When we were invited to join the folks at Crown Royal to be their guest at the 2012 NASCAR Crown Royal Brickyard 400, we knew it was going to be an incredible experience. Our first day at the track today was very enlightening, as we ate a hardy breakfast at the Crown Royal motorcoach, took a spin on the famous track in an Indy pace car starting from the south pit, enjoyed the fan experience with music and games, checked out the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and saw the pre-race spectacle from behind the scenes.

For anyone who hasn’t been to an IMS or a NASCAR race, I can tell you first-hand that television does this sport little justice, as there is an energy at the track that is obviously invigorating, and today was just the qualifying race. Can’t wait until tomorrow for a full day of NASCAR while enjoying some Crown Royal with my friends from other digital / social media outlets and taking it all in. Stay tuned for more!

When you think of NASCAR, you think of a few key images. First, there must be loud, fast, heavily stickered cars careening around an oval. Secondly, the race will probably take place somewhere in the south. And finally, there must be enough flowing Budweiser and blaring country music twang to annoy Toby Keith. Yes, these are stereotypes, but no one ever mentions just how much fun a NASCAR event is because of it. Bullz-Eye went to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte as a guest of Valvoline to witness this circus in person.

NASCAR races, like horror movies, are better at night. The reason is the same, drama. The noises seem louder, the speed seems more intense, and the crowds become more restless with anticipation. And really it is the fans that make these events what they are. Their blind devotion to single drivers makes the most ardent sports team fan blush. Depending on their favorite driver’s success in the rest, certain sections of the track may be in utter despair and crazed happiness at the same time.

The venue is also crucial. Charlotte can be described as one of the cradles of NASCAR. This southern city not only contains the track, but the Roush Racing Team as well. With its southern charm, fantastic barbeque, and good times vibe, the city is the embodiment of NASCAR’s attitude.

Therefore, when the sun sets and the green flag drops, the raceway is filled to the brim with the noise of crowds and V8 engines. Whereas the sound of an IndyCar of F1 car can be described as the aural representation of precision, the NASCAR V8 is the opposite. Sounding as if a bear and a shark got into a fight while in an industrial cement mixer, the V8’s growl is a form of organized chaos. From there on out, it all comes down the preparation of the car.

There is nothing on this planet that is as complex and simple as a NASCAR racer. At first glance, these cars may seem barbaric: carburetors, pushrods, analog gauges, and a ducktail spoiler that seem ripped out of racing’s past. However, as Roush Fenway Racing shows, the technical precision needed to weld the frames together, tune the car for each track, and extract the most horsepower out of these engines is staggering. Not even the engine oil makes it into the car without rigorous testing.

For instance, when Valvoline wanted to use their new NextGen oil in Roush Fenway Racing’s cars, it had to be put through the ringer first. First, the oil is subjected to bench tests. This is when an engine is run at high RPM for hours at a time with the oil being tested in the crankcase. At the end of each test, the engine is taken apart and checked for wear and tear. From there the oil is put into running racecars and ran in torture tests on select NASCAR tracks. If it passes all barriers tests with flying marks, it is fit to be used in the car during the season. Valvoline NextGen did pass all these tests and is being used in Roush Fenway Racing’s cars this year in both the Nationwide and Sprint Car racing series. And if the oil is scrutinized this much, you can only imagine the tests needed for every single component of these racecars.

When all these elements come together come together at a race like the Bank of America 500, a good time is bound to be the result. To add to the excitement, this race took part during, “The Chase.” This is NASCAR’s playoff system where the top 10 drivers are stripped of their points and must duke it out for the last 10 races for the championship. A cage match with V8’s if you will.

After the dust settled, Roush driver Matt Kenseth took the win home. In that race winning motor was Valvoline NextGen oil. Surprisingly, the race was very clean with only a few accidents and most of the retirements coming from mechanical failure. One would think that the end of deadly racing was upon us. Tragically, they are not. One day later in IndyCar, driver Dan Wheldon would perish in a crash in Las Vegas. One week after that crash, rising star Marco Simoncelli would die in a crash during a MotoGP race. This all comes after racing in all leagues have become safer because of these tragic crashes. NASCAR’s current safety revolution can be attributed to Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash at Daytona in 2001.

