The Future of Racing with Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Neil deGrasse Tyson

What difference does the driver make? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly break down the science of NASCAR in Neil’s interview with NASCAR Hall of Famer & NBC Sports Analyst, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with the help of physicist, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky.

Is this the fastest cars can go? Learn about the rules of NASCAR racing and the Next Gen car. Is standardization actually beneficial to the sport? We discuss innovation in race cars and what can be done with nanoparticles to make racing faster.

Why don’t they fill tires with air? We explore the thermodynamics of tires and the gasses used inside of them. Is there a sweet spot for tire pressure? Find out about the aerodynamics of racing an oval track and how drafting can impact a race.

Is NASCAR going to go electric? Discover the reasons why or why not. What elements would still need to be improved upon? We also discuss safety, concussion in racing, and how the HANS device could make basal skull injuries a thing of the past.

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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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[kyleurbanik]

A lot of people write off NASCAR as hillbilly bs but I love the engineering and physics side of it. I-racing simulator which might not be dead on will give you a really good idea about how hard it is to “drive in circles” they literally drive the cars to the edge of control like walking a tightrope.

[SakaGames]

For the car having more yaw, I remember the COT era and Penske had his cars (Sam Hornish Jr) so crabbed out that you could see the passenger door number while the car was coming straight at you. And yes, the crabbing was banned pretty quick.

[wymans]

Neil asked "Does it take a tragedy to introduce a safety feature?" which started me thinking back to some training I received when in the military. And that was one of my trainers making the statement that every safety rule in the military was wrote in blood. Because someone had to die for a rule to be wrote.

[aaronhendrickson]

Dale Jr. Definitely knows how to work on the cars and what the parts do to each set up 🤣 he just didn't have to deal with it and he didn't go very far into detail. He knew what different shocks and springs meant back in the 80s

[tarmstrong]

I been away because of a family illness which sadly ended today. I still like to pop in and out and catch your alls show that teaches us the fascinating things about outer space. Always wonderful fun to sit in with you all.

[JDabc]

This episode is one of the best of star talk. Your guests were incredible in explaining how auto racing and physics are closely related.

[ctcboater]

When I was a kid (in the 1950s), I remember hearing the Circle Track cars racing - at a track 4 miles away. This was not an open desert. It was a suburban neighborhood.

[knightwolf]

Thank you so much Neil for covering this subject. I’m literally in tears because my love for physics has now become combined with fond memories of the times watching and attending Nascar with my late grandfather.

Diandra- I just ordered your book! Thank you!!!!

Thank you Chuck for providing the laments perspective!!!

Gary’s perspective as someone who is new to sport was interesting as well!

JR ❤ U are a legend! RIP Dale Sr.

[wev]

Neil having a current engineer and a driver for this kind of show is also great. You should get Larry Mac next time!

[juansequeirabaquero]

What an amazing episode. Chucks explanation on sensory driving his motorcycle was brilliant!

[Bikebrh]

It's not just fans that are attracted to the danger, it's a lot of the drivers. My uncle raced for over 40 years in all kinds of racing disciplines from NASCAR, drag racing, drag racing on sand, IMSA and other forms of sports car racing. He would be the first to say that he has always had a lot of daredevil in him. Starting racing in 1965 or so he told my mother that he did not expect to live to old age, so the fact that he is now 76, healthy, and never having a day job because he's been running a fabrication business out of his garage ever since he dropped out of college in 1966 because he was making too much money is all a bonus to him. He's living his best life now, taking his 85 Countache that he resurrected from being wrecked to show winning condition to car shows, and is currently installing a Corvette motor into some sort of Micco aircraft.

[flacko_jody]

Most fans know all the small details in nascar thats why they're fans. If you dont know whats going on you wont like it. Gary asked good questions

[aarontalksculture]

I love when random things I like that are unconnected come together. I've been following Neil for several years and I'm a lifelong NASCAR fan. Dale Jr was my favorite driver. LOL😆
Also I've been watching Neil on VladTV. This is wild. This weed is good.

[maxrupo]

Listening to you has been a serendipity of information and fun. Thanks a lot.

[michaelhall]

Regarding the talk about nitrogen being used in tires. As a rule of thumb when using ambient air (with some variation for humidity of said air when tires are filled) air pressure will increase by 1 psi for every 10°F of temperature. If all tires built the same amount of heat this wouldn't be as much of an issue. However, that is not the case. Nitrogen alleviates this greatly if properly applied. That is one small fragment of the puzzle. Don't even get me started on calculating fuel consumption and it's affect on weight distribution and handling during the closing laps of a race.

[sethreid]

I so appreciate this video. My dad was a lifelong Nascar fan and he brought me along. But Dr Diandra got me really interested when I found her vlog when she was embedded with Elliot Sadler's no. 19 team. JR is a gem for the sport and I’m glad you got to speak with him and gain some understanding of the world of racing

[Lcngopher]

If she is talking about junior johnson when she says there is another junior, he actually passed away back in 2019. There is actually another junior still racing in nascar. Thats martin truex jr.

[RustyChapman]

Here comes a Mopar fan rant that goes back 60 years to the debut of the 426 Hemi; dominant in '64, banned in '65. A few years later, the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird, once again dominant, restricted to running the Trans Am 5 liter small block engine. In the modern era, Dodge was banned from running the 3rd Gen Hemi, and the tail panel, above the rear bumper, was concave on the Dodge cars, 20 years ago. The air would 'barrel roll ' of the back of the race car; BANNED. I was a Nascar fan as a kid, and for those few years that Dodge competed, but when Dodge left, so did I.

[ChrisGuthrie]

Yall were mind blown with the cool engines making more horsepower, welcome to nitrous 101.... also, you don't use a torch to warm tires, you use tire warmers like MotoGP and F1.. and to add to this, check your tire pressures when the seasons change. Ambient temperature changes affect tire pressure, and thus tire longevity and performance.... last thing, chuck, for the bikes, always push the inside handlebar to lean into corners, never pull the outside

[JJs_playground]

17:48 when NdT asks can you put a cooling thing in there, that's what an intercooler in turbocharged car does. And you can add injectors that spray water onto the intercooler which reduces air temperature even further giving you more horsepower.