Ryan Ellis, part-time driver in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series, disagrees with that statement.
For those who have never experienced what it is like inside a race car, it is difficult to understand the demanding physical and mental strength, as well as the endurance, that is required: “You don’t perform at peak potential, mentally or physically, when you’re worn out. By being in better shape, you are able to perform at your best [for a longer period of time] than everyone else,” said Ellis.
This is why it is important for drivers, just like football players, baseball players, and the like, to train and eat properly to prepare for a race.
How exactly does one prepare to go 200 mph for 3 hours?
According to Ellis, one of the most important aspects of a driver’s training is cardio.
This can include boxing workouts and running every day of the week. It also helps to play another sport—Ryan Ellis, for instance, plays hockey—at least once a week to stay in shape.
Ellis added that he also lifts “weights with a few other drivers, namely Tanner Berryhill, Austin Reed, and another friend three or four times a week.”
Another crucial part of training for a NASCAR race is working out your core, especially because of the “wear and tear” a driver endures on the track, said Ellis.
A tool often used to intensify core workouts is the BOSUⓇ Balance Trainer, and it can also increase balance: “When doing boxing workouts on the speed bag, we use it for balance. I prefer to use it at the end of my workouts for general core workouts,” Ellis said.
While physical training is important, there’s another piece of the puzzle to keep in mind when preparing for a race: nutrition.
Protein and carbohydrates are a driver’s best friends.
Ryan Ellis noted that “during the week, I try and keep a high protein diet for my lifting and bringing carbohydrates in to fuel the workouts.”
Carbohydrates especially, said Ellis, help drivers get through some of the longer races on the NASCAR schedule.
Right before a race, however, it’s best not to get too creative with your meals or have too much to eat because the heat you experience in the car can make you sick. A typical pre-race meal for Ellis is pasta with chicken or a salad.
During the race, a driver has to stay hydrated. After all, water is essential for survival. The heat in a race car can make a driver dehydrate easily and quickly, which can cause headaches, lightheadedness, and confusion—none of which are ideal for racing as focus behind the wheel is vital.
While drivers need to drink plenty of water and watch what they eat, they don’t deprive themselves of the occasional cheat meal. Ellis, for example, loves Chipotle.
All in all, drivers need to train and eat just like, what some might consider, “normal” athletes because driving nearly 200 mph for 3 hours in a race car that reaches over 100-degrees in the cockpit is not an easy task.
Ryan Ellis, who has played hockey in college and baseball, said that NASCAR “is by far the most wearing on the brain and body.”
Some people believe racing is easy, but I’m in agreement with Ellis… Racing is both a mentally and physically taxing sport—yes, I said sport.
This blog entry was contributed by Adena Siefert, a PR and Marketing Intern at Hedstrom – Ball, Bounce and Sport. She recently graduated from Ashland University with degrees in Sport Communication and Public Relations. She gets very upset if she misses a NASCAR race on TV.
