April 13th, 2010 
T.C. I was amazed tonight to look up and realize this is our 70th edition of “Ask The Insiders Wednesday.” It’s crazy to think we’ve done this many all ready! If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Ric:
We received some lug nuts (from BMS Fire/Rescue) that were painted yellow, but the tips had different colors on them, was told they came from different drivers. We later were discussing why the lug nuts are painted yellow. The reasons that were thrown out (Starting with darn sure): Easy to spot for the tire changer, the yellow sticks out on pit floor to make sure you cleaned them all after a pit stop, there is a special coating on/in the paint to help with putting on / taking off the lugs.
The paint is strictly to make the lugnuts easier to see for the tire changers. Lugs from the manufacturers are usually yellow, but you will often see them painted pink, white, or other bright colors. Each tire changer has his own preferences. – T.C.
2. From djones:
I am totally fascinated how the haulers are parked in the infield, most recently at Martinsville. Is there a certain order in which they are parked? Is it first come first serve? And the big question is, how do they park them in there so perfectly? Thank you TC & Journo.
The haulers are parked based off owners points. As far as them being parked perfectly it’s a combination of skill and help. These guys are all, for the most part, very skilled and experienced truck drivers so parking in tight quarters is not a problem. They also help each other out when things are particularly tight. – Journo
3. From Dale:
When do the Mustangs debut?
They’ll make their debut with all the other Nationwide COT’s at Daytona in July. – Journo
4. From Walt:
Who pays for Sunoco gas? Also what do the teams do after practice back at the hotels without getting anybody in trouble.
As part of Sunoco’s deal with NASCAR, the fuel is provided at no charge to the teams for race weekends. As for the crew’s activities away from the track, there really is no end to what teams do. Some guys get the chance to get out and attend other sporting events, while some just hang out at the hotels. And knowing that NASCAR has a strict substance abuse policy, along with the fear of losing one’s job goes a long way in making sure guys don’t get too crazy on the road. We aren’t on vacation on the weekends, we go to the track to work. – T.C.
5. From Sue:
The 14 car went backwards yet again at Phoenix. What’s going on?
At Phoenix a lot of teams struggled with the changing conditions throughout the day – Tony was among them. He led 15 laps early on, but they just couldn’t find the magic late in the race. Sometimes this happens and you have to deal with it . Fortunately the team is having a pretty good season and Tony is ninth in the points right now. I would expect him to continue to be competitive as the season progresses – wins will come if that’s what you’re wondering. – Journo
6. From Pat:
When Denny Hamlin got out of the car this weekend he talked about how there is more braking at Phoenix than most tracks due to running a gear that doesn’t slow the car down as much. Are they running a high gear or a low gear? What other tracks gear like Phoenix? Which tracks are the cars geared to slow without as much brake?
They are running a higher gear then some other tracks. Gearing is all about getting the maximum amount of power and torque out of the engine for the conditions. At short tracks, you use a lower gear gear for better acceleration off the corners. Lower gears allow for better torque, but mean lower top speeds. Lower top speeds don’t matter at a track like Martinsville, because the track isn’t big enough to run really fast. At big tracks, like Daytona, teams use a very high gear. The cars have less acceleration, but much higher top speeds. Since the drivers don’t get off the throttle and brake in the corners, acceleration isn’t as important. That’s why it takes almost two laps to get the cars to full speed. – 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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A good explanation of gears in NASCAR…
http://www.stockcarscience.com/blog/index.php/2008/04/01/differentials
With regard to the color of the lugnuts…it also makes it easier for the Nascar officials to see that all the lugnuts are on the wheel .
OK is this a TNI coincidence, or what? Above you’ve got “Dale” in the “#3″ spot asking a question and get this….”Daytona” is the answer! Could it be that the cape crusaders strike again in mid April?
I’ve often wondered what Dale Earnhardt would have thought about the COT? I know his death in-part prompted NASCAR to move in this direction. Maybe the concept and preliminary design had already been discussed prior to Daytona 2001.
Regardless, I am looking forward to seeing the pony car bodies. Now, if only GM can dump the Malibu get the Camaro on board.
With regard to #4, I have wondered why teams have to pay for tires but the fuel is free. Doesn’t it seem like they should both cost something or they should both be free? I know it all comes down to sponsor agreements, but it still seems odd that tires cost so much yet the fuel doesn’t cost anything.
Neon: Haha, no joke this time. That question being #3 is absolutely a coincidence. Before you said something, I didn’t even notice…
Carole, you’re right… as long as all the lug nuts are painted. At Rockingham in 1995, Earnhardt was black-flagged for supposedly not having all five lug nuts on a wheel during a late pit stop. When Earnhardt came in, all five were there but some of them weren’t painted. The official only saw the painted ones. NASCAR then took the amazing step of trying to reverse the penalty and give Earnhardt his lap back.
T.C., did that incident change anything from a crew perspective, other than making sure all the lug nuts are painted?
In regards to Tony Stewart, he does have 3 top 10′s. I’ve only been watching for 5 years, but I’m a big fan of Stewart, so I pay close attention to him.
The three finishes out of the top 20 are concerning- but he’s one of those racers who tends to spend quite a bit of time in the 20′s during the race. Sometimes he makes a charge into the top 5, sometimes he just can’t get it done.
As compared to many other drivers- when he’s running outside the top 20 in the middle of the race, I’m not too concerned. He tends to take the conservative approach… sit back, stay out of trouble, let the race come to him, and try to be near or at the top when it counts… on the last lap.
Walt,
When I was racing back in the 70′s, one of the fun things the crew would do was set up a slot car track in someones hotel room.