NASCAR Racing: Race Clock?, nascar trucks, race clock

Question
Hi,
I've been to the Milwaukee mile the last four years to see the NASCAR Trucks and Busch cars and my seat is relatively close to the start finish line. I noticed a digital clock near the start finish line that looks to be counting up in seconds. Can you tell me the purpose of this clock? I can't find any info on it.
Thanks,
Tim

Answer
Believe it or not, in this day of electronics, as a back up to the electronic counters they still have people keeping laps for all the cars/trucks should the electronic counters breakdown. As each car passes a line across the track that cars lap counter writes down the 4 digit number on the digital clock you see. That's the way it was done before electronics and it continues today as a backup.