How do you become a professional NASCAR driver?
June 1, 2010 by
Filed under nascar
i mean you do you start out at, i supose you have to win some amatuer races n evrything but how and where and when? i know theres a lot of you NASCAR fans id appreciate the help and does it cost money?
I’m not a big NASCAR fan, but I’m sure that you pretty much have to start out in amateur stockcar racing and win a lot. And, I’m sure it costs a bit of money but at the same time – your goal probably really is to get sponsors.
Great question! Most current drivers in the NASCAR circuit started during childhood, racing in go-karts. They then went to either open wheel racing, dirt tracks, late models, LEGENDS racing. The first NASCAR drivers got their break when they were running moonshine in the North Carolina mountains. Benny Parsons got his break when he was driving a taxi cab for his father.
At any rate, you would probably start out in an area that interests you the most. Whether it would be go-karts (International Karting Association http://www.ikfkarting.com/), Open wheel racing(USAC Racing http://www.usacracing.com/), Legends Racing, or Late Model Racing. Late Model Racing participants are often called “weekend warriors” beacuse they work regular jobs during the week and flock to local dirt or asphalt tracks on the weekend. You should be able to do an internet search for dirt/asphat tracks in your area.
And to answer your question about money… YES it is very expensive to race at any level. You have to consider the many factors involved: car(s), tires (for example, Hoosier tires run about a minimum of $100 per tire), travel expenses, racing fuel, a vehicle to pull your car to the track, a trailor to attach to said vehicle, safety equipment (for example, a fire suit runs around $200 and approved helmet about the same), entry fees for races – the list goes on and on and on. Not to mention the fact that the insurance on your equipment and YOURSELF would be astronomical. All costs considered, it makes you realize why NASCAR goes after big sponsors like Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Lowes, Dupont, etc. Because it costs millions and millions of dollars to keep a race team up and running. I know that Caterpillar spends in the 8-figure range to keep their race team running.
NASCAR team scouts often frequent local race tracks, looking for new talent. This is how many of NASCAR’s most familiar faces were discovered.
The best advice I can give you is to go to some local race tracks near you and go down in the pits and talk to some of the drivers.
Don’t get discouraged. You should read the biographies of some of NASCAR’s drivers to see how they got their start. I would highly recommend that you read Carl Edwards’ bio. (http://www.racehippie.com/biographies/article/Carl+Edwards)
I hope this answers some of your questions and best of luck with what you choose to persue.