 B  |
| B-Main |
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A second-chance race sometimes seen at an event that uses heat races to determine qualifying and starting positions for the feature. The B-main includes all cars who failed to finish in a qualifying position in their respective heat races, and a certain number of additional qualifying positions are available to the B-main's top finishers. Also called a "last chance" or "B-heat" race. Some very large events might use a third level of heat race for cars that fail to qualify in the B-main race(s), and this would be referred to as the C-main. Compare to consolation race.
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| B-Pillar |
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Vertical metal roof support between front and rear side windows on the side of the vehicle.
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| B-Post |
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Post extending from the roof line to the base of window behind the driver's head.
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| Back Gate |
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Literally, the gate on the back stretch at a short track where car trailers or transporters are let into the pits or garage area, but the term is used by promoters to mean the number of cars and teams that actually show up and attempt to qualify for a race. It's an axiom in the racing industry that the back gate (number of participating cars) has a direct effect on the front gate (number of paying spectators), and so good promoters work hard at keeping their back gate as high as possible.
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| Back Marker |
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A car that is many laps behind in a race. Also used as a derisive term to refer to drivers who are consistently slower then the majority of the field.
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| Back Off |
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To slow down; often said of a driver who is attempting to pass and realizes he can't make it, so he backs off to try again later.
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| Back Out |
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When a driver takes his foot off the gas pedal (all the way or part way), he "backs out" or "lifts off."
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| Backup Car |
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A complete and set up second car brought to the race by each team. The backup car may not be unloaded at any time during all NASCAR national series practices or pre-race activities, unless the primary car is damaged beyond repair. Backup cars must also pass all NASCAR inspections.
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| Balaclava |
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Head sock. Sometimes pronounced "ba-CLAH-va", with the second syllable not pronounced.
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| Balance Due |
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The amount currently due, minus previous payments, plus cash advances and purchases.
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| Balanced |
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Perfect grip on both the front and rear tires. Not loose or pushing.
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| Ball Joint |
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Usually refers to the outboard(wheel) end of a CV joint(halfshaft). The ball joint allows the wheel to steer and move with the suspension and still receive power from the engine. The term ball joint can also be used to refer to how suspension components are attached.
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| Ballast |
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A controlled amount of weight, functionally positioned, used to help a vehicle meet class weight requirements and/or used as a tuning variable. Holeshot: Reacting quicker to the Christmas Tree starting lights to win a race agains a quikcer opponent.
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| Bang the Blower |
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An explosion inside the supercharger caused by a flame from the combustion process accidentally re-entering the supercharger, wehre fuel and air are present. Generally caused by a stuck or broken intake valve that normall would be closed during the combustion sequence. Hydraulic: When a cylinder fills with too much fuel, thus prohibiting compression by the cylinder and causing a mechanical malfunction, usually an explosive one.
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| Bank Rate |
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The amount the bank charges the consumer, expressed as a percentage.
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| Banked Turn |
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A turn that's inclined so the outside area is higher than the inside area.
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| Banking |
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The sloping of turns, which help cars negotiate corners. Zero degrees of banking would be a track that is flat while 30 degrees of banking represents a significant amount of banking. The higher the degree of banking the faster the cars can run because the do not have to slow down as much to get through the turns. The steepest banking on the Winston Cup Circuit is the 36-degree banked turns of Bristol, Tenn., and the shallowest is 12 degrees at Martinsville, Va.
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| Bar |
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British American Racing - Formula One team backed by British American Tobacco.
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| Barc |
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British Automobile Racing Club - Orgainising body.
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| Barnstorming |
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Staging of an informal series of races by a touring group, often on temporary or jury-rigged race tracks. A popular form of racing in the '30s and '40s when race cars were rare and sanctioning bodies were rarer, barnstorming has just about died out now in the U.S., although there are still some touring groups staging events such as stunt shows and demolition derbies.
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| Base Price |
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The price of a vehicle without options but including standard equipment, factory warranty, and freight or destination charge. This price is printed on the Monroney sticker.
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| Base-Coat |
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A coat of paint acting as the base for other layers to be applied.
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| Basic Rate |
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The rate from which discounts or additions are calculated.
