 |
| Aero
Push: | When a car pulls closely into another car's air stream causing a
pushing or understeer effect. |
| Aerodynamics: | The way air flows over, under and around the car. The aerodynamics of the car also includes the wake of air turbulence that is created behind the car. Air flowing below the car creates especially bad drag. Aerodynamics are especially important at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega |
| Air
dam: | The metal strip affixed beneath the grill that helps create downforce
on the front of the car. The
air dam blocks the air as it hits the front of the car and prevents too much
air from flowing under the car. |
| Apex: | The point on the inside of a turn where a race car makes the transition
from entering to exiting the turn. Drivers try to "hit" the apex
in order to go the straightest line around a track and maintain maximum
speed. |
| Apron: | The bottom paved flat part of the racetrack that separates the infield
from the banked racing surface. |
 |
| Back
Out: | When a driver lifts his foot off the gas pedal. |
| Backstretch: | The straight part of the track that is opposite the starting line. |
| Backup
Car: | A complete and set up second car brought to the race by each team. The backup car may not be unloaded at any time during all NASCAR national series practices or pre-race activities, unless the primary car is damaged beyond repair. Backup cars must also meet all NASCAR standards. Any team reverting to a backup car after qualifying has to start at the back of the field. |
| Balanced: | Perfect grip on both the front and rear tires. Not loose or pushing. |
| Ballast: | Weight that is added to the car, usually in the frame, to help meet
NASCAR's weight specifications. |
| Banking: | The sloping part of a racetrack's surface, measured in degrees from
horizontal. The higher degree
of banking, the faster the cars can run because they do not have to slow
down as much to get through the turns. |
| Battling
for Position: | When two cars
are racing each other to establish position within the race. For example, Kyle may be racing neck and neck with another driver
to see which one will be in first place and which one will be in second. |
| Bite: | The amount of traction that is being experienced by the back wheels
of the car. More bite can be
given to a car by adding weight or wedge. |
| Black
Flagged (Black Flag): | This is the dreaded flag that no driver wants to
see. It means "go to your pit, get off the racetrack, you've done
something wrong." Often it means a driver is dumping fluids on the
track making it dangerous, or was speeding on pit row. |
| Blend
Line: | The painted line on the track near the apron and extending from the
pit road exit into the first turn. When leaving the pits a driver must
stay below the line to safely blend back into traffic. |
| Blister: | Excessive heat during a race can make a tire "bubble up". The
resulting vibrations can hamper performance and risk damage to the car. |
| Blocking: | Making the back end of your car as wide as possible to prevent another
driver from passing. This frequently will be seen when two drivers are battling for position. |
| Blue
Flag with Yellow Stripe: | Signals a slower driver to move over on the track
and let the leaders proceed. This usually occurs near the end of a race
when the slower car is many laps behind. |
| Bobble: | The car gets a little loose and the driver corrects, the car wiggles back
and forth. Something like a fishtail. |
| Brake
Duct: | Openings in the body panel and other locations of a stock car that
take in air to help kept the brake system cool. Cooling the brakes helps
to prevent brake fade. |
| Brake
Fade: | Reduced brake performance - when brakes can no longer stop the car
effectively. Caused when brake pads, rotors and fluid exceed their
operating temperatures. |
| Bubble: | The slowest position in qualifying that can make the filed based on that time. The driver can be "knocked off the bubble," meaning bumped out of the field, if other cars have faster laps. It is especially dangerous for teams who cannot rely on a provisional starting spot. |
