NASCAR racing involves more than just driving fast. There are three national series - Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Craftsman Truck series. Physics concepts like friction from tires, aerodynamics, and downforce are essential to performance. Teams must consider these factors and design different cars for short tracks with tight turns versus super-speedways with long straightaways. Tires are particularly important due to the heat and force generated at high speeds.

1. By Sandra Cash

6. Unlike the tires you use on your car NASCAR has special tires that they use. Few factors play a more critical role in NASCAR races then the tires. Inflation pressures, tire wear and tire balance can all have a tremendous effect on a car’s performance. Tires must be changed quite often throughout the race as they wear down. These cars are going so fast that the tires start to melt because of all the friction. In NASCAR a NASCAR team will use between 9 to 14 sets of tires a race depending on how long the race is.