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| Bead Lock |
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A device used on some short-track racing cars to positively fasten the tire bead to the wheel rim. Particularly with low-pressure tires often used on dirt tracks, a bead lock keeps the tire on the wheel, and prevents the tire from slip-rotating around the wheel, which can cause the bead to break.
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| Bear Grease |
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Slang term used to describe any patching material used to fill cracks and holes or smooth bumps on a track's surface. Can also be used as a sealer on the track.
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| Bear Greese |
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Slang term used to describe any patching material used to fill cracks and holes or to smooth bumps on a track's surface.
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| Beater |
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(Slang) A car for everyday transportation. Usually not in perfect condition.
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| Beltline |
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A horizontal line, usually imaginary but sometimes indicated by a feature in the body design, just below the window openings on a car or truck body.
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| Belts |
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Belts are used to drive many engine accessories. Most overhead cam(OHC) engines use cogged (toothed) belts to drive the camshaft(s). Belts drive the power steering pump, water pump, air-conditioning compressors, etc. Could also refer to safety belts/harness.
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| Bench Racing |
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Talking about racing; what racers and race fans do in the winter, or any other time when there's no real racing going on.
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| Bench Seats |
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Full-length seat that can usually seat two or three people.
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| Bend |
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1. A shallow turn. 2. To damage a car slightly.
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| Bfr |
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Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Rockton IL. 2 mile road racing course.
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| Bgn |
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The NASCAR Busch Series (the commonly used acronym comes from a previous name, Busch Grand National), a Stock car series sanctioned by NASCAR. The cars are similar to Winston Cup cars, the main differences being lighter cars with somewhat shorter wheelbases, the use of lower-compression engines, and prohibitions on exotic materials.
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| Bias-Ply |
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Layers of fabric within a tire that are woven in angles. Also used as a term to describe tires made in this manner. Last used in NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division racing in 1994.
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| Big Banger |
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A powerful engine; one with a large volume of displacement, usually more than 305 cubic inches.
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| Big Block |
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As used today, usually refers to a big-block Chevy engine, although in context it can refer to a big-block engine from any manufacturer.
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| Bite |
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[1] "Round of bite" describes the turning or adjusting of a car's jacking screws found at each wheel. "Weight jacking" distributes the car's weight at each wheel.
[2] Adhesion of a tire to the track surface. When a racecar recovers after a turn or a slide and the tires regain traction with the race track.
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| Black Box |
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Unlike those which store recording devices in airplanes, a race car's black box contains high tech electrical systems which control most engine functions. More technically referred to as the Engine Electronic Controls, the Engine Control Unit or the Engine Management System.
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| Black Flag |
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The signal for a driver to come into the pits, usually to allow officials to inspect it to determine whether it can run safely after an accident. It may also mean that officials have already decided the car is to slow or too dangerous to continue running, as when it has a serious oil leak that makes the track slippery.
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| Black Flagged (Black Flag) |
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This is the dreaded flag that no driver wants to see. It means "go to your pit, get off the racetrack, you've done something wrong." Often it means a driver is dumping fluids on the track making it dangerous, or was speeding on the pit road, which is against the rules.
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| Bladder |
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The bladder keeps the fuel from spilling and catching fire in the case of a rear impact.
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| Blanket Insurance |
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A property-liability insurance that covers more than one piece of property.
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| Bleach Out |
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Old drag racing term in which bleach was poured at the start of the launch pad instead of water, as it is now. When the car did its burnout, the tires would ignite in a ball of fire. This soon was outlawed as too dangerous by the NHRA and IHRA.
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| Bleeder Valve |
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A valve in the wheel used to reduce air pressure in tires. Bleeder valves are not approved for NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division racing.
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| Blend |
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A racing fuel combining methanol and nitromethane.
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| Blend Line |
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Line painted on the track near the apron and extending from the pit road exit into the first turn. When leaving the pits, a driver must stay below it so he or she can safely "blend" back into traffic.
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| Blip |
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To race an engine intermittently with repeated short bursts on the accelerator.
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| Blister |
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Excessive heat can make a tire literally blister and shed rubber. Drivers can detect the problem by the resulting vibrations and risk more serious damage if they choose not to pit.
