Pilot Study of the Physical Demands and Conditioning Practices of Short Track Stock Car Drivers

Abstract

Pilot study of the physical demands and conditioning Practices of short track stock car drivers. PURPOSE: This study examines the physical demands and conditioning practices of short track stock car drivers. METHODS: Subjects included 12 drivers (age = 34.00 ± 10.00 years) with 11.78 ± 6.02 years of racing experience from a variety of racing classes. Subjects included those who raced on dirt and asphalt tracks ranging from ¼ to 1 mile in classes of racing such as super late models, late models, modifieds, and super stock. These classes were sanctioned by a variety of organizations ranging from local associations to NASCAR. Subjects reported that the average cost of a car in their classes of racing was approximately $39,777 ± 33,297. This study was approved by the institutions office of research compliance and the subjects provided informed consent. Subjects participated in an interview averaging 48.0 ± 9.0 minutes. The interview included questions from the Stock Car Driver Survey. This survey was created by and pilot tested with input from a group of approximately 20 allied health and racing professionals. Survey questions were revised based on pilot testing and then administered to the drivers who were randomly selected from throughout the United States. The survey included questions assessing the racers background, the physical demands of the sport, injuries sustained during racing, conditioning practices, and psychological demands of racing. The focus of the present study is on the physical demands and conditioning practices of the subjects. The survey included open ended questions which were analyzed using inductive content analysis, fixed choice, and 10 point Likert scale items. RESULTS: Subjects indentified a variety of physical demands of stock car racing organized according to higher order themes with the most common including the requirement of “upper body strength for steering,” “aerobic conditioning” for endurance, “heat tolerance and acclimation” in order to cope with in car temperatures as high as 150 degrees, “strengthening of neck muscles” to handle helmet load, gravitational (G) forces, collision, and ballistic weight transfer, “torso strengthening” to handle G forces, and “leg strengthening” for breaking and throttle work and to handle G forces, and “reaction time.” Subjects described how they felt after a race with responses organized according to higher order themes with the most common including “absolutely exhausted” and “saturated with sweat.” The subjects performed resistance training 1.80 ± 1.63 times a week and aerobic conditioning 2.94 ± 1.69 times per week. Subjects reported that they felt their fitness level ranked an average of 7.83 ± 0.70 on a scale of 1 to 10. Subjects identified the role of fitness in racing success as a 7.12 ± 2.09 on a scale of 1 to 10. A variety of other data were collected. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Most stock car races appreciate the importance of fitness for success in their sport. Short track stock car racing includes requirements for strength, endurance, stabilization, heat acclimation, and reaction time. Understanding these demands and the conditioning practices of racers can help practitioners design sport specific programs for this underserved population of athletes.