esorlxaw said:
I don't think drivers drink before a race. You mentioned what are called performance enhancing drugs. These are drugs that have a positive effect on your abilities to perform. Alcohol doesn't really have a positive effect on endurance, alertness, or hand eye coordination. So, I don't really think they are having drinks before a race. At the same time, long races in hot car are very dehydrating. Enough so that some drivers take IV fluids before a race. Alcohol would only heighten the dehydration and make a driver wear out a lot more. Now, I don't know about steriods, but there don't seem to be any 'roid freaks at the NASCAR level, creatine and andro, maybe, but certainly no steroid abuse.
Hmmm...this explains why everyone is wrecking all the time then. They are too drunk and dehydrated. Therefore, they lose coordination and concentration and crash. Just kidding! A lot of drivers are making some pretty stupid mistakes on the track and causing silly accidents though.
Anyway, I'm sure they aren't drinking right before races. However, I do know that some drivers drink the night before. I saw Ricky Rudd in Adrian, Michigan several years ago. The restaurant was called "El Chapulin's" or "The Grasshopper". It goes by both names. He was in there eating with his wife and some other friends and family members. Some of them were drinking alcohol, including Ricky. I was sitting about 10 feet away from him watching him. I know it was him because there was a race that weekend. I also know what he looks like. I have seen him on television many times. Not only that, but the hostess said, "Rudd family, party of [number of people], your table is now ready" and then Ricky and his family walked up to her.
I was also lucky enough to spend time in a motel bar with Richard Petty's pit crew many years ago. I believe it was the night before the race if I'm not mistaken. They were all drinking and having a good ole time. It was pretty cool. I hung out with Dale Inman and many others. I was about 7 or 8 years old. My aunt worked at the motel for several years. Richard stayed there every time there was a race at Michigan International Speedway. My aunt became really good friends with Richard. This is how I was able to meet his crew. I was supposed to meet Richard, but he stayed in his room. I don't think he was feeling well. He was probably preparing for the race the next day too, which was totally understandable. Anyway, I had made this "notebook" in one of my elementary classes. It was called, "All About Me" or something like that. I still have it. I was a huge NASCAR fan (and still am) and my favorite driver was Richard. I had magazine photos of his car all over inside the notebook. I wanted to be a race car driver someday. Well...I got to meet his crew and they all signed the front of my notebook. My aunt ended up keeping the notebook so Richard could sign it. Like I said, I still have it. It's pretty cool. I met a lot of famous people involved in racing and was able to get all of their autographs. By the way, the name of the motel was once the Holiday Inn. Then it became the Adrian Inn. Now I think it is the Days Inn. It is located on Maumee Street in Adrian, Michigan.
This has nothing to do with NASCAR, but I did meet Al Unser Jr in 1986 at a dairy bar on US-12 in Brooklyn, Michigan. He pulled up with his wife and another couple. He was in Brooklyn for a race at MIS. Anyway, I went over to him and introduced myself. I was about 16 years old. He was racing for Shierson Racing at the time. Shierson Racing was based in Adrian, Michigan at that time. I was a big fan of his. All I can say is that he is an extremely nice person. He shook my hand and talked to me for about 5-10 minutes. He probably would have kept talking to me, but I didn't want to interfere with his ice cream venture any longer...hehehe. Al Jr. is a very tall man with huge hands. He is sort of quiet in a way.
Here is some information about Al Unser Jr. Shierson Racing is mentioned on this page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Unser,_Jr.
NASCAR ties to Shierson Racing...
http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/tech_bio.asp?dept=engine&pers=239&bhcp=1
