How to Drive Like a NASCAR Driver

The average NASCAR fan appreciates professional racing for the skill involved in handling cars at high speeds. You watch races every weekend thinking about the difficulty in handling a high-performance car and speaking with the pit crew. Your appreciation of NASCAR will increase when you learn to drive like a NASCAR driver.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Lock your eyes on a stationary point at every corner on a track to drive like a NASCAR driver. Your temptation to stare down fellow drivers will lead your car to drift across the track. Look at an advertisement along the track wall during each lap to keep your car on the right path.

2. Master the techniques of push and loose steering to drive like a NASCAR driver. Drivers use push steering when they want the front end to slide a bit and bring their car back in line after a corner when they use loose steering.

3. Practice using your left foot for braking in order to drive like a NASCAR driver. Professionals learn to bypass the standard technique of using the right foot for both acceleration and braking to maintain high speed.

4. Gain comfort with manual transmissions in order to drive cars on the professional circuit. Closed-wheel cars on the NASCAR circuit use manual gear shifts exclusively in order to maximize engine power.

5. Wear a full set of racing gear as you learn to drive like a NASCAR driver. Strap on a helmet and climb into a fire-retardant suit in order to simulate the level of comfort in a race car.

6. Scout professional racing schools in your region to learn how to drive like a NASCAR driver. Your focus should remain on schools who have instructors with professional driving experience to get the best instruction possible.

7. Learn to communicate with your crew chief while maintaining speed to continue your training as a professional driver. Your training in NASCAR-style driving is incomplete without testing out conversations while maintaining high speeds and watching out for competitors.

8. Cultivate an awareness of wear and tear on your tires. Racers with experience on the professional level know the number of miles they can put on tires before they need a change in the pit.

Tips & Warnings

• Accelerate and brake at the right times to drive like a NASCAR driver. A professional driver must manage his car's speed to pass competitors when space further up the track becomes available. Avoid the temptation to accelerate to top speed to prevent accidents and engine damage.