Chances are, you’ve heard of NASCAR, but you may not know much about the sport besides the fact that the cars go fast, turn left, and get into gigantic crashes. With the occasional NASCAR story sneaking onto news feeds, you probably also have some questions. Do Pitbull and Michael Jordan really own NASCAR teams? Do the drivers really only turn left? And how stock are these “stock cars,” anyway?

The short answers to these questions are “Yes”, “No”, and “Not in the slightest.” The long answers, plus a whole lot more, are what I’m here to explain. Welcome to the first of a four-part series exploring the world of NASCAR. This article will be a general primer, while parts two, three, and four will explore the drivers, the tracks, and the rules, respectively.

The Cars
A NASCAR Cup series “stock car” is about as far from a dealership car as possible. Cup cars weigh in at 3200 pounds with nearly a ton of extra aerodynamic downforce, and are powered by a 6 liter V8 engine that produces nearly 700 horsepower. These engines are paired with 15” brakes, allowing these cars to accelerate to high speeds and stop quickly. 

The car body is made of carbon fiber composites which are more resistant to deformation than metal bodies. The combination of grip and power means that Cup cars can reach 200 miles per hour, while the composite bodies mean that cars can get into minor scrapes and still remain competitive. It’s rare to find a race-winning car without at least some paint scratches and tire marks.

Cup cars also have extensive safety features to protect drivers during crashes. They range from the obvious, such as reinforced roll cages, to the technical, like carefully engineered front and rear clips built to absorb energy. Every part of the car is designed with safety in mind. Even the roof flaps that open up when a car begins to spin are there for safety. 

This safety-first mentality makes NASCAR the safest major motorsports series. Despite the massive crashes, more drivers miss races because of injuries sustained from off-track hobbies than because of injuries sustained in a NASCAR race.

The Drivers
Behind the controls of these brilliantly-engineered cars are some of the planet’s greatest drivers. Virtually every driver to start a NASCAR race has performed at a high level in some other series, and all of them have been driving race cars since well before they could legally drive a road car. Most NASCAR drivers have experience across several disciplines of racing, from dirt tracks to open-wheel cars.

Though many veterans, such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart, have retired from full-time driving in the last decade, NASCAR in 2024 has no shortage of names and personalities. There’s the defending champ Ryan Blaney; the 2020 champ and most popular driver Chase Elliott; the villains, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and two-time series champ Joey Logano; the veterans such as two-time champ Kyle Busch and 2017 champ Martin Truex Jr.; the underdogs like Michael McDowell, and even the happy-go-lucky watermelon farmer turned checkers-or-wreckers championship contender Ross Chastain. With thirty-six drivers on track, there’s plenty of contenders to cheer for.

The Teams
No NASCAR driver could race without a full team behind him. Some crew members are more visible than others, but all of them are vital to every race win. Here’s a few of the more important at-track team members:

Crew chief: This is the first crew member you’ll hear about. The crew chief sits on top of the team’s box on pit road, deciding on race strategy, when to pit, what adjustments to make to the car, and all the long-term details that can give a driver an edge.

Spotter: The spotter sits high above the track on top of the grandstands with binoculars to watch the race. They give drivers valuable information about where other cars are, what lanes other cars are driving in, which cars are gaining/losing time and anything else the driver needs to know.

Pit crew: These are the people who jump over the wall during a pit stop. There are five pit crew members: A front and rear tire changer, a tire carrier, a jackman and a fueler. They must change all four tires, fill the car with fuel, and make mechanical adjustments – all in under fifteen seconds. To say their jobs are high-pressure would be an understatement.

Car chief: Where the crew chief deals with in-race planning, the car chief deals with pre-race planning. They lead the engineering team and before a race will make sure everything on the car is optimized for performance while still meeting NASCAR’s stringent inspection policy.

The Tracks
The NASCAR Cup series season lasts from February into November and consists of 36 points races plus a few exhibition races. In 2024, NASCAR will host points-paying races at 26 unique tracks. Most tracks are ovals, but every track on the schedule is unique. Short ovals under a mile long require constant aggression with drivers using their bumper to help make passes. Longer ovals emphasize strategy, adaptability, engineering and less all-out aggression. Five road courses bring a unique challenge with each composed of varied turns requiring patience, skillful driving and turning right. They even hold a race on the streets of Chicago’s park district.

The most unique type of track on the schedule are the superspeedways. These large ovals are designed for maximum speed, and because drivers never have to get out of the throttle, winning one of the six superspeedway races requires drafting. 

Drafting is when one car drives very close behind another, making the trailing car push through less air, experience less drag, and thus go faster. Superspeedway races typically have two or three lines of drafting cars pushing each other, and with so many cars so close together, this type of racing requires everyone to be at their best to navigate to the front without crashing.

