It's Kimi's first NASCAR race...and you'll never guess what happens next!

"31ModelA" (car) 08/03/2014 at 11:33 • Filed to: None

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I had a recent exchange with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in regards to yesterday's post !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It's Kimi's first NASCAR race, and that got me thinking about just what a NASCAR newbie should be aware of going into their first race.

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Such a list could be extremely long, so I attempted to cull it down to only my top tips for those that are uncertain about its appeal. (Maybe I'll update this list ad infinitum...maybe that's what happens next.)

(Clarification: Oponaut kimirakkionen kindly clarified that he or she is not the REAL kimi, but rather a fellow Jalop that will be at Pocono...FIND HIM AND GIVE HIM A HIGH FIVE! Wait, you didn't think it was the real Kimi, did you? Did you!? )

First, let it not go unsaid: at some point you MUST get as close to wall as possible to experience the rush of all that power. Stand either at the exit of a turn or 3/4 down a straight for maximum effect)...

I'll put your TL;DR version first:

(1) NASCAR cars don't look fast and they're not supposed to, but that's good.

(2) Days of Thunder is not a documentary and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

(3) The secret sauce of every NASCAR team is the crew, and they are more talented than you, and you'll probably never notice or appreciate what they do.

(4) NASCAR fans are mixed bag of just about every kind of person you know.

Still want more? Read below.

1) change your perception about what a race car "is" . F1 cars look fast and sound(ed) like they were tuned to perform in a world class opera. They've sprouted winglets and sensors from every surface making them appear like they were designed by aliens from the future. NASCAR machines, on the other hand, look like bricks and sound like they want to murder the air around them and the ground beneath them. NASCAR machines are sanctioned to look like what you might buy at the dealership, making them look like...well, you get the point. Nonetheless, these are still precision machines testing the bleeding edge of possibilities just like any other race car. What they can accomplish while looking like a grocery-getter is downright jaw dropping, and that leads to things like Dodge SRT Hellcats. So think about that for a minute.

2) ditch the "Days of Thunder" narrative - these cars are not built in barns and tuned by rednecks. Sure, plenty of the crew might conjure images of such a story, but the truth could not be farther from it. The work that goes into making these cars perform on the level is no different than any other racing series, except most of it will go entirely unnoticed by casual fans (unless you can get down into the pits while it's happening). I think it goes back to the look of the cars. The tech and the talent that leads to a sedan that can top 200 take a turn at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is, thus, hidden beneath a skin that belies it's underpinnings.

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3) Whatever you think about jack men, or tire carriers, or engine tuners, you're probably wrong. These crews are comprised of engineers, former NCAA athletes (lots of tire handlers got their start in football, baseball, and wrestling), and folks so wildly talented at their craft as to be comparable to the high school golfer or basketball player that goes pro at 18. These crews are professional athletes - team members of a professional sports team. What they do is extremely hard and they're damn good at it. Unless you somehow just quit your job as a tire carrier, you cannot do what these guys do.

4) NASCAR fans are just about the funnest bunch of weirdos, rednecks, doctors, lawyers, astronauts, CEOs, and you name it around. They are not all missing half of their teeth and fresh off a meth binge. Sure, those folks are in there too, perhaps...probably, but they should not define the whole. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . If you're on pit row, ask how close you can get to the cars or the wall. Everyone is really receptive to interested and enthusiastic people that don't look like they're just trying to leave with a lock of Dale Jr.'s beard hair.

SO HAVE FUN! Pocono is a hell of a race track and should have some pretty incredible action. As a reminder, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , so tune in if you're not there!

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SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 11:38

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Enough with the damn buzzfeed-style clickbait headlines.

It's damn annoying

31ModelA > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 11:50

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relax, it's just weak parody...

...but seriously, you didn't even guess what happens next. No one ever guesses what happens next, so I guess it's true.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 11:57

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No, it's fucking annoying.

Just don't do it, or else go on another forum or sub-blog on another Gawker site

31ModelA > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 12:26

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SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 12:38

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Nope...... gotta regulate my forum, my users, our content

Jesse Shaffer > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 12:49

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"leads to things like Dodge SRT Hellcats"

If you can draw one single verifiable line between Dodge's NASCAR racing and the development of any road car I will be properly shocked.

