NASCAR Slang: What Do They Really Mean?

NASCAR is not too difficult to understand, but as with any sport, sometimes the slang that goes with it is. The sport of racing, NASCAR is loaded with jargon and race terms that can be confusing to the newbie race watcher.

Take for instance the slang words "BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY". What in the world, you say, does that mean? Well, Boogity, Boogity, Boogity is a fairly new race term. This slang was slung by Darrell Waltrip at the beginning of a race a couple of years ago and stuck. It is now an official NASCAR race term that means simply, Go fast...go very, very fast.

Another NASCAR race term is the word ROOKIE. Rookies have a yellow stripe on their bumper that lets everyone know that this is the first year they are driving the full Cup season for their very first time. Much like the "student driver" signs, it tells the other drivers to watch out!

What is a DARLINGTON STRIPE? This one is a little more confusing. Darlington is a tough track. In order to make it around the track you have to run within a certain space. If you are in that space the correct way it will leave a black mark on your car. You get the Darlington Stripe on your car you're good. You don't get it...it's probably over for you.

What exactly is the BIG RED TRAILER and why doesn't everyone get to go there? The Big Red Trailer is where the bad boys go. Tony Stewart used to have a regular seat in the trailer, now that special seat belongs to Kevin Harvick. When a driver has done something wrong, the NASCAR officials will call them to the trailer to discuss what they have done. This is much like being called to the principle's office.

What is the BIG ONE? This is race jargon for the great big wreck at Talladega or Daytona. This wreck will take out 10-15 cars at a time. They use restrictor plates in these races and the cars are going about 200 miles an hour. Wrecks at this speed do a lot of damage.

Race jargon for new tires is STICKERS. Why? That is because they always have the stickers from manufacturers all over them.

POLE POSITION is the race term for the race starting spot. The driver that qualifies fastest gets Pole Position.

Who is the LUCKY DOG you keep hearing about? Well, that is the first guy that was one lap down after the caution flag. He will get to move up to the position ahead of the lead car. This will make him the last car on the lead lap, effectively gaining a lap. Makes him feel like a lucky dog!

What is the NASCAR racing slang for the end of the racing season? Why, that would be the SILLY SEASON.

Does the lead car give off the DIRTY AIR? In the world of NASCAR racing it does, so if you hear that a car is riding dirty air you know he right behind the lead car.

NASCAR, like any other sport, has its own language. For more information, or a broader list of NASCAR jargon, visit the experts at the following web sites:

SOURCES
http://www.stagefronttickets.com/nascar/nascar_terms.html

http://www.channelone.com/life/sports/nascar_slang/