A physics teacher gives us some remedial physics lessons in "The Physics of NASCAR". She covers areas that you would expect, such as force and intertia, but goes on to cover the color spectrum and even some baxic metallurgy. The physics lessons are fairly simple. I did get some reminders of things I had forgotten and even some new information but I also learned a lot about how NASCAR works too. The book is very interesting on both fronts. Nothing too challenging. A very enjoyable read.

Very readable, but as a racing fan and a physics teacher of 30+ years, I thought it could have been done better. I'm going to give it to my son, and NASCAR buff / one year of physics, to see what he thinks of it.

The author take us on a field trip with a NASCAR race team; including her own "test drive" on a track at high speed. Into the labs, pits and minds of the crews who help bring the exciting sport of NASCAR Racing alive. Designing the intricate cage that the driver sits in. The physics of motion, heat, liquids, air, molecules. Interviews and on-site observations with the "engineers" working on different parts of the engine and chassis.

I loved the way in which the author explained in scientific, yet laymans terms, the workings of a car during a race. Valves, fuel, exhaust, shocks, ventilation, even the importance of the paint job and the "wrapping" of decals on the body and how they affect the aerodynamics of the car in motion. These "Good Old Boys" are as smart as they are witty.

You'll learn the effects of banking angles or degrees on different tracks. How the smallest adjustments to tires, shocks, control arms helps or hinders cornering performance at high speed.

The safety factors for the drivers that have progressed through the years; suits, helmets, Nomex gloves, body restraints, ventilation, etc. A myriad of subjects within subjects. Top notch information for any NASCAR or Physics fan. This is one class that won't bore you or put you to sleep.

Great for the fan of NASCAR looking to make more sense of all the mechanics involved. Figuring out how chassis looks, and how the car of today is different from the old car, what makes the engines on NASCAR cars different than a normal car.....

I picked up the book on a saturday night right after the nationwide series, and almost finished it before the sprint cup race on sunday. Perfect timing too, cause then i could understand how the center of gravity shifts the weight in the car of today putting more weight on the front right tires, making the Brickyard 400 more of a heat race than a 400 mile race.

The only thing this book could use more of are pictures and diagrams to support the discussions on engine parts, shocks, spring positions, wedge, swaybar, and a few other spots. That would only make this book more helpful than it already is(in case she plans on updating a physics of nascar vol.2 edition)

Great book! Thanks Dr. Leslie-Pelecky for putting together a "NASCAR engineering for dummies" book!

The five star reviews stunned me... I did expect a lot of science (specially in Physics) but no way,
a lot of inside NASCAR reporting yes and that is 5 star... but science!!! don't make me laugh.

My expectations wasn't of that level as "race car vehicle dynamics" from Milliken but this bad.. I am sorry.
In one sentence she start about wheel alignment Toe in, Camber , Caster.... but then she don't tell you why
and jump on the next subject.... how the faces look of the crew members in a bad situation.

Fun to read as you looking for a inside look, but there is no news on Physics, Technique, or Science in this book.

Not worth the money or the read as you already in racing.

br, Arnoud.

In her book, "The Physics of NASCAR", author Diandra Leslie-Pelecky takes the reader inside the sometimes ignored world of engineers and gearheads to get a glimpse of the science that is used to make a car travel at speed of nearly 200 mph while still being consistently drivable. Pelecky follows the story into the garages and mobile offices (haulers) of several NASCAR teams to get an up-close understanding of the issues that car fabricators, engine builders, crews and drivers face in their quest to capture the checkered flag at the end of a long week of work.

The book is very much written at an introductory level with no prior knowledge of physics, chemistry or auto-racing assumed. With chapters on nearly everything of any importance related to going fast and doing it safely, Pelecky does an excellent job of balancing the technical side of the topic with stories and descriptions of the real human beings that make it all happen. Nowhere will the reader feel like they have gotten lost in an avalanche of technical jargon and yet most readers will feel as if they have a much deeper understanding of what it takes to run fast.

