Ask The Insiders Wednesday #13

We’ve reached lucky number 13.  That’s right, this is the 13th edition of Ask The Insiders Wednesday.  It’s hard to believe we’ve done this many already.  You have been busy sending in questions, so lets get to some answers.  If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here.  So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us.  On to the questions…

1. From David:

I have always wondered why NASCAR doesn’t use heat races at tracks less than a mile. I watch the races to see the best drivers race competitively, not to see a demolition derby. It could be done and still get in 500 miles, or laps. They can’t even start to race until about half the field has crashed out of the race. If I was an owner, I would be in favor of this, instead of going to a track knowing you were going to have a car that is not good for anything other than the scrap-heap afterwards. How much would this save the teams over a year, and still provide an entertaining show?

While I think this would be incredibly entertaining, I think you would end up with a lot more wrecked equipment. If guys knew the only way they can get into a race is through a heat race, they are going to do whatever it takes to get there. All sense will go out the window. Think the duels on a short track. It would be a wreck fest. – Journo

2. From Justin:

Can you explain the dynamics of the exhaust system? Like the back pressure required and who supplies the systems or do the teams do their own research and manufacturing. I enjoy your column very much.

In terms of explaining the dynamics of an exhaust system, there are plenty of websites and forums that could do a much better job then I could.  I leave that kind of stuff to the experts, like our engine tuners.  The headers are usually supplied by the engine builder and the rest of the system is custom fabbed. – T.C.

3. From Lem:

As you probably know by now, the recently announced USF1 team is going to be based in Charlotte, NC.  If you had a choice of American personnel from the NASCAR world (Drivers, Managers, Engineers, etc) to bring into the glitzy world of F1, who would you pick?

I think you would need a driver who is good on any type of track like a Kyle Busch. As far as technical crews go, this is hard because success in one type of racing does not mean success in another. As far as team managers go I would take the fine folks at Roush. They know how to make and manage money while still building very good equipment. All of these things are of course important in F1. - Journo

4. From Sean:

For the manufacturers’ flagship teams (Hendrick, Rouch, Gibbs, whoever Dodge’s flagship team is), how much of the team’s budget comes from the manufacturer? Is it all in the form of support or do the flagship teams receive any cash from the manufacturers?

Teams recieve money, but it is not a substantial part of their budget. The Ganassi Nationwide entry is a good example of this. Dodge was paying them several million dollars which they were using to help run that team. When the money went away, they gave away the sponsorship because it would have been too expensive for them to continue. There is also technical support in the form of wind tunnel use and engineers. It all depends on the team. – Journo

5. From David:

I don’t understand the restart rules. I keep reading that the leader can punch it anytime between two red lines–but I don’t see the red lines. And if he doesn’t, the the flagman waves the green flag. But all I ever see is the flagman waving the green flag. Does he do that when he sees that the leader has punched it?

The two red lines will be painted on the outside wall.  If you look carefully, you will see them as the cars exit turn four.  On a restart, its up to the leader where to take off.  As I understand it, the leader can start the race once he’s crossed the red lines.  But it must be reasonable.  Leading the field all the way to the start/finish line at pace speed will draw a warning and possibly a penalty from NASCAR. – T.C.

6. From June:

Hey guys, LOVE your site, keep up the awesome work!! I’m a big fan of all 3 series and have been for quite a while. My question is: What happened to Justin Marks from the truck series? I can’t find any info about him….

Justin has returned to road racing.  He is driving for TRG in the Rolex Sports Car Series this season.  He was actually apart of the team that won the GT category at the 24 Hours of Daytona. – T.C.

7. From Red:

Hey TC, while watching the Vegas race right now, we saw a pit guy practicing lugnuts and it’s led to a question: do you take them off in one direction and put them on in the opposite direction? Is it just a matter of personal preference? Whoever they were showing was practing hitting the studs going in a counterclockwise direction. just wonderin’.

It is a matter of personal preference.  Some guys will take lugs off in one direction, and put them on in the other.  Some will go the same direction, on or off.  It depends on how they learned, who they learned from, and what they are comfortable with. – T.C.

8. From Annemarie:

How much does a tire cost that is used in NASCAR?

I believe a set of tires costs around $1,500.  So with a little math, that means one tire is about $375.  It’s important to note though, teams do not purchase tires from Goodyear anymore.  They are leased.  Tires must be returned to Goodyear after the race. – T.C.

9. From Steven:

At Daytona the first car got $1.7 m.  How much of that did the driver get and how much goes to the car owner?

The distribution of winnings varies depending on the team.  I believe the industry standard is for the driver to receive somewhere in the neighborhood of 40%.  It all depends on the individual drivers’ contracts. - T.C.

10. From Shoegirl:

How do the guys who change tires during a pit stop keep from dropping the lug nuts on the pavement during a tire change?

Lugnuts are glued to the wheels of the new tires.  We glue the lugs on the wheel directly over the stud holes.  When the tire is hung, the lugs are hanging on the end of the stud.  The lugnuts that come off the car do fall to the pavement.  They are cleaned up once the pit stop is over. – T.C.

11. From Neon:

Last year NASCAR was trying to reduce the amount of lateral track alignment offset from the front to the rear wheels that teams were running in their COT set-ups, inducing what was known as “crabby cars.”  The cars were literally crabbing down the straights in order to rotate better in the turns. It appears the COT’s are still noticeably crabbing along in ‘09. Has NASCAR backed off their stance? And how do they check for compliance?

NASCAR limited teams on the total number of degrees they could toe the rear ends last season.  I don’t believe they have since changed that number.  You will still see the cars are a bit crabby because NASCAR allows for some change.  The cars are checked during the inspection process each week to ensure compliance.  NASCAR uses all sorts of custom tools and gauges to measure every aspect of a car. – T.C.

12. From Susan:

Backstretch posted a story last week about the 90 and 91 in Nationwide series.  The cars are owned by Phil Parsons.  They start & park for the $.  The reporters don’t cover it AT ALL in the race.  Should NASCAR change the rules to stop this so the teams that want to race can?

There have been stories about start and park teams here and there and Phil has actually started acknowledging it is he and Randy Humphrey who own that team and not their wives (that was the line he was giving for a while). I think start and parkers serve a purpose and help fill the field. The fact of the matter is, if you are a team and competitive you are likely to make it in over these guys. I don’t think there is a problem with it, but I completely understand if you disagree with me. – Journo

13. From Tara:

There is a picture on one of the NASCAR photography websites that is of the Hornish family in Las Vegas.  I noticed that they have ear plugs in their daughter’s ears in the picture.  I don’t guess I’ve ever paid attention to whether or not the children wear ear plugs.  Is it a common practice for them to do so?

Most people on pit road either wear ear plugs or a head set. It gets loud down on pit road and you certainly would not want to hurt your child’s hearing because they were at the track with you. – Journo

14. From Tom:

At Las Vegas, the 24 lost a tire that chewed up the left front. It looked like the fender was fiberglass, or something like it. I thought the cars were genuine metal. When did that change, or was I not seeing what I thought i was?

The cars, for the most part, are still all metal.  Certain pieces, like the nose and tail, are made of composites.  The nose piece stretches into the front fenders, and when Gordon’s tire blew, that section is what you saw come apart. – T.C. 

And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close.  Thanks to everyone who sent in questions.  And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!

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