Introduction

Do you like speed and want to make a career out of it? Why not consider being one of the NASCAR professionals? A NASCAR professional is not just about driving. There are also other job roles available.

However, in this article, we will be primarily discussing how to be a professional driver in NASCAR or any other professional motorsports. However, before we delve into the step-by-step approach, we must first understand the fundamentals.

Follow on to learn what it means to be a professional driver, the skills they need, the steps you need to follow, etc.

Types Of Professional Driving?

Being a professional racecar driver is not just about being able to drive fast; it’s about moving fast safely. Motorsport is not just about speeding. It is about control. It is about how quickly you can make a turn and so on. Therefore, just because you can drive fast, it does not mean that you are cut out for the track.

Racing and the ability to drive fast are huge responsibilities. If you can shoulder that, it is well and good. If not, consider connecting with a criminal defense attorney and a personal injury lawyer near you in Houston, as you may be involved in a car wreck or be a victim of one.

Each form of motorsport demands a different set of skills. Here are some of the various forms of professional driving that you might come across:

• Open Wheel: Open-wheel driving involves a car without a roof. Indycars, as well as Formula One, qualify as open-wheel racing.
• Sports: These cars are often known as Grand Tourers or sports prototype racing cars. These races are frequently held in closed-circuit arenas.
• Touring: These are factory cars that have been modified to take on breakneck speeds. These races last for 24 hours and are often equated to marathons.
• Rally: This is a two-man job. In rallies, the driver and his co-passenger go through several stages of a race. Rally cars do not battle head-on; instead, they compete by comparing their times.
• Drag: These races are all about being the fastest. These races take place on a half-mile straight track, where two modified cars compete to finish the stretch in the quickest time.

What Skills Should NASCAR Drivers Have?

NASCAR falls under the GT or Sports car racing format. In this format, the driver is expected to complete a circuit in laps while battling opponents head-on. Although the format is primarily about speed, it has evolved into much more than that. Here are the skill sets a NASCAR driver needs to perform.

Driving Ability

This is obvious, but over here we are talking about racecar driving. NASCAR driving is not your average commuting driving. It takes years of practice and g-force training to qualify to be behind the wheel.

A NASCAR driver’s job is very different from a dragster’s job. A dragster is not concerned with turning, but raw speed. A NASCAR driver must manage speed, turns, and opponents simultaneously.

Mechanics

As a professional NASCAR driver, you need to be familiar with the machine you are entrusted with. As a high-octane driver, you cannot always rely on a pit crew to understand what is going on.

Even though a pit crew is primarily responsible for keeping a car running optimally, as a driver, you must develop a sense of what works for your vehicle and what does not. This is basic knowledge that every driver must have.

Heightened Fitness & Reflexes

A NASCAR driver is not driving a normal car. He or she is wrestling with elements like G-force, other cars, and deadly turns. The overall physical toll of such an experience is humongous, and the body needs to be prepared.

Like the car, your body needs to be finely tuned to handle high speeds. It should be strong enough to go through the whole thing without passing out. Driving a GT is equivalent to being in a fighter jet. Hence, your body needs to be prepared.

Split-Second Decision Making

A racer should have a lower reaction time compared to a commuter driver. According to the data, some drivers exhibit a reaction time of 0.2 to 0.3 seconds, compared to the normal 0.5 seconds.

This is something that requires honing over the years. This is likely one of the most challenging skills to develop. Still, if you want to be a professional racer, you need to work on it to ensure high-end performance.

How To Be A Professional NASCAR Driver

With that, we have reached the final leg of our article. You have the knowledge and the skills, but no idea about the right direction to pick. Here is a small rundown of some of the steps that you need to take to ensure that you are a professional NASCAR driver:

• Develop Basic Skills: The first logical step towards your dream of becoming a racer is to hone your skills. This means training your body and mind to react optimally in a race.
• Join A Club: Once you have some track time under your belt, consider joining a racing club. A racing club will help you with guidance.
• Obtain Vehicle & Equipment: Having a race-capable vehicle along with the right equipment is mandatory to start your professional NASCAR career.
• Obtain a License: To drive legally and safely, you need to have a valid track license. A track license is more advanced than a driver’s license. Consult with your club, and they can assist you.
• Train, Train & Train: To be a professional means you are prepared to take on any challenges that the track might throw at you. For this, you need to train like there is no tomorrow.
• Find Sponsor: You need to find a sponsor who can assist you with the financial aspects.

The Final Thought

In the end, being a racecar driver or a NASCAR driver is about being mad and sane at the same time. It’s about going fast and being the last to take your foot off the pedal. This is a sport of calculated recklessness and guts.

Therefore, if you are still undecided about a career, consider joining the NASCAR legacy. This will eventually put you in the pages of history and let you take on the world on your own terms.

Read the full story on Modern Car Collector

The highly anticipated Peralta S supercar is set to make its exclusive U.S. debut during this year’s Monterey Motorsports Festival, a highlight of Monterey Car Week. Designed by famed Italian design house GFG Style, the one-off vehicle will appear publicly for just one day, marking its only scheduled American showing.

The Peralta S was conceived for Mexican businessman Carlos Peralta and represents the first bespoke commission from GFG Style. Founded by legendary automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio Giugiaro, the firm blends cutting-edge engineering with stylistic references to its influential design legacy.

Built atop the Maserati MC20 platform, the Peralta S retains the MC20’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6 engine, pushing 612 horsepower to the rear wheels in a mid-engine layout. However, its aesthetics depart sharply from its Maserati roots.

The exterior design pays homage to the iconic 1972 Maserati Boomerang concept, also penned by Giugiaro. The Peralta S features a dramatic wedge shape, sharp body lines, and a unique front-hinged canopy that replaces traditional doors. The single sweeping windshield lifts upward for entry, evoking retro-futuristic prototypes of decades past.

“This car is a dialogue between heritage and innovation,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro in a statement ahead of the festival. “It channels the spirit of my father’s pioneering designs while using modern materials and performance capabilities.”

Since its initial unveiling in Mexico earlier this year, the Peralta S has drawn international attention. Its showing at the Monterey Motorsports Festival, which attracts collectors, designers, and automakers from around the globe, will be the only U.S. viewing opportunity.

With Car Week poised to feature world-class debuts and rare collector models, the arrival of the Peralta S adds a bespoke exclamation point to one of the automotive world’s most prestigious celebrations.

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