What to Know
The 2024 NASCAR season is about to begin, with the Daytona 500 happening on Sunday, Feb. 18. As one of the aforementioned superspeedways, Daytona always brings an exciting opening to the points-paying season. If you choose to tune in, here are some storylines to watch for:

• Defending champion Ryan Blaney is looking to be the first driver to win back to back titles since Jimmie Johnson won five straight from 2006 to 2010. His teammate Joey Logano won the title in 2022 and 2018.

• Kyle Larson has won on nearly every track he’s driven on in every discipline he’s tried, including a 10-win championship year in 2021. Now entering his 11th full-time season, he’s becoming a veteran and will doubtlessly be a championship favorite again this year.

• NASCAR decides a champion using a unique playoff system, in which sixteen drivers compete in the final ten races and gradually get whittled down until four drivers fight for the championship in November. With the field having more parity than ever, competition for the last of those sixteen spots will be incredibly tight this year.

So, whether you become a diehard fan who watches every race from Daytona to Phoenix, or if you just tune in sometimes to see the wrecks, NASCAR has something for everyone, and much of what turns a casual fan into a lifelong viewer is getting to know the stories of the drivers. Part 2 of this series will dive into the field of 36 fulltime cars, getting to know the drivers, the stories, and the expectations for 2024. 

On-Campus Events

FIJI Halloween on Oct. 28 starting 8:30 p.m.

FIJI is hosting an event with a concert and their annual Halloween party, proceeds from tickets will go to philanthropy. Come by in your costume to the FIJI house to enjoy the night.

GIFT Halloween Movie Night on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

GIFT is hosting their annual Halloween movie night in YGCU 221/222. They will be putting on an Interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show experience. There will be snacks and a raffle with sweet and spicy prizes. Come dressed in your costume for the chance to win a costume prize! The movie will begin at 8 p.m. Interactive viewings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show have a unique culture of challenging gender norms, which is especially important in light of anti-drag legislature that has swept the US in recent times. Student Life will also be hosting a Happy Hour during the event with alcoholic beverages for A-approved students, along with nonalcoholic options. 

KA Fall Fest on November 4 at 7 p.m.

KA is hosting their 4th annual Fall Fest with bonfires, pumpkin painting, barbecue and live music! Tickets are $6 and the event is at the KA house.

Kansas City Events

Haunted Houses in West Bottoms

Kansas City is called “The Haunted House Capital of the World” for good reason! The West Bottoms has some of the best haunted houses for those of you that enjoy the adrenaline rush and an immersive experience. If you’re interested in visiting several of the haunted houses, there are discounts available for multi-house tickets.

The Edge of Hell is a nationally acclaimed haunted house, featuring five stories of haunts, heaven-to-hell-themed frights and the world’s largest living snake. If you’re brave enough to enter The Edge of Hell, tickets are $35. Open select dates Sept. 22 through Nov. 11. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. every weeknight and 6:30 p.m. every Saturday. Closing times vary. 

The Beast is one of the most frightening haunted houses in Kansas City and is also nationally ranked. This attraction has four flours of terrors awaiting those who enter, from the Louisiana Bayou swamp, Jack the Ripper’s foggy London, a medieval castle and a forest full of werewolves. Tickets are $35 and Doors open at 7:30 p.m. every weeknight and 6:30 p.m. every Saturday.

If you’re a horror movie enthusiast, you might like to take a trip to Macabre Cinema during the spooky season. This haunted house features spooky attractions from famous classic and modern horror movies through a 1930s movie theater with four floors. The haunted house also has actual movie sets from famous horror movies. Doors open at 8 p.m. every weeknight and 7 p.m. every Saturday. 

Outdoor Scary Experiences 

If you’re looking for an outdoor haunted house, Exiled in Bonner Springs, KS is the place for you. This secluded haunted forest tour leaves visitors in the middle of the forest and must navigate their way to safety while avoiding creeps, freaks and more. This experience does require you to be willing to get down and dirty in the outdoors, so beware if this is not for you! Tickets for the Trail of Horrors tour are $49, the first tour is at 7 p.m. and the last one is at 10:30 p.m.

Worlds of Fun’s annual Halloween Haunt transforms the amusement park into the ultimate Halloween attraction. There are over 400 monsters in the fog-filled park, many different scary attractions, mazes and of course the rush of the typical rides. If you enjoy shows, there are a variety of live performances to get you in the Halloween spirit. Tickets start from $39.99 and the hours are 6 p.m. to midnight. 

