NASCAR Racing: lug nuts, fire proof, lugnut

Question
during the NASCAR pit stop the lug nuts go everywhere when changing a tire. do these lug nuts ever get picked up by spinning tires and hit anyone

Answer
Hey Tom,

They occasionally do. Since left is the way it spins to get loose, when it falls off the car it usually rolls toward the front of the car, if it doesn't just fall sideways and stop. So there is very little chance of it being lodged somewhere near a tire. If you watch, the lugnut usually doesn't drop straight toward the ground but comes more at an angle. Therefore its closer to the crewman than the tire itself.
All that being said, if something causes a lugnut to be kicked into the air and it hits someone on the shin or chest, it hurts! Its like they are their own little projectiles when until a tire thats trying to leave in a hurry.  So some people on pit road wear the protective pads under the fire proof suit.

Hope this helped,
Coy Jordan