Ignition box: The electrical device that sends the electrical charge to the spark plugs to start the engine.
Infield: The enclosed portion of the racetrack and includes the team garages. During a race weekend, it is filled with transporters, motor homes, and sponsor tents (like the GP Hospitality Tent!)
Inside Line: The shortest and usually the fastest, way around the track. The lane closest to the infield.
Jackbolt: The tool used to adjust the tension of a car's springs.
Jackman: Responsible for carrying the 45-pound jack to elevate one or both sides of the car for tire changes. He needs make sure the lug nuts are all securely fastened before dropping the jack, otherwise the team can lose valuable time or even incur a penalty.
Jumped the Restart: When a driver takes off too early while anticipating the restart. The driver is black flagged and assessed a "Stop And Go" penalty.
Kick a Leg Out of Bed: A rod is thrown and pentrates the engine block. It is also described as "blowing the engine" and ends the driver's chance in the race.
Kill switch: A safety measure that immediately turns off all electrical power of a car in case the throttle gets stuck and a crash is imminent.
Kitty Litter: A gravel or sand pit at the side of a turn on a road course, to slow a car that misses the turn and keep it from crashing into a wall.
Kulwicki Victory Lap: First done by Alan Kulwicki - after winning a race the driver takes the victory lap but does so by running the opposite way around the track, with the driver's side of the car next to the fans.
Lapped Traffic: When the race leader catches the last car in the race from behind and then passes that car. (The passed car has been lapped.) Lapped traffic can come into play if it hinders the leaders' progress.
Lead Lap: The drivers who are have all completed the same number of laps that the race leader is on. If passed by the leader, you are no longer on the lead lap and it is said that you are a lap down or you have been lapped.
Let go: Term for the engine blowing up. For example, an engine can let go when the connecting rod, which connects the piston to the crankshaft, goes through the engine block.
Lift: Backing off the gas. Synonymous with being "chicken," or perhaps smart, if a wreck is imminent.
Loop: When a driver spins out, especially when done deliberately to avoid a wreck.
Loose Stuff: Debris such as chunks of rubber, sand, pebbles, or "marbles" that tend to collect near the outside wall and can harm tires or cause a driver to lose control.
Loose: Describes the condition when the driver turns the steering wheel and the car turns too much. It is a handling condition where the front tires have more traction than the rear tires. The tendency of a car's rear wheels is to break away from the pavement, swinging its rear end toward the outside wall. A loose car often results in the back end skidding away through the turns. The rear tires don't "stick" in the corner, causing the car to fishtail.
Lug nuts: The five threaded bolts put on by a pressure air wrench to secure the tires to the axle.
Marbles: Bits of auto debris, such as dried oil or torn off pieces of tires, that lie on the track and make it hard for the tires to maintain traction.
Matted: The accelerator is to the floor.
NASCAR: An acronym for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Founded in December 1947 by Bill France Sr. and others.
Net: Put up in the driver's side window to avoid any part of a driver's body from getting outside of the car and prevents debris from entering the car.
Nextel Cup: The premiere NASCAR series, sponsored by cellular company Nextel.
No Bull 5: The promotion sponsored by RJ Reynolds that gave five drivers the chance to win $1 million by winning a particular race. The drivers who qualified to earn the bonus do so by finishing in the top 5 of the last No Bull race. Although this program is no longer in existence, Bill Elliott is still remembered for being the first winner
Nose: The front end of the car molded to be as aerodynamic as possible.
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