TEMPLATE

A device used to check the body shape and size to ensure compliance with the rules. The templates come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to measure virtually every part of the car. If a car doesn't fit NASCAR"S templates it has to be fixed until it does.

TIGHT

Also known as "understeer." A car is said to be tight if the front wheels lose traction before the rear wheels do. A tight race car "pushes".

TOE

Looking at the car from the front, the amount the tires are turned in or out. If you imagine your feet to be the two front tires of a race car, standing with your toes together would represent toe-in. Standing with your heels together would represent toe-out.

TRACK BAR

(Also referred to as a "Panhard bar.") This bar locates the car's rear end housing from left-to-right under it. In calibrating the car's "suspension geometry," raising or lowering the track bar changes the rear roll center and determines how well it will travel through the corners. During races, this adjustment is done through the rear window using an extended ratchet. Typically, lowering the track bar will 'tighten" the car and raising the track bar will "loosen" it.

TRAILING ARM

A rear suspension piece holding the rear axle firmly fore and aft yet allowing it to travel up and down.

TRI -OVAL (dog-leg)

A racetrack that has a hump or fifth turn in addition to the standard four corners. Places like Daytona and Texas have a little "dog-leg" right by the start-finish line. Not to be confused with a triangle-shaped speedway, (Pocono) which only has three distinct corners.