The NASCAR Insiders answer your most common questions

[While I'm out doing various bloggy things, I've asked some of my NASCAR blogmates to pitch in. Today, we welcome one-half of the NASCAR Insiders team, the mysterious "Journo," to discuss some of the most common NASCAR questions. Enjoy! -JB]

Every Wednesday at The NASCAR Insiders we ask our readers to send us their questions, which we, to the best of our ability, answer. Just last week we had our 30th "Ask The Insiders Wednesday," and because we have 10 to 15 questions every week, we often have repeats. I thought it might be interesting to revisit some of our most commonly asked questions, which may be questions you have yourself.

Probably our most commonly asked questions have to do with lug nuts. My partner in the blog is a tire changer in a major NASCAR series, so he is probably a little better equipped to answer this, but I've been around for a while so I will muddle through.

Lug nuts are made by several different suppliers (though NASCAR mandates the size of the lug nut) and they are glued up to the wheels prior to the race, most commonly with Norton glue. During the race, when a changer is hitting the lug nuts, they fall to ground and occasionally become projectiles (don't worry, they don't hurt too bad). I have also seen them spark the occasional fire from spilled fuel.

Another question we get pretty frequently is what the decorum is if you are lucky enough to get garage and pit road credentials. The first thing we tell people is to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. They won't let you beyond the gate if you aren't wearing the proper attire. Another big thing to remember is to always pay attention and to stay out of the way. Otherwise have fun and enjoy yourself.

Finally, the rule book is always a common question. Believe it or not, it does exist! I unfortunately don't have a good answer why NASCAR does not release it to the public. Every person with a NASCAR license gets a copy of the book for their respective series. Beyond rule 12-4-A (actions detrimental) there is nothing too exciting in the book. For the most part it's full of jargon and technical specifications that would only make sense if you were building a race car.

I hope that may have answered some questions you have.

Thanks, Journo! Be sure to visit The NASCAR Insiders for more inside info!