# Hey, all you NASCAR fans. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 9, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937 "2008-11-09T20:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/1 "2008-11-09T20:20:34Z")
Today, at the race in Phoenix on TV, I noticed that all the cars were lined up single file and that there appeared to be a roll-around tool box between the rear of one car and the front of the next, all the way down the line. The cars and the boxes were nearly touching, and there was nobody around. So, what’s that all about? Superstition? A guess; One driver doesn’t want his car to kiss the other car’s butt. 😃 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/2 "2008-11-09T20:32:37Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Today, at the race in Phoenix on TV, I noticed that all the cars were lined up single file and that there appeared to be a roll-around tool box between the rear of one car and the front of the next, all the way down the line. The cars and the boxes were nearly touching, and there was nobody around. > So, what’s that all about? Aren’t those the batteries for starting the cold car? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/3 "2008-11-09T20:49:17Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Aren’t those the batteries for starting the cold car? Hey! They could be. They’re awfully big if they are. I’ll have another look. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/4 "2008-11-10T16:10:14Z")
As long as you’re up: Do the drivers get a bonus each time they mention the sponsor’s name? Tony Stewart must have said “Office Depot” twenty times in one interview. 😃 Closet NASCAR fans, you can always say that your cousin told you so. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/5 "2008-11-11T02:12:07Z")
I wonder of Obama being elected signified the end of the NASCAR era? I just read that ABC cut away from the race in the Eastern and Central time zones (which includes the entire South) to show\* America’s funniest home videos\*? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/6 "2008-11-11T03:16:56Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I wonder of Obama being elected signified the end of the NASCAR era? > > I just read that ABC cut away from the race in the Eastern and Central time zones (which includes the entire South) to show\* America’s funniest home videos\*? > > Wow. An interesing observation, **dalej42**. Damn, now I’m going to have to quietly ponder. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/7 "2008-11-11T04:03:52Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I wonder of Obama being elected signified the end of the NASCAR era? > > I just read that ABC cut away from the race in the Eastern and Central time zones (which includes the entire South) to show\* America’s funniest home videos\*? > > Wow. ABC cut away and shifted coverage of the race to ESPN2 which was showing a repeat of the World Series of Poker tournament. The WSOP coverage was resumed upon the conclusion of the NASCAR event. America’s Funniest Home Videos is a syndicated program, meaning ABC would have still had to pay for airing the episode, even if it was not shown due to the race coverage. So all ended well, except for the dozen or so NASCAR fans who still get over the air broadcasts. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/8 "2008-11-11T18:07:46Z")
The box between each car prior to the race is a motor/generator to preheat the engine oil. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-all-you-nascar-fans/471937/9 "2008-11-11T18:10:27Z")
> [@J-P\_L](#): > > The box between each car prior to the race is a motor/generator to preheat the engine oil. Now that makes sense! Thanks