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| Blisterning |
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What happens to racing tires when they overheat; the top layer of rubber comes off in dime-sized to quarter-sized chunks.
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| Block |
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An engine's cylinder block.
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| Block(Ing) |
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When a driver changes position on the track to prevent drivers behind them from passing.
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| Blocking |
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Racing term for changing position on the track to prevent drivers behind from passing. Blocking is accepted if a car is defending position in the running order but considered unsportsmanlike if lapped cars hold up more competitive teams.
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| Blow Up |
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Irreparable engine failure which ends a racer’s day.
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| Blowed (Motor) |
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Major league engine failure, for instance when a connecting rod goes through the engine block producing a lot of smoke and steam. "We blowed the motor."
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| Blower |
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Usually refers to a supercharger.
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| Blown Engine |
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[1] An engine that has suffered a catastrophic bottom-end failure, such as a broken connecting rod. Engines that have blown usually have suffered irrepairable block damage and have to be junked. Blowing an engine frequently produces a huge cloud of smoke and leaves oil and pieces of metal all over the track, making a caution flag necessary.
[2] An engine equipped with a supercharger. (Not common usage in oval-track racing; this is more a drag racing term.)
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| Blown Motor |
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Major-league engine failure, for instance, when a connecting rod goes through the engine block, producing a lot of smoke and steam.
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| Blue Flag |
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Blue flag with yellow stripe tells the cars to which the flag applies that they must allow the traffic lapping them to pass without delay.
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| Blue Flag with Yellow / Stripe |
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Signals a slower driver to move over on the track and let the leaders proceed. This usually occurs near the end of a race when the slower car is many laps behind. This flag is to ensure safety for the cars still racing for the win.
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| Blue Oval |
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Ford. The name comes from the shape of its logo.
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| Blueprinting |
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The meticulous matching to factory specifications all parts and/or components. Hand-fitting parts to the absolute design callout or manufacturer's specifications.
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| Bmcrc |
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British MotorCycle Racing Club - Motorcycle race organisers.
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| Board of Directors, Mc |
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Midwestern Council's business directors. Minimum two reps from each club with two votes shared by all reps present. Same make-up as the MC Contest Board, except for voting pattern.
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| Board of Directors, Nsscc |
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North Suburban SCC's directors. Consists of current elected and appointed officers, elected and appointed officers from previous year, plus several permanent board members.
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| Board Track |
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An oval track whose surface and foundation are made from wood. Elaborate board tracks were constructed in the 1910's and '20s, mainly on the West Coast, in part because good paving materials for earthenworks tracks were not available (modern asphalt having not been invented yet). These tracks, built to lengths as long as a mile, were built for spectacle and often featured banking in the turns exceeding 45 degrees. As such, they were extremely fast and, consequently, extrememly dangerous; deaths were common, and were caused as often by collapses of the track's superstructure as by actual wrecks. The most famous board track was the one located in Beverly Hills, California (yes, that Beverly Hills). All the board tracks closed down at the beginning of the Great Depression, when the audiences and purses dwindled, and most of the particpants turned to less expensive (and safer) forms of racing.
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| Bobble |
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The car gets a little loose and the driver corrects, the car wiggles back and forth. Something like a fishtail.
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| Body Style |
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The type of exterior shell or shape to a vehicle (sedan, coupe, truck, etc.).
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| Bodywork |
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The fabricated sheet metal that encloses the chassis.
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| Bomber |
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A Stock car class where old cars (often retrieved from junkyards) are raced, with few or no modifications allowed. Intended to be the absolute lowest-cost way of going racing at many tracks, but they also have the side benefit of providing a measure of comic relief during a tense night of racing. Also referred to as "Jalopy", "Wrecker", "Fender Bender", etc.
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| Boost |
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Term commonly used to refer to turbocharger pressure; also another word for manifold pressure. CART engines are turbocharged and are limited to 40 inches of boost. IRL cars are normally aspirated.
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| Booster Seat |
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This child-safety seat is designed for children who are too large for a baby seat, but not big enough to sit safely in the vehicle's seats.
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| Bore |
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The diameter of a gasoline or steam reciprocating engine cylinder. The displacement can be increased by increasing the diameter (reboring).
