Want to know more about NASCAR?

There's more to NASCAR racing than speed, horsepower, rubber, and steel. There's a science to handling all that speed around tight curves, inches from the next car, and on Wednesday, Nov. 12, acclaimed author Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Ph.D., will lecture at the David Reid Theatre on the physics of stock car performance.

The author of The Physics of NASCAR, Dr. Leslie- Pelecky is being brought to the Chapman Cultural Center by the Spartanburg Science Center. "We are always looking for ways to make science more accessible to the public," Nigel Cox, Ph.D., the Center's Director of Management and Operations said. "When we heard about this book being published, we knew it was a good match for this community. NASCAR is very popular here in Spartanburg and we believe the community will be interested in knowing more about the science behind NASCAR."

The lecture will be free to the public, however, seating is limited and advance tickets are required. In addition to the lecture, Chuck Bishop's NASCAR car will be on display in the courtyard plaza of the Chapman Cultural Center.

"Even in figuring the logistics of distributing an actual NASCAR car's weight on the concrete plaza, we are using science. Science truly is in everything we do," expressed Dr. Cox.

Professor Leslie-Pelecky teaches physics at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she also studies nanomedicine. Her research focuses on using magnetic nanoparticles (particles that are a thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair) to improve the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging and make chemotherapy treatment effective while minimizing side effects. She enjoys teaching courses for non-science majors, where she emphasizes how much fascinating science there is in our everyday lives. Her popular website, www.stockcarscience. com includes a blog with weekly entries about topical science-related happenings in NASCAR.

Professor Leslie-Pelecky first became interested in NASCAR racing while watching a group of racecars piloted by the best drivers in NASCAR. Without warning, one of the cars suddenly hit the outside wall. There were no engine failures, no flat tires, and none of the cars touched…so what happened? What she thought would be ten-minute search of the web turned into a book, The Physics of NASCAR, that takes NASCAR fans behind the scenes at top race shops, onto the asphalt at Texas Motor Speedway, and into the garage with the Gillett Evernham Motorsports' No. 19 car and its crew.

Her informative and entertaining talk guides the audience through understanding what it takes to make racecars faster and safer, and why driving a stock car is much harder than you might think. Her presentation is filled with examples of current NASCAR science, including why drivers seem to be asking their crew chiefs to help them get their cars to turn better, how SAFER barriers revolutionized track safety, why designing tires for the new car is such a challenge, and how something as simple as leaving an oil tank lid slightly askew could lead to a competitive advantage. The talk—which requires no prior knowledge of NASCAR or science—is accessible to upper-middle-school children and adults.

"We're expecting a great turnout to this event," Dr. Cox said. "NASCAR is a big spectator sport in this area and this is the perfect opportunity to see a real race car up close and to learn about the technical ways and means of going from zero to 150 miles per hour in minutes."

The lecture starts at 7 p.m. at the Chapman Cultural Center. Immediately following there will be a book signing.

For free tickets, please call 542-ARTS or visit the Chapman Cultural Center ticket office.