Less-Scary Options 

If you’re more of a history buff or interested in less-sensationalized spooky events, check out Wornall Majors House Museums. During October, they are offering paranormal investigations and tours of the Alexander Majors house, one of the most haunted locations in KC, led by professional investigators. If you’re interested in history, but not ghost stories, you can check out their tour, the “Anatomy of a Haunted House,” which will explore the origins of the Victorian-style haunted house and life in the Victorian era. Check out their tours here.

Powell Gardens is hosting an immersive, multi-media 1-mile trail walk through the woods called, Dark Forest, in October. It takes you through the mysterious and mythical woods that have unexplainable paranormal forces and supernatural beings. There are no scary actors, but there are eerie performances, fog, strobe lights and more. In addition to spooky fall displays, they also have Halloween-inspired drinks and shopping. Dark Forest is on Oct. 13-15, 20-22 and 26-29 from 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

If you’re a fan of cocktails, check out the variety of pop-up Halloween-themed bars in KC. In North KC, Apparition- Spook Easy at the Vignettes Bar has spine-curdling spirits and a spooky ambiance. The Ghosts of Baseball Past is a haunted cocktail experience at the Legends Stadium featuring a spooky version of baseball history. If you’re a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, check out the Rocky Horror Pop-Up Bar at the Time-Warp Club.

Whatever you decide to do, whether it’s braving a haunted house or checking out a Halloween-inspired speakeasy, have a Happy Halloween! Make sure to check out some of the events on campus to support philanthropy and student organizations, too.

In a world where information is constantly at our fingertips, ethical consumerism has emerged as a powerful force, reshaping our shopping habits and influencing businesses worldwide. This movement revolves around the belief that our purchases can have a positive impact on society and the environment. But what exactly is ethical consumerism? 

Ethical consumerism, also known as ethical consumption, is a conscious approach to buying products that align with one’s morals. Ethical consumerism is concerned with a broad spectrum of considerations, including sustainability, labor practices, animal welfare and social and environmental impacts. At its core, ethical consumerism aims to hold businesses accountable for their practices and encourages consumers to make informed choices that reflect their values.

The first key in ethical consumerism is knowing the ethical values that matter most to you. These values could include sustainability, fair labor practices, animal welfare or supporting local businesses. Identifying your priorities will guide your consumer choices. Next, you should research the products and industries you engage with regularly. Learn about the ethical and environmental issues associated with them. While being conscious about the purchases you make may be more difficult, it will be worth it to see a positive impact in your community and society.

The ethical consumerism movement has been promoted by social media. Social media has revolutionized the way we access and share information. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have given individuals a space to express their opinions, share stories and amplify their voices. This has created an environment where information travels at lightning speed and consumers can easily scrutinize a company’s ethical track record.

Social media has been absolutely instrumental in exposing unethical business practices. Through viral campaigns and hashtags, consumers have shed light on issues such as sweatshop labor, environmental pollution and animal cruelty. The speed at which these stories spread has put pressure on companies to address their shortcomings and adopt more responsible practices. In response to this pressure, companies have been adapting more environmentally friendly and sustainable policies. Last year, Adidas manufactured 17 million pairs of shoes made out of recycled plastic. A study of 850 companies worldwide, found that more than 80 percent planned to increase their investments in sustainability.

While ethical consumerism has undeniably made significant strides in raising awareness and driving change, its effectiveness in controlling businesses remains a subject of debate.

One argument is that ethical consumerism primarily targets the symptoms rather than the root causes of unethical practices in business. Critics argue that by focusing on individual choices, it places the responsibility on consumers to bring about change, while corporations should be the ones held accountable for systemic issues. While individual consumer choices can influence corporate behavior to some extent, it does not tackle the systemic issues that drive unethical practices. These systemic problems include income inequality, exploitative labor practices and the relentless pursuit of profit above all else. Ethical consumerism alone does not have the capacity to effectively address these deeply ingrained issues. 

Instead, we should be engaging in ethical consumerism and recognizing its limitations. To enhance its impact and effectively target the root causes of unethical practices, consumers should adopt a more strategic and holistic approach. You can do this by engaging with like-minded consumers and organizations that share information and strategies. A great place to start could be the Global Directory of Ethical Consumption Organisations. It contains several organizations across the world that are working towards a better and more sustainable future. Collective action can be more effective in bringing about change than individual efforts alone. You can also advocate for stronger government regulations that address root issues in business practices. Push for policies that promote fair wages, environmental protection and corporate accountability.

While its effectiveness in constraining businesses is subject to debate, there is no denying that ethical consumerism has already driven positive change in many industries. Ethical consumer movements have effectively promoted dolphin-friendly tuna and animal cruelty free products through successful campaigns. Ultimately, it reminds us that our purchasing power carries the potential to create a more ethical and sustainable future.