Although drivers can communicate with their crew chief and spotter via radio, the monotonous rounds of the track — sometimes as many as 500 laps — could become lonely and tedious. On an ordinary road trip, there are many ways to pass the time, music being preferred by many. Such distractions are not an option in NASCAR, while driving upward of 200 miles per hour. Martin Truex Jr. had vehemently said “absolutely not” when asked if he would tune into music had there been an option.
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The point was raised to Truex Jr. by journalist Jeff Gluck back in 2015, during an interview for the 12 Questions series. The driver replied recalling an instance when he tried listening to music.
“One time when we were down somewhere testing and it was really boring for a couple of days, I tried listening to a little mp3 player. And it was so distracting! When you’d go on the racetrack with that thing playing, it was like you were in outer space. So you’d just have to turn it off,” Truex Jr. had said.
It could be managed in the garage. “It was fine in the garage, but when you were on the racetrack, it was drowning out the noise of the race car and you just couldn’t hear it. It felt like you were completely disconnected from the car,” Truex Jr. added.
The street models from Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, the current manufacturers of NASCAR vehicles, boast optional multi-speaker premium audio systems and other addtions. However, NASCAR race cars are designed without any of the frills. They lack side-view mirrors, air conditioning, and even horns.
Moreover, NASCAR strictly prohibits drivers from listening to personal music devices during races. The rule is in place to ensure focus and the safety and well-being of the competitors and others on the track.
The absence of music isn’t just a matter of personal choice but a critical safety measure for everyone involved in the sport.
Brad Keselowski expressed his views on the possibility of listening to music
During a 2015 interview with Gluck, Keselowski recalled a testing session at Daytona with JR Motorsports, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. introduced him to specialized earplugs.
Keselowski entertained the idea briefly. “I remember when I was testing at Daytona when I’d first gotten the ride with JR Motorsports and Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. had the earplugs for all that. I thought, ‘Oh, that might be a good idea’. And I was like this close,” he told Gluck.
However, he quickly reconsidered, since it could impact his team’s morale.
“What would my team guys think if I was listening to music in the car because I was bored?” Ultimately, he decided against it, reflecting, “It felt like that would be really de-motivating to them and they’d feel like I didn’t care. So I’d feel too guilty,” Kaselowski added.
However, it would be fascinating to know the perspectives of the new generation of Gen-Z drivers on integrating music into their racing experience.