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| Borg Warner Trophy |
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Victory in the Indianapolis 500 secures this, the most coveted trophy in Indy Car racing.
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| Bottom End |
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The reciprocating and rotating parts of an engine that transmit the engine's power, including the pistons, crankshaft, connecting rods, and main bearings. See also top end.
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| Bow Tie |
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[1] Chevrolet, from the shape of its logo.
[2] A s ries of cylinder heads made by Cheverolet for racing, mainly for use by Late Models and drag racers.
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| Boxer Engine |
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The cylinders are opposite (180 degrees apart) from each other. Also called flat engines, these are relatively flat compared to In-line or V engines.
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| Brain Bucket |
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The helmet all drivers wear to protect their 'brains'.
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| Brain Fade |
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A momentary lack of attention that leads to making a mistake during a race.
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| Brake Balance |
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The difference in braking force between one end or side of the car, and the other. Racing brake systems are usually designed so that the front-rear brake balance can be adjusted, with more force going to one end or the other as desired to improve handling characteristics (side-to-side brake balance adjustment is less common, and not allowed in many series). Sometimes, this is done with a knob in the cockpit that the driver can use to change the balance while driving.
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| Brake Booster |
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Device or system that helps reduce the force the driver must exert against the brake pedal. May be hydraulic or electric.
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| Brake Caliper |
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The part of the braking system that, when applied by the driver, clamps the brake disk/rotor to slow or stop the car. There is one on each wheel of a NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division car.
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| Brake Drum |
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The large circular surface that the brake shoe presses against to stop the vehicle.
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| Brake Duct |
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Opening's in the body panel and other locations of a stock car that take in air to help kept the brake system cool.
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| Brake Fade |
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Reduced brake performance - when brakes can no longer stop the car effectively. Caused when brake pads, rotors and fluid exceed their operating temperatures.
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| Brake Horsepower (Bhp.) |
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The measure of an engine's horsepower without the loss in power caused by the gearbox, generator, differential, water pump and other auxiliaries. The actual horsepower delivered to the driving wheels is less.
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| Brake Pad |
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Used in a disc system, it is a replaceable piece of backing plate and additional friction lining.
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| Brake Pull |
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Occurs when the vehicle pulls suddenly to the left or right as the brake pedal is depressed. It indicates the brakes may be out of adjustment.
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| Brake Rotor |
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Shiny metal disk that brake pads squeeze to stop the vehicle; hence the name disc brakes.
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| Brake Shoe |
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A curved, replaceable piece of friction material used on drum brakes. The wheel cylinder pushes the brake shoes against the brake drum.
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| Brakes - Antilock (Abs) |
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An acronym for Antilock Braking System. ABS eliminates wheel lockup during braking and loss of steering control on slippery surfaces. Speed sensors monitor each wheel and reduce brake pressure on any wheel rotating significantly slower than the others. ABS systems are 2, 3, or 4-channel systems. 2-channel systems combine 2 wheels, such as the left front and right rear into one channel. The right front and left rear wheel form the other channel. Any wheel lockup causes brake pressure reduction on both wheels of each channel. 3-channel ABS systems combine the rear wheels into one channel. The front wheels have individual channels. The most sophisticated ABS systems use 4-channels, one for each wheel, for maximum control and braking power.
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| Brakes - Calipers |
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Brake pads are mounted to calipers, which "float" next to the brake disc. The caliper ensures that the brake pads exert even pressure on the disc.
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| Brakes - Disc |
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A brake that uses a disc shaped rotor and calipers that hold friction pads. The rotor is attached to the wheel hub and spins with it. The calipers are stationary. When the brake pedal is depressed, the calipers press on the side of the side of the rotor. The friction pads slow the rotor as needed. Most vehicles use disc brakes on the front wheels. Disc brakes can shed heat and retain their braking power better than drum brakes.
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| Brakes - Drum |
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A brake that uses an enclosed rotating drum or "can" and stationary pads(shoes). When the brake pedal is depressed, the brake shoes contact the sides of the "can" and slow the wheel. Drum brakes are usually mounted on rear wheels. Drum brakes are prone to "fade," or heat buildup, which reduces their effectiveness.
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| Brdc |
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British Racing Drivers Club - Racing organisation.
