Starting Line: a Brief History Of Nascar

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The National Association for Stock Car Racing, more commonly known as NASCAR, officially began on February 21, 1948. Now, almost seventy years later, NASCAR has become an industry worth billions. But how did it start?

William “Bill” France, Sr. was a mechanic who also owned an automobile-repair shop in Washington, D.C. In the mid-30s, he moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, the mecca of racing in the United States East Coast. He lived a life that revolved around racing and promoting races. France noticed how promoters could make off with prizes, and realized then and there that there had to be an organized committee to oversee racing in general in the area. Along with other racers and promoters, he set up NASCAR, and became its first president.

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In 1972, William France, Jr., became president of NASCAR after Bill stepped down. It was William Jr. who turned NASCAR from regional sensation to a sport with a global following. From 1973 to 2007, NASCAR flourished under William Jr.’s leadership. William France, Jr. was also responsible for introducing NASCAR to a whole new line-up of huge corporate sponsors. It was also the younger France who brought in TV deals worth billions of dollars.

Steve B. Liefschultz has been a really big NASCAR fan since he saw the 2007 Nextel Cup Series. He has a large die-cast NASCAR collection with over a hundred models. Learn more about NASCAR and Steve by visiting his Facebook page.

How NASCAR Drivers Prepare for the Chase

It has been a hot debate whether stock car drivers, particularly NASCAR drivers, are considered athletes. A sports celebrity once heated up this argument by commenting that an individual who just sits inside and drives the car don’t make him an athlete. However, these professional drivers have proven otherwise.

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 Stock-car racing is not a regular daily drive. Drivers are in the race for four to five hours, and most locations where the competitions are held have extremely high weather temperatures. The temperature inside the driver’s cockpit can reach up to 120 F. Plus, drivers steer and maneuver a 3,400-pound car in a very challenging track with sharp curves and bumps, not to mention avoiding these obstacles with a lot of other vehicles in the way.

Just like other athletes, NASCAR drivers take their physical training seriously. The overall training focuses on strength and endurance. Endurance helps drivers in surviving the extreme conditions during the race. The lack of oxygen in the driver’s cockpit is a major concern. Since the cars are designed for optimum speed, not comfort, the air does not properly circulate inside. The drivers need to adjust with the amount of oxygen available. In their physical conditioning, aerobic exercises are needed to help improve oxygen synthesis in the body.

A strength program such as weight lifting also plays a vital role in drivers’ preparation. This helps them acquire the strength they need for handling the vehicle, steering the wheels, and making those sharp turns. This also helps drivers to bear with strong forces brought about by excessive G-forces.
NASCAR drivers perform these training along with proper nutrition and sufficient rest to reach their optimal physical and mental condition needed for the big chase.

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My name is Steve Liefschultz, a part-time Web developer, and full-time NASCAR fan. During race seasons, you could hardly find me at home but you can always connect with me on Twitter.

NASCAR for the Uninitiated: Different Racing Tracks

The Sprint Cup series is the most famous racing series; one, because many of the leading drivers from the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racers (NASCAR) and two, is because it's televised on Fox, TNT, and ESPN.

While many enthusiasts pride themselves on knowledge of cars and drivers, avid fans should also take note of the kind of racing tracks involved. Below are the most common tracks used in the Sprint Cup: 

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Short tracks

As the name suggests, short tracks encompass the shortest distance, never going over a mile in length. Short tracks are popular because of close races and (occasionally) car wrecks. Some of the popular short tracks include Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533-mile with 24 to 30-degree turns, and Martinsville Speedway (the shortest at 0.526-mile), which is shaped like a paper clip. 

Intermediate tracks

Intermediate tracks are over a mile in length but do not exceed 2 miles. Some of the tracks in this category are ovals, but most are tri or quad-oval, which allows for a better vantage point of the races. An example of an intermediate track is the Darlington Speedway, notable for its unique egg-shaped layout.

Super speedways

Once a track goes over 2 miles, it is considered as a super speedway. Michigan International Speedway measures exactly 2 miles and is oval shaped. Other racetracks in this category have more distinctive shapes such as the Pocono Raceway, a 2,5-mile triangular track. 

Road courses

 

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What differentiates road courses from the others on this list is that it comprises of both left and right-hand turns. This is opposed to a regular oval track, which only has left-hand turns. Two road courses are employed during the Sprint Cup, and these are the Sonoma Raceway (California) and Watkins Glen International (New York). 

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Running (and debugging) the World: The Tasks of a Computer Programmer

Being a programmer is more than just about spending hours coding in front of a well-lit computer. For those in the tech industry, programmers are minds that build the computing world. Programmers create apps and programs, computer language, and operating systems that are backbones of other technologies, which are in turn crucial to industries. 

