Cars That Reach Nearly 200 MPHThose stock cars move fast, often flirting with the 200 mph mark on superspeedways. At that speed a car can cross a 100-yard football field in roughly a second. Teams build cars to similar weights and crank out close to 1,000 horsepower so every lap is brutally quick and tight.Daytona 500: The Super Bowl Of RacingThe Daytona 500 is the headline event every driver wants on their resume. Winning there carries huge prestige and can define a career. Drivers are expected to run the full 200 laps to say they truly raced it, and big TV numbers, like the roughly 20 million viewers in 2016, show how huge the race is for fans.Terrifying Wrecks That Forced Safety OverhaulsSome crashes changed the sport forever. The 2001 fatal crash that took Dale Earnhardt Sr. spurred mandatory head and neck restraints and tougher safety gear. Other violent wrecks led to window nets, stronger harnesses and repeated upgrades to the cars and tracks so drivers and fans face less risk now.Drivers Sweat, Train Necks, And Earn MillionsNASCAR drivers are athletes who train their necks to handle heavy lateral G forces around tight turns. Cockpits routinely hit triple digits and drivers can lose up to 10 pounds from sweating during a long race. They do not need a state driver license to race professionally, but they do need serious training, and top stars can pull in millions from pay and sponsorships.Drivers Can Lose Up to 10 Pounds in Sweat During the RaceYes, you read that right! Drivers can lose up to 10 pounds due to the excessive amounts of sweat they produce during races. There is typically intense heat in the car because of the engines but drivers also sweat from the physical exertion of driving as well. frontstretch They wear layers of clothes and heavy fireproof suits for protection. It’s usually hotter than 100 degrees in a NASCAR vehicle! In one instance, a driver lost 10% of his body weight in a 400-mile race.If You Finish the Daytona 500 You Go Directly Into the Hall of FameIf you’re a football fan, think of the Daytona 500 race as the Super Bowl of racing. It’s the most exciting race of the year for NASCAR fans. Drivers can only consider themselves as having participated in this race if they complete all 200 laps of the track. sporting news Drivers who win this prestigious race are directly inducted into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame. To give you an idea of how big this event is, the 2016 Daytona 500 drew the largest television audience of any event that year. 20 million viewers tuned in to watch.NASCAR Inspired New T.V. InnovationsBecause of the popularity of the sport, NASCAR actually inspired new television innovations that had never been tried before. The first race to be televised was at the Daytona track in 1979. pinterest The sport also introduced two new kinds of T.V. camera for filming races. The “in-car” camera and the “speed shot” camera revolutionized how racing was filmed and televised. It gave people an insight into what really happens in the car and on the track.Some NASCAR Drivers Drive Beaters Off the TrackAlthough they drive those fancy race cars on the track, not every driver chooses to own these speedy cars in their personal lives. Joey Logano drives a 1939 GMC pickup when he’s not racing on the track. Source: herald weekly It’s a vintage pickup that looks like nothing special but is actually very souped up under the hood. He lovingly refers to his GMC as the “Rat Rod”.Danica Patrick's Ford ExpeditionWhen Danica is not speeding around the track she’s driving a regular old Ford Expedition. You’d never know that the driver behind that wheel is one of the most impressive NASCAR drivers! brown brothers automotive She didn’t actually have to purchase the Ford Expedition, though. It was a gift on behalf of her sponsor, Ford. To be fair, she does have a Lambo sitting in the garage at home as well.Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevy S10Dale Earnhardt Jr. has an impressive collection of cars in his garage, but he also has an “everyman” car. His blue chevy pickup is not what you would picture the famous racer in off the track, but it’s part of his collection nonetheless. Source: autotrader classics He has more than one beater that he still drives consistently in addition to the fancy ones in the collection. This one is from 1988.Cars Cannot Weigh Less Than 3,400 PoundsThe racing cars cannot weigh less than 3,400 pounds to be considered compliant for racing. They will be weighed at different times throughout the race to ensure that they remain heavier than this as a safety precaution. facebook They found that lighter cars have a higher probability of crashing and burning (literally). The weight condition has helped to limit dangerous and potentially fatal crashes on the track.Sara Christian Was the First Woman to Compete in NASCARNASCAR has always been a male dominated sport but there are also some incredibly impressive female NASCAR drivers as well. Sara Christian was the first of many and she competed between 1949 and 1951. twitter She participated in the very first NASCAR race and goes down in history as the woman who set the stage for other popular female drivers such as Janet Gutherie and Danica Patrick.Some Drivers Pee Their Pants During RacesOne of the more interesting facts about NASCAR is that the drivers do actually pee their pants occasionally during races. The high intensity sport requires drivers to be hydrated at all times when nature calls, they have