How to Become a NASCAR Racer

It takes more than speed and a fine car to realize one's dream to become a NASCAR driver. The lucrative salary, adrenaline rush, and applause of fans make racing appealing. But in addition to talent on the track, perseverance and determination are equally essential to succeed. It is always better to start young if you are serious about becoming a NASCAR racer.

Things You'll Need

  • Funds for tuition and fees
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Instructions

    • 1

      Maintain excellent physical and mental fitness levels. You need to possess strength, stamina, and mental focus to handle stock cars on the tracks. You will have to overcome exhaustion, muscle cramps, stress, and depression, to stay in the game. Follow a good diet and exercise regularly to keep your body and mind fit. Check the NASCAR page listed at the top of the reference section for commentary on this subject.

    • 2

      Join a racing school if you do not have a professional mentor. Professional training equips you with specialized knowledge and skills for the track. You will have better knowledge about shifting gears and identifying best turning points on the track. Training can help you learn to process quickly and analyze your opponent's tactics better. Specialized training increases your chances to attract sponsors. Use online resources such as racingschools.com and findracingschools.com to locate racing schools. Go for a school that is well-experienced, offers one-to-one instruction, and uses safety equipment, NASCAR stock cars, and good tracks for training.

    • 3

      Know racetracks as well as the back of your hand. You need to be familiar with the shape, length, every turn and plane of the track, to know where to be fast and where to slow down. Practice regularly on NASCAR-type racetracks or using go-karts to gain such knowledge. Go to NASCAR.com for information on track types.

    • 4

      Learn all that you can about NASCAR race cars' parts and functions. This knowledge will help you use the car's strengths and weakness to your advantage and communicate better with pit crews. A course in NASCAR race car mechanics helps. The Universal Technical Institute provides such technical training. Their site is referenced below. Visit online directories such as automechanicschools.com or education-online-search.com for more information on NASCAR technical training providers.

    • 5

      Have a formal education. Formal education is not mandatory to become a NASCAR racer, but helps you garner sponsors, which is crucial for a NASCAR racer. A proper education can also equip you with essential people skills for use in your career. Consider enrolling in specialized programs such as those offered by NASCAR Technical Institute.

    • 6

      Applying for a license is essential to become a NASCAR racer. As of 2009, a NASCAR drivers license cost $2,420 and to be a NASCAR owner, you will pay a fee of $2,970. Apply either at the NASCAR head office or at a track with a NASCAR license. Form your team of car and crew. You can find a list of car dealers on autoguide.nascar.com. Post adverts for mechanics and crew members. You can recruit from local mechanic schools too.