The only contention I might have is that I would have liked to have seen a bit more information on the specific effects of aerodynamic changes and a discussion of the engineering of tires to provide more grip. These however are minor points that are likely more based on personal preference than any real defect int he book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in NASCAR or auto racing in general and who finds the network spots on the car leaving them wishing for more. You'll find most of that more here in a way that is easily accessible to nearly anyone.

For less than a price of a hat feature the sponsor's logo of your favorite driver or most new die-casts, you can get an easy-to-understand explanation of what makes the NASCAR hot-rod get around the track every Sunday afternoon.

Through the use of diagrams and text, author Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, a physicist at the University of Texas - Dallas, delves into the chemistry, physics and - yes - the human element in the quest to develop the perfect ride.

Doing everything but throwing a helmet down on the ground in the initial chapters, Leslie-Pelecky discusses the chassis, diagrams how welding works, and some nuances in the game, like how the white paint on a car appears white to our eyes. But getting the car onto the track is where the book picks up speed. She reports on the kinetics of racing through engines, brakes, tires, drag and lift.

Leslie-Pelecky gets a reader as close to the real action of the sport and the NASCAR fan will not view that favorite die-cast in the same way ever again.

NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing,
even if "stock" is totally wrong, and "car" is just barely right.
NASCAR racing is a popular sport, mostly in the southern US, and
is frequently derided and sneered at by some others, as ignorant
hicks driving in circles.

You do not have to be a NASCAR fan, or even an auto racing fan of
any type, or even a scientist or engineer to enjoy this entertaining
and informative book. Most readers that are interested in how things
work or why it is done that way -- machines, businesses, recipes,
societies, whatever -- will enjoy this book. Those without much
background in any quantitative science can still enjoy the book.
The science is McGiver or Discovery Channel level. Those of us with
a strong background will not be disappointed; the science is almost
always right, and the exceptions are useful for the story, such as
"the oxygen atom wants to ..."

The most interesting parts, for me, were the technical details,
including the economics. There is nothing stock about a NASCAR
stock car. The frame is a custom design that is hand made. No part
of the sheet metal has ever appeared on any production car.
Your car might have four valves per cylinder, but NASCAR limits
the cars to two. New valves are needed for each race, and those that
will last an entire race cost about $60 each. Your car might have dual
overhead cams, but NASCAR demands pushrods. Your car probably has
fuel injection, but NASCAR demands a particular carburetor. All of
these make your car more powerful, faster, and last longer than if
it used the technology NASCAR demands. But the NASCAR engine runs
half again as fast as yours and produces three times the power.

Those hicks create their own computational fluid dynamics programs,
run multiple regression analyses, use the techniques of design of
experiments, and fill the gas tank, clean the windshield, adjust
the suspension, and change four tires in 14.5 seconds. They debate
which gas to inflate tires with, compute the ideal tire pressure
for each of the four tires, and make adjustments of 1/2 psi in
one tire in case they did not get it perfect on the first try.
NASCAR uses RFID to score the race and enforce the speed limit
in the pits.

The competition is tough, and tight. One team thought they lost
one second on one turn during one qualifying lap; it cost them
sixteen places in the starting lineup. "Each race is different"
is not just a cliche. A small temperature or humidity difference
can have a substantial effect on lap times, and not all in the
same direction for all cars. The "best" aerodynamics depends on
the track. Even fuel economy is important. One extra pit stop
can cost many places in the final results.

This is a fun and informative read. I might even watch a
NASCAR race someday soon.

As a Yurpeen, my knowledge of NASCAR racing, prior to reading this book, consisted of the knowledge that it exists. However, as someone who has worked all his life in professional science, I've always been interested in the interaction of science with everyday life. I found this book fascinating. Professor Leslie-Pelecky covers a vast amount of ground, ranging from the nature and structure of materials to the physical forces operating on a racecar. At times the explanations are too simplistic, and she occasionally gets things wrong, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise very entertaining and informative book, which hopefully will encourage people to consider science not as something remote, done only in laboratories, but as having relevance to the world around us.

I loved that book, and read it in two sittings and have lost track of my copy, since it is being passed around by a bunch of my colleagues who are some of the best aerospace engineers in the world. Thus it gets my 5 star seal of approval.