Computer programmers turn thoughts into reality. When a developer makes software, the programmer creates codes that will make the program function. They create software that can run on different gadgets like tablets and smartphones as well. Programmers are also responsible for removing errors, installing updates, and testing for bugs. 

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There are two types of programmers: systems programmers and application programmers. Application programmers customize and upgrade software programs that will fit a certain programs. System programmers create operating systems, taking on a more holistic approach on how applications can work well in computers. 

If you want to be a successful computer programmer, you must be able to recognize (and communicate) through computer languages like HTML, Java, or C-programming, among others. It is also important that you earn a Bachelor’s or Associate Degree in Technology, Computer Programming, or Computer Engineering. 

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Programmers must be willing to constantly learn new languages, programs, and techniques. After all, technology is ever changing. Competition is tough when it comes to programming, so you have to be geared for “war” if you want to survive and maintain your position in the industry. 

Steve B. Liefschultz here. Know more about NASCAR and computer programming when you follow me on Twitter.

The race continues: Power drivers of 2015

With the Sprint Cup Series nearing the end of the season, it is hard to believe that Brad Keselowski is lagging behind the likes of Joey Logano and Carl Edwards. While Keselowski's season got off to a rocky start, he led early at Phoenix, while having a victorious weekend at the Auto Club 400. The latter weeks, however, saw his sudden decline in rankings with a number of penalties, which until today is widely debated in the racing community. 

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Let us not forget that Keselowski led the Sprint Cup Series with six victories last year. So it’s really hard to understand all of the penalties that NASCAR levied against him, especially in the final stages of the race. 

Meanwhile, currently on the lead is Joey Logano, who recently won his “controversial” sixth victory this season under Team Penske. Currently with 4,000 points, Logano is battling against Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, and Kurt Busch. 

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Despite the controversies, there is no denying Logano’s skill. Like Keselowski, he too became the youngest winner in Sprint Cup Series history when he won the 35-day competition back in 2009. Hence, I am interested to see how things will work out in the last few races in November. 

Hi! I am Steve B. Liefschultz, an avid NASCAR fan and a die-cast cars collector. Visit my blog for more articles on driving and racing.

So Long, Leon Gonyo! You’ve Left an Impressive Legacy

The racing community has just lost another great man. Leon Gonyo, a resident of Chazy, New York, succumbed to a “medical problem” while taking a ceremonial victory lap at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The 63-year-old racing veteran won the speedway’s final asphalt NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified race of the season on September 19—but was never able to collect the checkered flag. 

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The medical problem occurred while Gonyo was circling the track. His car crashed into a wall, hurting track official Dick Therrien in the process, before bouncing off and making an approach toward the speedway’s victory lane area. He was rushed to Rutland Regional Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly. The cause of death is yet to be determined, although stroke is currently being looked at for the symptoms he manifested. 

Gonyo wore complete safety gears—including helmet and seatbelt—when the accident occurred. A thorough inspection of his vehicle revealed that it was mechanically and structurally okay. The driver had raced stock cars for more than four decades and the victory on Saturday was marked his fifth championship for 2015. 

“His demeanor didn’t change much,” said fellow racer Bucko Branham. “The biggest thing about him, I mean, he was soft spoken. I think that’s probably why (fans) liked him.”

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Between Harvick and Logano: Who Deserves More to Lift the Sprint Cup?

The race to the top of the Sprint Cup series this season has just become even more rigid. While Kevin Harvick currently holds the top spot in the overall rankings, Joey Logano is catching up rather fast. In fact, he just lorded over Harvick last week when he thumped his fellow speedway giant in the Cheez-It 355.

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 After running out of fuel while taking the lead at Pocono with three more laps to go, Logano overtook Harvick on the final turn of the 90-lap race as Harvick ran dry mid-way through the race. Logano fulfilled the first NASCAR weekend sweep at the track after winning the Xfinity race. Additionally, he gave his Roger Penske team their first Cup victory at The Glen. While Logano only ranked outside the top five during the restart, he had the first car off pit road and was the first driver confident enough to make it to the end of the race without the dilemma of low gas levels.

The current table standings are as follows:

1. Kevin Harvick (#4 Chevrolet) - 823 points 
2. Joey Logano (#22 Ford) - 781 points 
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Chevrolet) - 750 points 
4. Jimmie Johnson (#48 Chevrolet) - 747 points 
5. Brad Keselowski (#2 Ford) - 719 points  

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 My name is Steve B. Liefschultz. I am a fan of NASCAR races and everything else that involves fast cars. Like me on Facebook for more insights about the Sprint Cup and other major racing competitions.