NASCAR Racing: How Drivers Prepare Physically
NASCAR Racing: How Drivers Prepare Physically
A lot of people think that NASCAR drivers aren’t athletes. Besides, all they do is drive a car for a few hours and that you can do too, right? Wrong. Being a NASCAR driver requires a lot of physical conditioning.
You have to consider the fact that driving a high performance vehicle at very high speeds can cause a lot of strain to the body of a NASCAR driver. In fact, NASCAR drivers experience more G force than a fighter pilot. And, you have to remember that NASCAR race cars aren’t designed for comfort. The seat is anything but comfortable, and it doesn’t have air conditioning. Now, imagine driving for many hours in a car that is not air conditioned in the middle of hot day? Not only that, you are in a suit that is very hot and you don’t even have the luxury of having a stereo in the car.
The car is built for performance and not for comfort. Everything that does not contribute to the performance of the car is removed.
NASCAR drivers need physical conditioning in order to withstand harsh racing conditions and G forces. Without proper training, it may lead to disorientation and even accidents.
The physical conditioning of a NASCAR driver is relatively the same as any other types of physical sports. However, different areas are built up. The NASCAR driver should be able to cope up with the temperature in the cockpit of a NASCAR race car. With temperature soaring up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or even more in a particularly hot day, it would definitely be very uncomfortable for the average driver.
Combine it with a 500 lap race at 200 miles per hours with lack of air flow you will understand why NASCAR drivers need rigorous physical conditioning to build endurance. Another factor is that NASCAR drivers need to maneuver a vehicle weighing more than 3,400 pound around curves, and other cars as well as over bumps. This can cause a lot of physical strain. Just controlling the steering wheel can be quite straining.
Cardiovascular training is very important for NASCAR drivers. They need to be able to cope up with lack of oxygen. Because the cars are built aerodynamically, all the air is guided around the car and not the insides of the car. This means that the driver should be able to cope with what oxygen he or she gets in the cockpit.
As you can see, driving a NASCAR race car can be quite physically straining. So, before you start saying that you can drive a NASCAR race car like a pro, you might want to consider the things mentioned as this is only a small part of what a driver has to go through in NASCAR.
Tags: nascar champions, nascar qualifying, nascar speedway, nascar talladega