I have to admit that I never was really interested in any NASCAR activity. For me NASCAR was synonymous with huge, loud, beer swilling, funny hated and sun burned crowds. The millions of people that spent their time and a small fortune to watch a few dozen cars roll around a track driven by good old boys trained in the hinterlands of home made moonshine country, with the accompanying noise dust and yelling from the hyper heated crowd, was absolutely not my cup of tea. Something I am sure, is difficult to find around the tracks, at Talladega or other Texas Motor Speedways.
So smug in my opinion, I do not remember what attracted me when I saw the gaudy colored cover of this book, beside the title. Being an aerospace engineer with about as many degrees as stickers on a "Car of Tomorrow" body, I was intrigued by the title. Was there really physics in NASCAR?
The instant I opened the book, I was hooked. The science is not exactly graduate school stuff, which is perfect for this type of popular books, but it refreshed some of my undergraduate memories and it is with delight that I jumped in with both feet and read the book in two sittings. That I was amazed is an understatement, I was even more delighted. A complete new world opened to me. The clear, concise and easily to follow physics lesson by Dr. Diandre Leslie-Pelecky are a delight to read, at least for an avid science reader as myself. It is maybe asking too much of each of these above described NASCAR fans to be excited by basic metallurgy, or the atomic structure of hydro carbons, or an explanation of turbulence and other air flows, but they should maybe be interested in problems like "roof lift", which maybe could cause some mayhem. By the way, I learned how extremely important the safety aspect of the race, for drivers and cars is for the NASCAR management.
From the descriptions of how to built the car, to the physics of aero dynamism, and going through a complete explanation of what happens physically when the rubber really meets the road, I was enthralled, excited and hooked. The biggest surprise was the rigorous rules and severe inspections of NASCAR racing. Even the spoilers are standard and cannot be customized.
Let me inform future readers of that book that the RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology has been proposed and recommended by the FAA, yet still not installed by Boeing nor AIRBUS in their advanced airplanes, but NASCAR has it in their cars!
Now, I know who Elliott Sadler is, and next time I watch a NASCAR race on my TV, I will root for car No 19!

The author gets into details regarding how to build
a supercar. In doing so, many scientific explanations
are set forth in easy-to-understand language.

For instance, engineering slip involves defects or
missing atoms which can be corrected by placing more
counterbalancing defects. Mild steels promote
magnetism. The use of iron increases the melting point.
Cross-linking of materials; such as, polymers can increase
strength overall. Tighter tolerances provide for more
precise measures. Adding small metallic flakes to paint
allows for added coloration.

The idea of engineering torque and power are dependent
upon the structure of the engine. The Nascar engine
gets 850 horsepower. Both beryllium and copper valves
dissipate heat better than steel by the author.

The author presents a study of wind tunnel airflow.
Slower moving area exerts greater pressure on machinery
wings aerodynamically. Airlift can be best achieved
when the top of the wing is more curved than the bottom.
Lastly, the author extols the advantage of good welding
in the manufacture process.

The book provides an excellent perspective on how to
build a virtually indestructible Nascar !
It should be read widely by race car enthusiasts and
auto buffs in general.

I found the book very informative. I know the sport well but found the book going into details that I never
considered. It is easy reading and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in NASCAR!!

I'm a forty-something, female, liberal arts graduate who works in healthcare marketing, but I felt like the book was written just for me. It was entertaining and educational; and now I have a new appreciation for a sport I've barely noticed. But my new heros aren't Jeff Gordon or Dale Jr....it's the hundreds of men (and the occasional woman) to design, build, and manage the cars.

I'm not a NASCAR fan by any stretch of the imagination. But this book's title intrigued me. Browsing through it and seeing all the interesting diagrams convinced me that I should buy it and read it. I did and I was not disappointed. The author, a physicist, is a gifted expositor of scientific principles at a level ideal for the general reader. She explains, using many useful analogies (and no mathematics), the finer points involved in building an automobile suitable for racing the NASCAR circuits. The book could just as easily have been entitled "The Science of NASCAR" since sciences other than physics are also involved and explained, e.g., chemistry, metallurgy, aerodynamics, engineering, biology, etc. In addition to the science, the author gives a fascinating overview of some of the dedicated people who are involved in building and racing a potentially winning car as they do their work before, during and after a race. The writing style is clear, authoritative, very accessible and quite engaging. Based on the way this book is written, it can be enjoyed by absolutely anyone, not only science buffs or NASCAR fans.

