2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year Candidate Prepares for Talladega
NASCAR drivers are getting ready for one of the most anticipated races of the season at Talladega Superspeedway, a track notorious for the 'Big One', a common NASCAR crash that involves multiple racers. Cole Whitt, American Stock Car driver racing the No. 26 Toyota Camry for BK Racing, is a 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year candidate. Whitt tells TheStreet’s Jill Malandrino it has been a long season since they last spoke in February as he was preparing for his first Sprint Series Daytona 500 race. It has been a learning process for the 23-year old rookie as Whitt had to adapt to a new team, BK Racing, but things have gone well and his team has kept up with the big guys, accumulating points and having their presence known. NASCAR racing is one of the most physically demanding sports as a driver must be conditioned to handle a cockpit that reaches 120 degrees fahrenheit, maneuver a 3400-lb vehicle at speeds of over 200 mph and efficiently process oxygen as the aircraft is not pressurized like an airplane cabin. Whitt says he stays in top form for the grueling season with CrossFit, which also provides a mental edge.