Even though leagues across the world try to make racing safer; at its core, motorsports is a dangerous job. It is with this in mind that everyone must respect the dangers that these drivers put themselves through in the pursuit of victory. It is this bravery that puts racing drivers ahead of many other sports, and brings fans the world over to the grandstands to see these men and women pit themselves and their machine against the clock without going over the edge. It doesn’t matter if you’re racing in NASCAR, F1, or a local dirt track race; racing is a sport of courage and talent for all those involved.

New Hampshire is quite an idyllic place in the fall, full of trees with changing leaves, mild weather, and sleepy small towns; until the baritone crackle of NASCAR V8’s roll into town that is.

Twice a year, the NASCAR circus comes to New Hampshire to race at the Sylvania 300. However, unlike most other tracks, New Hampshire Motor Speedway special is the fact that is a 1-mile oval. Because of this, the racing action is condensed as opposed to the larger tracks like Talladega. Imagine putting 50 angry bears into one boxing ring, and letting them loose, that is what NASCAR racing on a short oval looks and sounds like. While here as guests of Sylvania, Bullz-Eye.com had the opportunity to find out the type of physical dexterity needed to be on a racing team as well.

Many people might think NASCAR and fitness should not be in the same sentence. Images of beer bellies and Cheetos fill their heads as they think of some man named Bubba screaming himself to near cardiac arrest for his favorite driver. However, that belief isn’t true.

Behind the scenes of every NASCAR team, there is a group of dedicated individuals that work on and off the track to achieve a race win. These individuals are the pit crewmembers. I spoke to TJ Fleming, front tire carrier of the Menards 88 truck in the Camping World Truck Series, on just how a pit crew member prepares for his job.

For those unfamiliar with racing, think of a pit crew like an offensive line, and the driver as the quarterback. Although the quarterback shoulders pressure from the media and responsibility for executing plays, it’s his offensive line that protects him so he can be effective. Just ask Jay Cutler of the Bears on how important a functioning offensive line is.

A pit crew does the same job. The driver goes out and collects the attention and race wins, but without his crewmembers, he would never have a chance to reach the podium. A pit crew keeps their driver competitive by completing a driver’s pit stops. During a pit stop, tires are changed, gas is refueled, and a car may be slightly repaired (usually with the delicate tools of hammers and duct tape). The faster a driver can get in and out of the pits, the greater his chances of winning. To get out fast, a pit crewmember must be well trained and in good shape.

Changing a tire may not seem like an activity to train for, but you probably have never had to change a tire in less than 30 seconds in front of a screaming crowd with a race win on the line. Not to mention, these tires way anywhere from 45-75 lbs. each that need to be lifted and fitted in a moments notice after sitting on the wall waiting for a driver to pit. Like an offensive linemen, you need to immediately and quickly spring into action to get the job done.

The person I spoke to about the importance of fitness for a crewmember was T.J. Fleming. T.J. and his teammates are responsible for keeping Matt Crafton’s truck competitive on the track in the Camping World Racing Series. Instead of cars, the Camping World Race Series features pickup trucks hauling ass on the racetrack that you would normally find at Home Depot hauling lumber.

Unlike NASCAR pit crews, whose teams have more money and resources, he and his crew pull double duty both working on the truck at the shop, and themselves in the gym. Since his job requires double duty, his workout regime focuses on all around strength. If you want to stay in shape like a crewmember, focus on these lifts:
• Squats
• Romanian Deadlifts
• Core Training
His exercise regime focuses around functionality, not necessarily what makes you look like a greased Guido.

Off the cameras, and out of the spotlight, is where pit crewmembers do their jobs. Pumping gas and changing tires is easy during a daily commute, but doing it quickly and effectively in a racing setting takes and hours of preparations. Without their help, the wins won’t come for the driver and neither will the spotlight or attention. Just like without an offensive line, your quarterback is just an expensive smear on the football field.