Auto racing is a sport like no other, requiring drivers to use their special skills to maneuver a 3,000-plus pound vehicle.But does that make racecar drivers athletes?
That question has been thrown around since the start of racing. In a debate on Fox Sports Live last February about who are the most dominant athletes in sports, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb said NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson is not an athlete.
NASCAR drivers battle a 3,450-pound stock car while dealing with four G’s and racing on 33-degree banking. On top of that, they get commands from their spotters and crew chiefs giving them signals in their ear. “Car up top, car on the bottom, pit this time.” These drivers are multitasking while knowing they might not end this race alive. Imagine enduring that for four hours with no breaks, except cautions.
Physical strength is key. In football, players catch balls and run fast. The quarterback throws the ball 60 yards down the field while the receiver concentrates on where the ball is going while running in a straight line. In baseball, pitchers throw 90 mph-plus fastballs.
Yes, anybody can turn a wheel, but at 200 miles an hour? It’s much harder than it looks.
Drivers need strength to hang on to the steering wheel for four hours, stamina to situp right and handle the heat with no air conditioner. There are no bathroom breaks and they can drink little liquid during the four hours, or more, they’re in the car.
Mental discipline is important. The drivers have to make quick decisions, with bumper-to-bumper action, cars inches apart from the car in front, in back and on the side of the car. One miscalculation could result in a wreck or loss of time.
In the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association), drivers blaze down a quarter-mile drag strip exceeding 300 miles an hour while 6 G’s pushing up against their bodies.
Imagine gravity pushing you down into the seat, your eyes pushing back into your sockets, you’re body shaking, every fiber of your body rumbling. When you get out you’re physically worn, trying to catch your breath, sweat dripping down your face from the heat inside. Wearing a driving suit makes the temperatures inside the car exceed 120 degrees.
Food is important too. The drivers eat foods that give energy like energy bars, fruit and whole grains. They eat anything with carbohydrates and protein and maintain strict diets.
During the summer months hydration is most important as they can lose several pounds of water over the time they are in the car. Dehydration leads to fatigue, slower reactions, mistakes and sickness or fainting.
Hydration keeps drivers alert, focused and performing at their best. It’s the same for racecar drivers.
Racecar drivers race more than 30 times a year. In the sprint car world, they race at least 80 times a year.
In any sport, skills are required. In auto racing, special skills are required. The skills aren’t transferable like in football, baseball or basketball.
Racecar drivers are athletes: the things they do, most people can’t. Besides, have you ever strapped in?
The best way to answer the question is to put McNabb in a car for 500 miles and see how he reacts.
