NASCAR Winston Cup Teleconference Moments

Jimmie Johnson...Burnouts

Driver No. 48 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Photo courtesy of NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

"The only practice you get is when you win."

After winning The Winston .you spun a smoky burnout that John Force would love. Can you tell fans how you do that? Do you practice burnouts?

"The only practice you get is when you win. Fortunately, I've won a few times to practice it. You've got to stop the car and drop the clutch and hold on the brake and the gas at the same time."

Drag Racing Burnouts

"Burnouts require three feet but we only have two."

©Drum

Former Corvette drag racer and present webmaster

"Burnouts require three feet but not having three feet means you need to cover three pedals with two feet. A burnout starts by launching hard and immediately putting your left foot on the brake to control forward movement as the gas pedal is pushed down hard to spin the tires. At the same time the driver needs to watch the tachometer so RPMs are not redlined, meaning a shift to the next gear may be needed. Fast clutch work is needed to get the left foot back on the brake. If the tires are worn and tires spinning freely, less brake pressure would be required to hold the car's position.

John Force, "The King of Burnouts"

John Force is known for long tall flumes of tire smoke when he readies his Castrol Ford Mustang Funny Car for a run. Force told Dwight during an interview when asked about NASCAR burnouts with a Force emphasis. Force said he has thought about doing a burnout at the end the track after a win like the NASCAR guys do, but after each NHRA POWERade run he doesn't have enough engine left to do a burnout.

Drag Racing Basics Glossary NHRA POWERade 2003 Media Guide

Burnout : Spinning of rear wheels at high RPM in water to heat and clean the tire rubber, resulting in increased traction.