This is an entertaining, informative, and very unusual book. The author has actually written two books, one about NASCAR technology and one about elementary physics; however, she has melded them seamlessly into something rare: a serious academic book that is so entertaining that you forget it's serious.

On one level, the book is about how NASCAR race cars are engineered, constructed, and adjusted to enable them to achieve two often contradictory goals: safety and high performance. On another level, the book is about the basic principles of physics and chemistry, including motion, fluid dynamics, combustion, materials science, etc. The uniqueness of the book derives from the way she combines the two, using car racing to illustrate the scientific principles.

I'm a NASCAR fan, and I have a pretty good background in science. I found this book engaging on both of those levels. At the same time, I think it would be a very valuable book for a casual fan-- or even a non-fan-- to read. It makes the sport come alive as something much, much more than just a bunch of guys who stomp on the gas and turn left.

I thought this was a valuable, enjoyable book, and I recommend it most highly.

I would consider myself a die-hard NASCAR fan. I have followed this sport for more years than I care to admit. But there were always those unanswered questions about why cars behave the way they do. After reading this very engaging book (one I couldn't put down till I read it cover to cover), I have those answers - answers that I can explain to others in ways that make perfect sense.

If you love NASCAR like I do, buy this book. The author makes complicated principles come to life in down-to-earth ways.

The author, obviously knowledgeable and a good teacher, shares her experiences hanging with a NASCAR team. Lots of technical details and explanations of the physics involved. And it is an easy read; while engineers will love it, you don't need to be one to understand it and enjoy it. Highly recommended to all racing enthusiasts.

This is a good book for those who like BOTH science and cars or NASCAR. It is written on a High School Physics level. If someone has had college physics it is very good at filling in gaps. For everyone else it is on target. It is a science book so if you like science it is good enjoyable reading otherwise a little dry.

I bought this book for my husband, and knowing how much I thought he'd like it, I didn't even wait until his birthday to give. He's a go-go-go type who rarely has time for a book, tho he fills up bigtime on magazine articles. But this one he never put down once he opened it up. I don't think I've seen him sit so still for so long. He said that it was JUST what he wanted to know! GREAT book!

Don't let the word Physics scare you. If you really want to understand NASCAR this is a must read. It is well written and easy to understand without the math people usually equate with physics. The reader will come away with a better understanding of how the team, driver, and car work together following basic laws of Physics. For me it made the race more exciting.
As a former Physics teacher, I recommend this book to any Physics teacher looking to make Physics relevant to the everyday world. The Physics discussed in the book can be applied to you family automobile.

This books gives some good inside the garage stuff that answers some of the questions I had about why some things are done. I found that the author spends a good bit of time with somewhat extraneous discussions on why you see colors or biology lessons on why you hear and what a sound wave is. Otherwise the book would be 30% thinner.

I think the title would be more appropriate if "physics" was replaced by "general science". In the end I came away with more knowledge about car construction than I started with, so it is a good buy.

If you love NASCAR, this book will increase your love.

If you don't think NASCAR is interesting, this book will change your mind. There's lot more going on than just turning left and keeping the pedal to the metal.

Each NASCAR track presents different challenges to drivers, team leaders, car designers, mechanics, and pit crews. At the same time, NASCAR is trying to keep the cost of racing down, to reduce accidents and deaths, and to make the sport fairer for all. Professor Leslie-Pelecky goes behind the scenes to explain the technical challenges, and shares anecdotes and vignettes of what racing is like for the technical teams and drivers.

Fans are naturally frustrated if a favorite driver seems to have a slug rather than a race car some weeks. If the weather is changeable, it's hard to avoid a slug. Why? The cars are optimized to so many factors that a switch in the weather makes the car work much less well. Although the mechanics can make lots of last minute changes, there's still a lot guess work involved.

