Fast Facts: Racing Terminology

Daytona is a superspeedway, and a restrictor plate race. That makes it different from most of the other races in how drivers strategize their positions. You'll hear a lot of these terms (some definitions from Nascar.com) on Sunday. 

Clean Air--driving into air without the turbulence from the wake of other cars; only at the very front of the field.

Dirty Air--driving into turbulent air created in the wake of other cars; usually slows down the following cars.

Drafting--two or more cars, nose-to-tail, racing together are more efficient because the car in front displaces air and creates a vacuum between it and the trailing car, actually pulling it along.

Loose--(also free, or technically oversteer) condition when the back end of the car has more momentum than the front entering or exiting a turn but the front wheels have more traction than the rear wheels, causing the driver to possibly lose control and have to let off the gas. 

Tight--(also push, or technically understeer) condition where the front wheels lose traction before the rear wheels do, making it difficult for the driver to steer sharply through turns and he has to let up on the throttle. 

and finally, my favorite...

Pit Lizard--reference to attention-seeking women who hang out in the pits--race-car driver groupies, in other words. (I am definitely not a pit lizard, but you can pretty much tell who they are if you ever get into the pit area at a race.)

The field is set, practice is ending...I won't keep you in suspense. I think because of his talent, experience, and performance in the Duel, in addition to his hunger to win after not going to victory lane last year for the first time in a loooong time, Jeff Gordon will win the Daytona 500. He's had a whole year to adjust to the new COT, and possibly most important, he has been quoted as saying he thinks he can win. Let's go racin', boys AND girls!