Winston Cup Glossary

This counter added 11-20-97

Ok....heres a handy/dandy quick reference glossary to help out new race fans as well as seasoned veterans. The first definition is the most commonly used meaning and the second is what us veterans have come to understand the terms to really mean.

Apron

A. Low, flat edge of the racetrack, used in case of emergency.

B. Garment worn during Grilling experience in the infield.

Banking

A. The sloping of a race track from the apron to the outside wall. Degree of banking refers to the height of a tracks slope at its outside edges.

B. Banking is what Rick Hendrick was an expert at...till the Feds caught up with him.

Bite

A. Traction on a racetrack.

B. What you do to the burgers off the infield grill.

Blown engine

A. When an engine breaks usually causing a huge plume of smoke.

B. What them Drag race boys run.

Bottom out

A. Suspension compressed to the limit of its travel.

B. A Talledaga Trackho might have her......bottom out.

Brain fade

A. A momentary lapse of concentration that leads to a mistake in driving.

B. Ernie Irvan vs. Greg Sacks....Texas, spring 97.

Chrome horn

A. The act of giving the car in front of you a gentle nudge with your front bumper to let him know you are there.

B. You can bet your butt...if Its on De-Dubbaya's car...its Chrome.

Dirty air

A. Term used to describe unsettled air around the cars during drafting. (see Draft)

B. Term used to describe the aroma around the parking lot Port-a-jons.

Draft

A. The act of two or more cars working together for aerodynamic purposes.

B. What many of the infield fans are partaking of, also Rusty's former sponsor.

Drag Tires

A. Tires designed specifically for drag racing.

B. What they do behind the wreckers after a rain delay.

Fastback

A. Car with sloping back glass.

B. Where Front Row Joe goes, and how he gets there, as soon as the green flag flys.

Front steer

A. A car in which the steering components are located ahead of the front axel.

B. Lead cow in a stampede.

Hanging it out

A. Swerving the back end extremely to make car resemble dirt type powerslide.

B. Another Trackho move.

Late Model

A. Race car no more than 3 years old.

B. When the Photographer is ready but Miss Winston ain't there yet.

Leaning on him

A. When one driver gets inside another driver and lets him know he's there by crowding him through the turns.

B. What I do to the guy, in the row in front of me, when I'm tryin' to see the crash in turn one.

Lets go

A. When something breaks, as in the motor let go.

B. What I say during "Jeffy" cautions, (for instance, caution for rain at Darlington).

Line

A. The best route around a racetrack, the most efficient or quickest way around the track.

B. When Randy LaJoie said Buckshot checked up at Bristol he was "line" through his teeth.

Loop her

A. When a driver spins out. More commonly used when driver deliberately spins car to avoid a wreck.

B. Yep....its that Trackho thing again!

Loose stuff

A. Debris such as sand, pebbles, or small peices of rubber that tend to collect near the outside wall.

B. Also describes a Trackho.

Lose it

A. When a driver loses control of his car.

B. What I do to my car in the parking lot.

Marbles

A. See Loose stuff.

B. When Earnhardt flipped the car at Daytona, and got back in and finished the race, he proved he has huge Marbles.

Pole position

A. Coveted front inside starting spot given to the driver with the best qualifying speed.

B. Trackho again.....no comment.

Ride

A.Opportunity to drive a race car.

B. What Richard Petty did in his last few years once he fell off the lead lap.....just ride.

Roll bar

A. Arch of hollow tubing over the drivers head to protect him in case his car rolls over.

B. Where Benny Parsons eats breakfast.

Slick

A. A track condition where a car's tires cannot adhere to the surface or get a good bite.

B. Decription of Bruton Smith.

Slingshot

A. Method used to pass on high speed tracks. Trailing car moves out of draft of leader,creating a vacuum which then pulls front car back.

B. Everybody knows this is what Ellie Mae had a double barrell version of.

Soups up

A. What one does when he modifys the engine to increase power.

B. What you yell when the Burgers are done on the infield grill.

Spoiler

A. Device used to improve a cars handling at high speeds.

B. What you will do to a trackho if you take her to the races to often.

Stagger

A. The difference in size between the tires on the left and right side of the car.

B. Method of walking to your car after the race. See Draft.

Stand on it

A. Push accelerator to floor and leave it there.

B. Why my cooler is square and not a playmate type.

Stroking

A. Said of a driver who allegedly lies back in a race so as to not punish or wear out equipment.

B. Trackho again.....no comment.

Sticker

A. A new tire. The term originates with the tire manufacturer's stick on label showing tire size.

B. Term used as in..."I got a new Earnhardt sticker for my back glass!"

Tach

A. Short for tachometer.

B. People who wear dress clothes to the race are tach-y.

Trackho

A. Stock car groupie who will do anything for tickets.

B. Stock car groupie who will do anything for tickets.