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| Break Out |
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Used only in handicap racing, the term breakout refers to a contestant running quicker than he or she "dialed" his or her vehicle (predicted how quick it would run). Unless his or her opponent commits a more serious infringement (e.g., red-lights, crosses the centerline, or fails a post-race inspection), the driver who breaks out loses. If both drivers break out, the one who runs closest to his or her dial is the winner. (Drag racing)
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| Breakout |
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Used only in handicap racing, the term "breakout" refers to a contestant running quicker that he or she "dialed" hsi or her vehicle (predicted how quick it would run). Unless the opponent commits a more serious infringement (e.g. redlights, crosses the centerline, or fails a post-race inspection), the driver who breaks out loses. If both drivers break out, the one who runs closest to his or here dial is the winner. Index: the expected percormance for vehicles in a given class as assigned by the NHRA. It allows various classes of cars in the same category to race against each other competetively.
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| Brg |
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British Racing Green - Dark green traditionally used on British race cars.
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| Brickyard |
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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which was paved by bricks after its original tar and stone surface broke up during its first races. Eventually the bricks were paved over, with the exception of one single yard at the start/finish line.
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| Bridge |
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Starters' stand, often extending out over track at the start-finish line. Often used to describe entire race officials' area.
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| Bristol Rear-End |
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What happens to the back of your car when racing on short tracks
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| Broker |
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A person who represents the insured to solicit or negotiate for contracts. A broker may deal with many agents or companies on behalf of his or her client.
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| Brscc |
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British Racing and Sports Car Club - Race organisers.
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| Btcc |
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British Touring Car Championship - For saloon cars.
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| Bubble |
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The slowest position in first round qualifying. The driver can be "knocked off the bubble," meaning bumped out of the field until second round qualifing.
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| Bud Shootout |
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Race for drivers who have won Busch Pole Awards during the previous season. A non-points event that consists of 25 laps with a pit stop between lap 10-13. Starting order is determined by drawing. (formerly the Busch Clash)
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| Bull Ring |
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A general term for a short track (particularly a dirt track) where local weekly races are held.
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| Bullet |
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A brand new engine ready to be bolted into a race car.
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| Bump Draft |
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At superspeedways, bump drafting is where, while in drafting, a racecar bumps the racecar in front to give the front racecar a boost to speed along the entire draft.
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| Bump Drafting |
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A drafting technique where a trailing car that is rapidly gaining on a preceding car will actually hit the preceding car in the rear (gently), in order to transfer some momentum to the preceding car and speed it up, which because of the dynamics of drafting, results in both cars gaining speed. A commonly-used technique on superspeedways, but rather risky. Sometimes difficult to distinguish from the chrome horn.
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| Bump Steer |
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Uncommanded steering motion in a front wheel, caused by the wheel's changing its toe angle as it moves up and down. Usually considered undesirable, although some racing chassis builders have learned how to put it to good use. Also referred to as Ackerman steer.
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| Bumper-to-Bumper |
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A type of warranty that covers the entire vehicle for a limited amount of time.
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| Burn Off |
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Burning fuel during the course of a race. As fuel is burned, the car becomes lighter and its handling characteristics change, challenging the driver and crew to make adjustments to achieve balance.
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| Burn Out |
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In drag racing, the spinning of rear wheels at high RPM in water to heat and clean drive tire rubber prior to a run, resulting in increased traction.
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| Burned Piston |
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A type of engine failure; the result of preignition or excessive heat in a cylinder, usually because the air-fuel mixture has become too lean for some reason. (Alcohol-fueled engines are especially vulnerable to this.) A burned piston has its top surface transformed into something resembling the surface of the moon, and may even have a hole burned all the way through it.
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| Burnout |
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Spinning the rear tires in water to heat and clean them prior to a run for better traction. A burnout precedes every run. Methanol: Pure methyl alcohol produced by synthesis for use in Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars.
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| Busch Grand National |
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Racing series that may be considered the minor league of Winston Cup racing. Races are generally half the distance of Winston Cup races and many are run at the same tracks.
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| Busch Series |
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Just one level below Winston Cup, some drivers race at both this and Winston Cup level. These races, often run the day before a Winston Cup race, have gained popularity and are now all televised live, nationally.
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