11: Physical Prep
In a recent interview with Men’s Health Earnhardt Jr. talked about how he prepped for a race “I do lift some weights from time to time but that’s just for fun more than anything, just to feel good. A lot of guys, I think it would be important to run on the treadmill and have some endurance. Biking or anything like that would be a big help. Swimming, even. But hydrating is most important. The car gets hot, 120 to 130°, so you lose about eight pounds of water weight each race. I drink a lot of water, or mix it with orange Gatorade.”
Opinions are varied about whether NASCAR is a sport or not, but there is no doubt that drivers put themselves through a lot. NASCAR is probably the riskiest sport around because the drivers can and have died on the track before.