NASCAR Racing: lug nuts, air wrenches, rubber cement

Question
I have a simple question, where the lug nuts go when the wheels are replaced?. I don't see the person installing the new wheels placing the nuts over the lugs.

Answer
I already answered this one for you but you must not have received the reply. Here's my answer from 8/23:

This one's easy for me because it used to be one of my duties in the pits. The lugnuts are glued on to the wheels before hand with weatherstrip adhesive. It's a soft rubber cement that let's go of the lugnuts pretty easily when them air wrenches gets spinning. Each lug (the bolt coming off the hub that is threaded) has about 1 1/2 inches of extra length past the threads. This is narrower than the threaded part so it easily fits through the lugnut hole. When the lugnut hits the threaded part it stops as the wheel continues on to the hub. The lugnuts sit there on the unthreaded narrow part waiting for the speed wrench to hit it and thread it down tight.
At least that's what happens on a perfect stop. When you hear he dropped a lugnut...well, one didn't stay on the narrow part so the tire changer has to come up with quick replacement. Pick one up off the ground if it's right there, grab one of the extras you carry, if not.
The lugnuts that come off? They go wherever the wrench throws them. Most usually stay close to the pit space. Due to the lack of excitement, they don't usually show the pit guy (again, often me back then) that has to go out after all the pit stops are completed and sweep up the VERY hot lugnuts and drop them in cleaner to get the old glue off and ready for the next use.