Why do the numbers on the nascar cars face the infield?

Question

I was watching the race in bristol and couldn't help but wonder why does the numbers on the tops of the cars in nascar face the infield and not the crowd?

Answer 1

It is because of the banking and the angle the cars ride on it. I was actually thinking about that too tonight.

Answer 2

that was a email question on "this week in nascar" on monday. chad knaus said the numbers faced the infield because that's where the scorers sit. michael waltrip wasn't so sure because at some tracks, the scorers don't sit in the infield area, plus the spotters are usually on the outside as well. so they said they'd research it, and they did, and the answer is in the "extra coverage" from the show on nascar.com: http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2008/08/...

in that clip, michael waltrip said they called john darby and he said they were that way because of the banking in the turns, just as vp tom g stated above.

Answer 3

That goes back to the beginning of nascar. All the people who tried to keep track officially was at the start finish line in the inside bleachers. The original "box seats". Page after page, lap after lap the scorers kept track of their car and had to write the time down. Thus the cars were numbered so the trackers could keep track

Answer 4

This question was posted yesterday or earlier in the week and I think the concensus was so that the spotters can see them better....

Answer 5

In addition to the Tradition answer, It also used to help pit crews spot their cars before the use of the 2 way radio. They used to have to hold up chalk boards to communicate with their drivers. How they could read those hand written signs at 160+ MPH is way beyond me!

Answer 6

There is less drag in the wind tunnel