1. about $500 million
   about $3 billion
2. about $6 billion

Amazingly, American corporations spent about $2.9 billion on sponsorship in 2006, with the lion's share of this cash going to NASCAR. More Fortune 500 companies are affiliated with NASCAR than with any other sport.

1. Atlanta, Ga.
   Talladega, Ala.
2. Daytona Beach, Fla.

NASCAR has offices in eight locations, including Los Angeles, New York and Mexico City, where it sanctions 1500 races at more than 100 tracks in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, but it is based in Daytona Beach, Fla., the site of its most famous race, the Daytona 500.

1. 100 pounds
   400 pounds
2. 1,000 pounds

Craftsman Truck Series trucks weigh about 400 pounds less than their factory model counterparts. They also have four times the horsepower and sit closer to the ground than a standard pickup.

1. about 800 horsepower
   about 2,000 horsepower
2. about 5,000 horsepower

The engines in cars that race in the Nextel Cup Series generate about 800 horsepower, more than engines in Busch Series cars, which generate about 660 horsepower.

1. are coated with a special kind of plastic that makes them more durable at high speeds
   are wider and don't have any treads
2. are about twice as thick

NASCAR tires are wider than normal tires and don't have any treads. NASCAR's exclusive tire supplier, Goodyear, prepares tires for racing teams prior to a race. Teams often use nine to 14 sets of tires during a race.

1. is like the president of a corporation, makes the hiring decisions and has total control of the operation
   oversees the activities related to building and tweaking the car the week before the race
2. oversees day-to-day administrative duties

The owner of a racing team is similar to a corporation president. He or she has the final say and is in charge of securing a sponsor to provide funding for building and racing a championship-caliber car.

1. They often drink up to 6 gallons of water during a race.
   Their helmets are outfitted with special cooling devices that allow them to ignore the heat.
2. They can sweat out 3 to 4 pounds of water during a race.

Because it gets so hot in a car during a race, NASCAR drivers must have excellent endurance. They are known to sweat out 3 to 4 pounds of water during a race.

1. Everyone on the racing team has the day off to prepare for the upcoming weekend.
   Teams are testing their cars at tracks where upcoming races will be held.
2. Most members of a racing team are flying to the location of the next weekend's race.

Racing teams devote Tuesdays and Wednesdays to testing their cars at the track where a race will be held the following Sunday. Racing teams experiment with their cars during these two days to try and find the right formula for success.

1. that the race has begun
   that the race is over
2. that there has been a wreck on the track and there will be at least one caution lap

When the green flag waves during a race, it means the race has started. The pace car that the 43 cars have followed for a lap or two pulls over to the side, and the race begins. NASCAR races have a "flying start," meaning the cars begin the race in motion.

1. is the crew chief's assistant who oversees any pit stop during the race
   is the first medical staff on the scene if a driver has a wreck
2. sits in the press box and communicates with the driver about everything he can't see on the track

A spotter is a member of a racing team who watches the race from the press box, constantly communicating with the driver to let him know about opportunities and discuss strategy. The spotter serves as the eyes for the large portion of the track that the driver cannot see.