How do you?

How do you get into NASCAR racing?
Not as a spectator but if someday you wanted to race in it?

First question; How old are you?

If you're still in your mid-teens, your best shot is to get into an open wheel series for midgets or sprint cars. Run like crazy and hope to get to USAC. That's where the majority of new NASCAR drivers are coming from, out of USAC Sprints, Midgets, and Silver Crown.

If you're into your twenties, you need to go ARCA/ASA/USAR late model stock car racing. Start at your local NASCAR Weekly Racing Series sanctioned track with your own car and then work your way into sponsorship and money enough to run a touring series like one of those three. It's the more difficult road.

Im 16 and I turn 17 in october

yep, scott wimmer, in NNC, did it the second way, he started racing pure stocks, up to late models(i was on his pit crew at this time), then he went up to Hooters pro cup, then ASA, then Busch, then Cup, all in under 10 years, he is a very accomplished driver, and has worked unbelievably hard. His younger brother Chris, is following right in his older brothers footsteps, hes in the truck series right now.

Yea I've been wondering how to get into Nascar for awhile myself. The biggest problem I have is MONEY!

Ok...I'm 18 now, working full-time, so I have some expendable money, I learned to drive stick...I'm ready to get serious which route do you think I should take?

In many of the larger towns, there are go-kart tracks. Some are indoor. The circle track racers I know (MANY of them are customers) all agree. Go-karts are the best training ground. The reason is simple. It breaks the habit of using one foot to throttle and brake. A good circle track driver needs to be able to use BOTH feet. It sounds like a little thing, but I assure you, it is not. I tried. Couldn't do it. Oh, I could drive the go-kart alright, but once back in the "real" car, old habits take charge.

Late Model is a pretty high level as a starter. I would suggest, after you've mastered the two-foot driving part, get a "U-car" (small, FWD, knock out the glass, stick in a small cage and race!). Move up to Charger from there. Charger cars are the "throw-back" to olden times when real cars were carved up to be race cars. They use street sheetmetal and frames. They also use STOCK Rochester 2-bbl. carbs, very tight rules on what can or cannot be modified within the engine, etc. All in all, a very good training ground for the Late Model. Relatively cheap, too. A typical "Charger" engine costs around $4K. Use a stock PowerGlide and the rear that came in the car... G-bodies are totally dominant at this level.

Late Model is the last step at the "local" level. A typical Late Model Stock costs around $150K to build. The engine alone is about $20K (that's a LOT for a 350 Chevy!) From there, one "graduates" to Busch or ARCA cars, or maybe the trucks. Cup drivers have been through the whole gammet.

The Grubbletts (Wayne and Kevin Grubb) were late Model co-rookies of the year at Southside Speedway (1/3 mile oval, here in Richmond). They were also track champs, one each in the next two years. They moved up to Busch and never did much. Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed at first. A big shot is just a little "pop" that keeps shooting!

Most importantly, ALWAYS remember, this is a HOBBY. You're not Dale Earnhardt (yet). Have fun and don't take the racing or yourself too seriously. Once you actually get an offer to be paid for driving a race car, THEN you can take it more seriously. That's the "line". Once paid, you're "professional". Until then, you're "ametuer".

Jim

Well..for examply..my cousin is 29 now..races a late model asphalt..he started at 16 on street stocks on dirt..he is currently trying to get into ASA right now...hes done good..and im 16 and im on his pit crew and im goin to start racing as soon as i can...money wise..

You could be like carl Edwards who handed out business cards of himself and luckily Roush ended up seeing one.