One of my biggest griefs with NASCAR is the ancient tech. A lot of hours go in to the cars, and I have a huge respect for the people involved... but a roll cage with a carb'd v8 up front really doesn't do the rest of the automotive world any good in regard to progress.

Mercedes invented the split turbo in F1. That could actually reach a road car one day. How is NASCAR more than a money machine?

31ModelA > Jesse Shaffer 08/03/2014 at 13:35

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NASCAR left carbs behind two years ago, now runs EFI: http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-med…

I'll look around for the interview - it was something said by one of the engineers talking about "regular" cars being able to handle such a massive amount of power. The comment went something like we had to pull knowledge from a lot of different arenas, from previous projects, from NASCAR, from a lot of places. <— That is not a quote, just to be sure. I'll see if I can find the podcast and throw a link up.

As to the "ancient tech" idea, I have to differ with you and say it's one of the biggest misconceptions in NASCAR that I encounter. These engines are 358 cubic inches, naturally aspirated, yet manage to put out 850 hp . And the "stock car" bodies are not all shaped to necessarily slide through the air, but they'll still do north of 200. That's not yesterday's tech.

So why, then, is this a common misconception? I think it does go back to the look of the cars. NASCAR is not unlike any other series insofar as they sanction a great deal of how the body and chassis look and are constructed. However, where other series use the future as a benchmark, NASCAR goes with the heritage of the series - *stock* car racing. To this end, the bodies are made to resemble stock, and stock isn't always sexy or futuristic.

All that is to say that what is under that skin is far from what you might expect, and well beyond what one might predict. I was visiting a race shop and got to see dozens of cars in various states of assembly/disassembly and it was simultaneously thrilling and disappointing. It was thrilling because I was getting a peak behind the curtain of just what makes it possible for these cars to do what they do. It was disappointing because it was immediately evident why the "ancient" belief persists - no one can see the tech. Furthermore, I wasn't really allowed to photograph anything . These crews are incredibly protective of their strategies and set-ups which, in turn, makes it difficult to show people the advancement that is going on.

TL;DR - they're not supposed to look futuristic, but combine that look with the stats and you can't help but be pretty impressed.

31ModelA > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 13:41

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I'm not terribly sure what that's supposed to mean, but if you want to contribute something to the discussion we're more than happy to have you. I just want to talk about NASCAR and inject a little bit of levity into the whole thing. Not sure that there's a lot left to regulate.

31ModelA > Jesse Shaffer 08/03/2014 at 13:59

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RE, the Hellcat...The sentiment was not meant to imply that the Hellcat is the result of NASCAR, or a derivative product of NASCAR tech; rather, it's that idea that something you might drive in your daily life should come with audacious amounts of power. Re-reading it, I can see how it would sound like I was saying the Hellcat was the result of NASCAR.

Jesse Shaffer > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 14:46

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The Hellcat is the result of Ralph Gilles ego, in my opinion - however uneducated that may be on this topic. I really don't think it has anything to do with NASCAR, and you've failed to draw a connection for me other than saying "this is from NASCAR." I'm not trying to argue - to be clear, but if you're going to make the statement - convince me.

I'll certainly take correction over the EFI. That's nice to know! The 358s have been that size for about 40 years... and in that time they did bring them up 200 HP... but that's not a very impressive stat. Elliot set his 210mph time in decades years ago. Buddy Baker did a 200mph average lap in the 70's.

A NASCAR is steel tube chassis full of old tech. Push-rods, Solid rear axle, single dry clutch... The teams certainly do spend millions on understanding their shocks, springs, etc, etc... but that doesn't make the car any more advanced from an engineering standpoint. A bit more efficient, and much more safe... but when did that become the main goal of auto racing? I suppose it began in '94 and hit us in '01.

Modern teams and their race shops are amazing. But the machines they're buying and using technology for don't make the car any more progressive. Does it progress their understanding of and what it does on the track at speed - sure. Is a NASCAR a very fun thing to watch in person - YES. I've been to half a dozen races and lived in Mooresville, NC - where I visited 90% of theee shops. The environment around the cars is advanced.

The fact that this is America's premier auto sport - embarrassing.

31ModelA > Jesse Shaffer 08/03/2014 at 15:11

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Yeah, I didn't mean to imply that Hellcat is "from" NASCAR - rereading, I can see where that snuck in. I was saying that putting tons of power in regular cars is a fantastic trend that I think the spirit and soul of NASCAR (i.e. 800 horse engines in "stock" cars) is encouraging of.