to make it work. front office sports Every second counts in a race so there certainly isn’t time to stop by the bathroom in the middle of a race. They have to just relieve themselves in their suits and continue to race. It’s worth it for a win!Drivers and Fans Can Be InjuredNASCAR is not a sport for the faint of heart. Crashing in a hot car going 200 miles per hour is potentially fatal. Some of the NASCAR crashes are terrifying and hard to watch. One of the most intense NASCAR crashes involved driver Geoff Bodine in 2001. reddit He was hit from behind causing him to crash into the wall separating the track from the fans. His car exploded from impact and drivers and fans were injured. It goes down as one of the worst crashes in NASCAR history.Dale Earndhart’s Fatal CrashAt the end of the 2001 Daytona race, Dale Earndhart crashed into the wall of the track in an accident that proved to be fatal. It was a tragic incident that impacted the sport forever in many ways. espn The crash involved 17 other cars and when the drivers saw the impact they tried to help Earnhart but he had already passed away on impact, tragically. No one else has lost their life on a NASCAR track because more safety precautions were put in place, such as the head and neck restraints required in cars.The 2013 Crash of Kyle LarsonIn 2013, Kyle Larson was racing to the finish line, prepared to take first at the Daytona 500 raceway. He was bumped from behind and his car drove through the fence towards the stands of fans. masslive Multiple cars were involved in the crash and damaged beyond repair. Kyle’s car was torn to shreds and his engine even flew off the car and landed in the grandstand. This was a more up-close view of the race than any fan planned on having.The 2014 Crash of Clint BowyerDriver Clint Bowyer is lucky to have survived this intense crash in the 2014 Daytona 500 race. He was trying to get into position to overtake another driver when he was hit from behind (we’re noticing a trend here). sbnation The crash involved many cars and most of which ended up being burned on some level. Clint’s car suffered the worst damage because he went airborne. The car did more than one flip in the air and landed hard. Thankfully, no one sustained major injuries. But it could have been much worse.Richard Petty Lost his Vision from a Crash in 1988As we’ve mentioned, Richard Petty is widely regarded as the best NASCAR driver of all time. But, even the best of all time suffered more than one crash in his career. In this crash in 1988 his car slid sideways and made contact with the nose of another car. kbak His car began spinning rapidly and when it finally stopped he was hit AGAIN and the spinning started all over again. The spins cause him to have temporary blindness. Thankfully, he regained his vision but it was still a terrifying crash and a reminder of the danger of the sport.Whitney and Brian ScottWhitney and Brian Scott are another “power couple” in the world of NASCAR. Whitney posted their wedding video on YouTube and the internet took it and ran. They gained a following quickly. youtube Brian Scott’s emotional vows to his step daughter made the video go viral and they quickly shot up to be one of the most famous NASCAR couples. They now have a family together as well.Chandra and Jimmie JohnsonFans of NASCAR know that it is not uncommon for drivers to date beautiful models, which is the case for most professional sports. Jimmie Johnson is no exception. His wife, Chandra was a model. sports illustrated They were introduced through Jeff Gordon, a fellow NASCAR driver, back in 2002. The couple have two daughters together.Amy Reimann and Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a legendary name in the world of racing. He is the son of Dale Earndhart who lost his life in the 2001 Daytona race. He’s now semi-retired but he won many races in his hay day. His wife is the stunning Amy Reinmann. facebook This pair have become one of the more favored “power couples” in the NASCAR world. Contrary to many other NASCAR wives, Amy is not a model (although she very well could be). Rather, she works in interior design.The Stadiums are MassiveAs you can probably guess, NASCAR stadiums are absolutely massive! They have to host thousands and thousands of screaming fans that come to see these cars whip around the track. As the sport has gained popularity, larger stadiums have had to be built to accommodate the crowds. twitter In fact, NASCAR stadiums are even larger than soccer stadiums, which is the world’s most famous sport. The largest stadium has a capacity of 257,325 people!NASCAR Driver’s Don’t Need a LicenseHow is it possible that professional race car drivers don’t need a license to participate? Well, the drivers undergo intense training for the particular kind of driving that is required for these races. But, they don’t actually need a state-issued license to drive! beyond the flag Likely, this is because driving on the freeway is a much different experience than driving on the track. They’re almost unrelated, in fact. Of course, if they don’t have a license they can’t drive on regular roads but they’re welcome on the track!The Highest Paid NASCAR DriversKurt Busch makes $7,500,000 a year as a NASCAR driver. Salaries vary based on sponsors, brand deals, and winning! His sponsors include Monster Energy, McDonald’s, and SiriusXM. Source: sports illustrated Busch drives for team 23XI Racing in the number 45 Toyota. It pays to drive!Kyle Busch Makes More Than $16,000,000 A Year!Kurt Busch’s younger brother, Kyle Busch, makes even more than his brother! The 37 year old driver brings in $16,900,000 a year with sponsorships and brand deals. Source: beyond the flag He participates in all 3 of the NASCAR national series and races full time in the NASCAR Cup Series. He drives for Gibbs Racing Company in a Toyota Tundra. His sponsors include Toyota, M&M, and Skittles. He must have a sweet tooth!The Engines Don’t Last Very LongNASCAR races put an immense amount of pressure on the engine of the vehicles, so they wear out really fast. Think of how many miles you’ve put on your own car’s engine. Now multiply that by about a thousand. That’s the kind of stress put on the cars. eurol Engines usually only last one race before they have to be replaced or rebuilt. They’re usually serviced in between races to be prepared for the drivers on game day.What’s the Difference Between NASCAR and F1?Often, people confuse NASCAR and Formula1 because they are similar sports. But there are a few major differences between the sports. Namely, the vehicles are different. Formula1 cars are much faster than NASCAR. At their peak, they can reach 250 MPH. one stop racing There are also mechanical differences in the cars. In addition, there are different rules, strategies, and businesses behind the sports. Fans of one or the other will say that comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges.Danica Patrick is One of the Most Successful Female NASCAR Drivers of All TimeDanica Patrick is widely regarded as one of the most successful female drivers, breaking tons of records throughout her career. She holds 7 top-10 finishes, holding the record for female drivers. nascar.com Additionally, she was the first woman to win the Busch Pole Award for winning pole positions at the 2013 Daytona 500. While she never won a race, she remains an impressive driver in the sport.There are 24 Tracks in the Cup SeriesThere are 24 tracks that make up the Cup series and not all tracks are the same. In fact, none of them are the same. You may wonder just how different 24 loops can be. But the tracks vary in length, size, and shape. sportscasting For this reason, they also vary in difficulty. There are short tracks, speedway ro intermediate tracks, and superspeedway tracks. For example, Daytona is a superspeedway.Race Cars Can End Up in Some Strange PlacesIn a perfect world the race cars would stay on the track, always. But, unfortunately, this is not strictly the case. Accidents happen! When cars flip they sometimes end up in some pretty strange (and dangerous) places. sportscasting In one instance, Lee Petty spun out onto a baseball field during a race in Chicago. Rich Woodland Jr. flipped his car and ended up in the parking lot of the Sonoma raceway in 1994 as well.Only Certain Manufacturers Race in NASCARCurrently, there are only three car manufacturers that race for NASCAR. These include Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford. The companies are asked to submit their engines for approval by the teams at NASCAR prior to racing. carscops The specific models that are used are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and the Toyota Camry. Manufacturers who have been declined from participating include Dodge and Plymouth.There’s Big Money in NASCARLike any professional sport, there is big money in NASCAR. Drivers can get paid millions of dollars based on their skill, their brand, and how much work they do with brands on and off the track. tennessean Acclaimed drivers can make more than $10 million a year. The rule of thumb is, the more races you win, the more money you make.NASCAR is Expanding WorldwideNASCAR mostly takes place in the U.S. with some races in Canada, but the sport is expanding worldwide! So far, there have been efforts in Mexico and Europe to expand there. sporting news Mexico hosts the PEAK Mexico Series, Canada hosts the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, and Europe hosts the Whelen Euro Series. There is worldwide interest in this kind of sport, as is proven by the success of F1.Richard Petty Made the Window Net a RequirementRichard Petty had a major crash in 1970 which inspired more safety precautions to be required in the cars. The crash resulted in his arms and shoushould hanging out the car window. Thus, the window net was born. racer The window net sits in the window of the car and prevents things (and drivers) from flying out of the vehicle. It protects the drivers from flying debris outside of the car as well.Hendrick Motorsports is King of NASCARSimilar to the way Ferrari and Mercedes rule Formula 1, Hendrick Motorsports rules NASCAR. It’s the most successful NASCAR team in history with the most race wins and a record 13 championships under its belt. hendrick motorsports A winning team requires the best cars, the best drivers, the best coaches, and the best teamwork. Hendrick delivers! The famous Jimmie Johnson holds the most trophies driving for the company.The Worst Crash in NASCAR HistoryThe crash at the Daytona Superspeedway in 1960 became known as the worst wreck in NASCAR history, and for good reason. The wreck happened only 2 minutes into the long race on the very first lap. essentiallysports 68 cars were lined up to race and many cars were involved in the accident. In fact, 37 cars were damaged in the collision which caused a huge fire. Thankfully and surprisingly, there were no casualties from the accident.Safety Has Increased Each YearSince the sport is