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When you work in racing, you end up getting a lot of clothing.  I even wrote a post about it a few years ago (see it here).  We get shirts, hats, hoodies, coats, pants, shoes, firesuits, you name it.  As part of the sponsorship deals the teams have, they make sure that we are branded from head to toe.  We wear a uniforms just like a million other professions do.  But sometimes, when you get your “swag” to start the season, all you are thinking is “wow, I have to wear this?”

The problem here, isn’t that we have to wear branded stuff.  I have absolutely no problem being a walking billboard.  What sucks is when we have to wear really, really hideous swag.  And it all starts with the sponsor.  Who really wants to wear stuff that reps things like male enhancement pills and feminine hygiene products?  Or what about cat litter?  I mean, much love for sponsoring my team and helping me make a living and all, but geez, help me out here.

Sometimes though you can have a good sponsor, but for whatever reason, you still end up wearing ugly gear.  I’ll even give you an example.  No disrespect towards Roush Fenway, David Ragan, or UPS, but those yellow shirts and firesuits this year are terrible.  I get that you love logistics, but couldn’t logistics be a different, cooler color besides that putrid yellow?  If I was one of those guys, I’d certainly love repping logistics a lot more if the uni’s were badass looking.

There are definitely plenty of teams and sponsors that do it right though.  You usually can’t go wrong with beer or liquor deals, and those Bass Pro Shops uniforms with the camo are sweet.  I also like RCR’s CAT gear, and the Penske Pennzoil stuff uses a yellow that doesn’t suck.

At the end of the day, you certainly can’t be mad at a company that hands over millions in a suitcase so that we can go play on the weekends.  There are certainly worse gigs.  But I just wish we could have fun, and look good too.

What paint schemes and gear do you like and loathe?  Is there a current or past NASCAR sponsor you’d hate to be seen in public repping?

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I was amazed tonight to look up and realize this is our 70th edition of “Ask The Insiders Wednesday.”  It’s crazy to think we’ve done this many all ready!  If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here.  So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us.  On to the questions…

1. From Ric:

We received some lug nuts (from BMS Fire/Rescue) that were painted yellow, but the tips had different colors on them, was told they came from different drivers. We later were discussing why the lug nuts are painted yellow. The reasons that were thrown out (Starting with darn sure): Easy to spot for the tire changer, the yellow sticks out on pit floor to make sure you cleaned them all after a pit stop, there is a special coating on/in the paint to help with putting on / taking off the lugs.

The paint is strictly to make the lugnuts easier to see for the tire changers.  Lugs from the manufacturers are usually yellow, but you will often see them painted pink, white, or other bright colors.  Each tire changer has his own preferences. – T.C.

2. From djones:

I am totally fascinated how the haulers are parked in the infield, most recently at Martinsville. Is there a certain order in which they are parked? Is it first come first serve? And the big question is, how do they park them in there so perfectly? Thank you TC & Journo.

The haulers are parked based off owners points. As far as them being parked perfectly it’s a combination of skill and help. These guys are all, for the most part, very skilled and experienced truck drivers so parking in tight quarters is not a problem. They also help each other out when things are particularly tight. – Journo

3. From Dale:

When do the Mustangs debut?

They’ll make their debut with all the other Nationwide COT’s at Daytona in July. – Journo

4. From Walt:

Who pays for Sunoco gas? Also what do the teams do after practice back at the hotels without getting anybody in trouble.

As part of Sunoco’s deal with NASCAR, the fuel is provided at no charge to the teams for race weekends.  As for the crew’s activities away from the track, there really is no end to what teams do.  Some guys get the chance to get out and attend other sporting events, while some just hang out at the hotels.  And knowing that NASCAR has a strict substance abuse policy, along with the fear of losing one’s job goes a long way in making sure guys don’t get too crazy on the road.  We aren’t on vacation on the weekends, we go to the track to work. – T.C.

5. From Sue:

The 14 car went backwards yet again at Phoenix. What’s going on?

At Phoenix a lot of teams struggled with the changing conditions throughout the day – Tony was among them. He led 15 laps early on, but they just couldn’t find the magic late in the race. Sometimes this happens and you have to deal with it . Fortunately the team is having a pretty good season and Tony is ninth in the points right now. I would expect him to continue to be competitive as the season progresses – wins will come if that’s what you’re wondering. – Journo

6. From Pat:

When Denny Hamlin got out of the car this weekend he talked about how there is more braking at Phoenix than most tracks due to running a gear that doesn’t slow the car down as much. Are they running a high gear or a low gear? What other tracks gear like Phoenix? Which tracks are the cars geared to slow without as much brake?

They are running a higher gear then some other tracks.  Gearing is all about getting the maximum amount of power and torque out of the engine for the conditions.  At short tracks, you use a lower gear gear for better acceleration off the corners.  Lower gears allow for better torque, but mean lower top speeds.  Lower top speeds don’t matter at a track like Martinsville, because the track isn’t big enough to run really fast.  At big tracks, like Daytona, teams use a very high gear.  The cars have less acceleration, but much higher top speeds.  Since the drivers don’t get off the throttle and brake in the corners, acceleration isn’t as important.  That’s why it takes almost two laps to get the cars to full speed. – T.C.

And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close.  Thanks to everyone who sent in questions.  And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!

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