I suppose we have two different takes on it. The way I see it, what you call "made with old tech" is, to me, a virtue of the series. I see it as a series that presents engineering challenges that are accessible to highly skilled mechanics and not entirely dependent upon the absolute state of the art as much as the absolute skill and knowledge of the team. And, like Gordon's crew chief said, it evens the playing field for lesser-funded teams. But, I guess the other way of seeing it is that these teams are just perfecting something that, in the racing world, is all but defunct. That's not necessarily my take, though.

Aside from that, the state of the art, I believe, definitely resides in the engines. Squeezing out that much power from a natural 358 is astonishing, and without restrictions I have no doubt it could outrun anything from any era of stock car racing. Bill Elliot's record lap was set in '87 with a 351 pushing out 625. He averaged something like 212 (topped 214) on the run, so you can imagine what a completely unrestricted car could do today. But such an argument holds no water since that's not going to happen soon if ever.

Either way, I think NASCAR catches a bad wrap for what a lot of people think it is and I think that boils down to misconceptions. You sound like you've come to your conclusion from a position of knowing something about NASCAR. Respect.

Jesse Shaffer > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 16:58

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"it's a virtue of the series."

I totally agree... and with most of everything that you're saying. A 358 is a 5.8L... I'm just not as impressed with the engines as you are for some reason. Last year's 2.4L NA F1 engines made almost as much power. You can de-stroke an engine down to a small amount of displacement and simply convince it to rev high to build power. In a larger displacement engine - high compression, big cams, blast the fuel at it and insert a rotating assembly that can take the force...

I guess I really just want to see modified road cars out there, running highly modified road engines... on more road courses. Auto companies spend millions of dollars to market their logos in NASCAR, and there is very little that I can see it doing for anyone beyond the auto companies - and 99% of the rest of us don't have any money.

The good ol' boys still put on a good show, though. I was at the Kentucky race in 2012. We camped in the infield and had a great time. I will say, though, that many people were visibly missing teeth. Like a noticeable amount, haha.

kimiRakkionen > 31ModelA 08/03/2014 at 20:11

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as a F1 fan, i'm not ashamed to say... IT. WAS. AWESOME!!! I also loved seeing a chevy nascar engine on display with a chip on it that said "McLaren Electrical" with the McLaren logo on it. My girlfriend was over at the chevy desk giving her personal info away for a free t-shirt and I was like "no,no,no, you need to come see this!" I need to upload some video and do a half assed write up. right now my head is still rumbling. Not sure if its from the cars or the beers. :)

kimiRakkionen > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 20:44

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Easy now buddy. I'm honored he/she did this. I thought that is what oppo is about, we can talk, ask questions, answer questions and joke around.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > kimiRakkionen 08/03/2014 at 21:19

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I don't have a problem with content. My problem is this place become a piece of shit like buzzfeed with stupid clickbait stuff

kimiRakkionen > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 21:41

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No one on oppo is making money off of clicks, so it's kinda hard to consider it click bait. This started with me leaving a comment saying I was going to the race today, and that I'm an F1 fan going to my first nascar race, and if I run into any other opponauts I would buy them a drink. Good times were ment to be had, that's all.

kimiRakkionen > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 21:44

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Also, I was honored by this post and it made me feel like part of the community. A lot of us haven't been around since the beginning and are unsure when is the right time to open our mouth. The fact that I made a comment and someone made a post about it made me think: "huh, I knew I should have gotten involved a long time ago"

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > kimiRakkionen 08/03/2014 at 21:46

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Actually, your first sentence's first part is precisely why clickbait is unncessary here

kimiRakkionen > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/03/2014 at 23:28

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not your forum, users or content. our != your. If there is something going in you life, we can talk about it. We aren't your enemies.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > kimiRakkionen 08/04/2014 at 00:26

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well, I am part of the moderator, so yes.... it is my forum......

kimiRakkionen > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/04/2014 at 19:56

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"I am part of the moderator"

Lol, I bet that pays the rent.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > kimiRakkionen 08/04/2014 at 23:12

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Nope... I do it out of love.... been on here since 2008

And yes, I did accidentally a word. It happens.

kimiRakkionen > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/05/2014 at 00:00

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If you do it for love then stop being so angry. Here: I offer you a Monte Carlo SS (I saw this in the parking lot after the race)