over 70 years old, you can imagine that there have been major advancements in terms of safety precautions. Each time there was a major crash, more safety measures were put in place to ensure they didn’t happen again. autsport For example, the seatbelts in the cars have 6-points to make sure they can’t come undone, even in a major crash. There are also soft foam interiors that protect them from being jolted around.The Darlington Track is Considered the Most DifficultThe Darlington Track in South Carolina is widely regarded as the most difficult track in the sport. This is because the egg-shaped loop’s turns are really tight and difficult to maneuver. The ends are narrow as well. scnow This makes it one of the most exciting venues for fans but one of the scariest tracks for drivers. However, NASCAR drivers have the need for speed so many like the challenge!New-generation Cars, Safer FramesRecent seasons brought a redesigned, stronger race car that changed how crashes behave. Teams and officials reinforced the chassis and added composite body panels and better energy-absorbing sections in the rear and center, after early worries about hard impacts. Those fixes, plus data from crash sensors, have helped engineers tune safety systems faster than before. The basic idea is simple, safer cars mean fewer serious injuries for drivers and fans.Television and Streaming Shake-upNASCAR's TV landscape has shifted, with long-term broadcast deals bringing major streaming and cable partners into the mix. That change put some races on new platforms that drew younger viewers, even if early streaming audiences were smaller than traditional TV numbers. The shift means more ways to watch, and a different audience showing up for races than in years past. Networks are still figuring out the best balance between live TV and streaming for race fans.Teams and Drivers RearrangedThere was a big scramble among teams and drivers that reshaped the field and pit lanes. Some teams expanded or changed which cars they run and a number of well-known drivers moved to different rides, shifting strategies and rivalries. That kind of turnover makes every race feel a little different, as crews relearn setups and chemistry on new teams. For fans it adds fresh stories to follow beyond the racing itself.Viewership: Mostly Steady, Streaming GrowsOverall TV audiences have stayed mostly steady, while playoff races have ticked up in interest. Streaming broadcasts are bringing younger viewers into the sport, even though those early streams did not always match traditional TV totals. That mix means NASCAR is reaching different kinds of fans at once, and broadcasters are testing coverage styles to keep both groups engaged. The result is more options for fans, and a sport adapting to how people watch.What This Means for the SportTaken together, the changes point to a sport that is evolving quickly while keeping its core appeal. Safer, stiffer cars and smart use of crash data aim to protect drivers without killing the excitement of high-speed racing. New broadcast partners and team shuffles are changing who sees the sport and how it looks on race day. Fans still get the same split-second drama, but now with better protection and more ways to follow the action.Here's the Takeaway on NASCAR's High StakesNASCAR is equal parts speed show and safety experiment, and that tension is what makes it compelling. You get blistering horsepower, pack racing at nearly 200 miles per hour and the occasional terrifying crash, all wrapped in huge paydays and diehard fans. Every serious wreck has pushed rules and tech forward, and the sport keeps adapting without losing its edge. For anyone who loves drama, that mix is hard to beat.Speed and Risk, Hand in GloveThe cars are outrageously fast and built to close specs, which creates breathless racing and big risks. Drivers train like athletes, bracing necks for huge lateral forces and sweating through races, sometimes losing up to 10 pounds. Engines are worked hard and often rebuilt between races, and that mechanical strain is part of the sport’s drama. You feel the danger every lap, and that’s what draws people in.Safety Keeps Evolving After Every CrashMajor wrecks have a grim but real role in making the sport safer. The fatal crash that claimed Dale Earnhardt Sr. pushed head and neck restraints into mandatory use, Richard Petty's crash led to the window net rule, and seats moved to six-point harnesses. Lately the new-generation cars, reinforced chassis and crash sensors have cut serious injuries even as the action stays wild. The result: faster learning and fewer catastrophic outcomes.Weird, Wild, and Surprisingly Human MomentsBeyond tech and crashes, NASCAR is full of quirky, human moments that fans love. Drivers sometimes pee during races, some own plain beater trucks like Joey Logano's 1939 GMC pickup, and stars cozy up with family life and viral wedding videos. Those small, odd details remind you these people live normal lives when they step out of race suits. It softens the high-speed image and gives fans more to talk about.Where NASCAR Might Head NextThe sport is moving on two tracks at once: safer cars and wider audiences. Broadcast deals and streaming changes are bringing new viewers, while team shuffles and new tech keep storylines fresh. At the same time, global series and varied tracks mean the sport is stretching its footprint without losing what made it work. If it stays true to the racing, there’s room to grow and keep the thrill intact.