only, usually to fill it with enough gas to get through the end of the race. No other work is done to the car.
When a car is caught speeding on the pit road.
When a car fails to qualify for a race.
When does a “green-white-checkered finish†mean?
The winner is allowed to do stunts on the track during the victory lap.
It is when the winner of the race is predetermined before its start.
It is when the leader has over 100 points more than the second place finisher.
It is NASCAR’s version of going overtime.
“Our fans would never waste good beer by pouring it on us.†–Jeff Gordon comparing NASCAR fans to NBA fans NASCAR’s version of overtime, which allows up to three attempts at two-lap shootout finishes so that races don’t end under caution.
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What does “chrome horn†mean?
A special racing horn used only during a victory lap.
The medal racecar drivers receive for winning.
When one car touches another to get it to move out of the way.
Racecars don’t have horns, so they use their bumpers to let someone know he’s in the way. Although the bumpers are not really made out of chrome, this practice is still called using a “chrome horn.â€
A spoiler placed on backward that makes an unusual sound.
Which of the following means “to nudge the lead car in a line of tailgating racecars?â€
“Breaking the air dam.â€
“Kissing the apron.â€
“Bump drafting.â€
"I got in the ambulance and looked back over there and I said, 'Man, the wheels ain't knocked off that car yet. Get out. I gotta go.'" –Dale Earnhardt
“High heating.â€
You Got:
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