While many books about the physics of something can be pretty dry, The Physics of NASCAR doesn't have that problem. The scientific explanations are short and simple. The human stories about what the science means are rich and long.

I came away very impressed with the brain power that goes into NASCAR winning. My interest was greatly increased by learning more about the non-driving side.

This is an interesting book on the science involved in NASCAR racing. I'm fascinated by both physics and racing and so I couldn't pass up this book. Although some of the discussion seemed basic, I realize that not everyone has been reading about what makes cars go fast for as long as I have. Despite this, I still learned quite a bit from this book. The one thing that struck me as a little odd is that the author is a woman and uses examples drawn from her experience as a woman. This isn't bad. Her examples make good points, but it's certainly different being exposed to a female perspective the sciences -- much less in the racing.

This book would translate nicely into a Discovery Channel series. You know, high-interest, science-to-the-masses kind of stuff. Give it a year; it's going to happen! I am a fan of "The Physics Of.." books, and some disappoint: they can be so thorough [read hyper-mathematic] as to resemble homework; or they can be so simplified they read like a children's book. Most land somewhere in between. Take, for instance,Adair's book on the Physics of Baseball: it's fantastic, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. It contains more mathematics than the average Joe (or Jane) is equipped to handle. But this book, The Physics of NASCAR, follows the Goldilocks Principle: it's just right. Not too pithy, not too watered down. High interest, easy access, entertaining insights. If you like popular science, you'll enjoy this book. Personally, I love the way the author pulls in characters from the NASCAR family. It gives the book personality! She does a great job with the science as well. There were a couple of bobbles here and there, but she covered a LOT of ground. This book is really a text in applied physics (and biology and chemistry), sans the quantitative rigor. I would love to adapt it to my high school curriculum--it would certainly grab my students' attention. If you teach physics at the high school or college level, this book is the perfect supplement to a course on physics for non-majors, or simply a means to raise the interest/relevance level for the concepts you teach. Buy it. If it doesn't work out, then re-sell it on Amazon's Marketplace. Now there's a win-win situation! Hope that helps...

You heard it here first: this book will make one heck of a Discovery Channel series. One type of show that thrives on Discovery is the high interest, science-to-the-masses kind of program that provides insight and access to the natural world. This book does that, albeit in print form. I am a fan of "The Physics Of.." books, and some disappoint: they can be so thorough [read hyper-mathematic] that they more closely resemble homework; or they can be so over-simplified that they come across as children's books. Most land somewhere in between these extremes. Adair's book on the Physics of Baseball is great, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. It has a bit of mathematical overhead. The Physics of NASCAR follows the Goldilocks Principle: it's just right. Not too pithy, not too watered down. High interest, access, insight. Most readers who enjoy popular science will enjoy it. I love the way the author pulls in characters from the NASCAR family. It gives the book personality. She does a great job with the science as well. There were a couple of bobbles here and there, but she covered a LOT of ground. I could make this book a course in applied physics (and probably will--as soon as the paperback comes out!). If you teach physics at the high school or college level, this book would be a perfect supplement for a course on physics for non-majors, or simply to raise the interest/applicability level on the concepts you teach. Buy it. If it doesn't work out, re-sell it on Amazon's Marketplace. Win-Win! Hope that helps...

If your other half is a NASCAR lover then this is a great book for them. I got this book for my hubby as a gift....he loved it so much that he read the entire book in one day.

This is an excellent book about how NASCAR race cars are engineered to perform like they do. The author is a college Physics professor and the book is written to explain with basic scientific terms and knowledge that the average reader can understand written in a very interesting manner.

The areas discussed include aerodynamics, engines, fuels, tires, shocks,drivetrain and others, and the author spent time with Elliott Sadler and the 19 team both at the shop and the track to help the NASCAR fan understand how things work like they do. I am a long time fan and also an engineer and there was a lot of info that I can use when I give fans pit road and garage tours at Michigan Intl Speedway. This book will help me explain things to the fans in a easy way.

I own many many NASCAR and racing books and this is one of the best. Highly recommended!