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How Does a NASCAR Driver Spend a Workday?
by Sean Quinn
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How Does a NASCAR Driver Spend a Workday?
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Before Race Day
There are 36 races throughout the course of the NASCAR season, which runs from February and ends in November with the Sprint Cup Race for for the Chase. Race days are typically Sundays, and drivers will arrive the Thursday before, most of them traveling by private jet. On Friday and Saturday they qualify for start positions for Sunday's race. These start positions are called pole positions. Drivers will race around the track a number of times in qualifying heats and submit their fastest lap time, which will determine their pole place. Most racers have their own personal motor coach, while others stay in hotels.
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Morning of Race Day
After drivers wake up on Sunday, they meet with their racing owners in the garage area at the track. Typically, there are a number of duties they will have to perform that take 10-20 minutes. This can include getting a speech from the car's owner, going over strategy with drivers on their team or mapping out a game plan with their crew chief. He also is obliged to do autograph signings and pre-race media interviews.
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Race Time
The green flag drops and the driver begins the race. A driver can spin out in the first lap or go on to win the race. Throughout the entire race, the driver is connected via headset with his crew chief in the pit. The driver will make pit stops every so often to change tires, check for any problems and gas up. The quicker the pit time, the better off the driver will be. By the end of the race a losing driver will head back to the garage and the winner will take a victory lap, usually resulting in a spin out on the infield grass of the track. That's become a signature move of NASCAR winners.
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Post Race
Media requests will vary depending on the outcome. The winner will have a trophy ceremony, which can take upwards of 30 minutes including media interviews. After media sessions for all drivers, they will meet with their crew chief or team owner to discuss the race. They will then head back to their motor home or hotel. Some drivers fly out hours after the race or wait until Monday morning to head home.
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Away From the Track
It's not all about racing these. Whether it's in the off season, the week before a race or days before the Race for the Chase, drivers are expected to be in the public eye. Many drivers have public promotions to attend for their sponsors, at which they will speak and greet company executives and fans. There are also fan-fest days, which are spent signing autographs and taking pictures. This intimate access is unrivaled in other major sports, where the athletes are usually not this accessible to fans.
