NASCAR Racing: NASCAR AUTOS, nascar car, lug nuts

Question
I don't know if this question qualifies as "mechanical" so I will ask you anyway.
How are the wheels on a NASCAR car secured in place?.With nuts that thread into studs?.
If so, where the nuts go when the wheels are dismounted to install a new one?.
I hope you can answer this. I want to learn everything about NASCAR racing, it's so exciting!.


Answer
Yes, there are five "studs" or lugs like most factory cars, with lugnuts just like the factory lugs. The only difference is the lug itself. It has an extension on it that is narrower than the inside circumference of the nut and unthreaded so that when the wheel is placed on the hub the pre-glued nuts fall onto these extensions, thus being in place for a quick spin of the air wrench.

When the nuts are removed they fly everywhere, to be swept up or picked up by a team member after the pit stop. By the way, they wear gloves, the lug nuts are extremely hot when they come off the car. Most teams will drop the gathered lug nuts into a an old paint can containing a solvent (often just gasoline) so that the old glue can be cleaned off so the nuts can be reused.

Thanks for asking!