Why NASCAR drivers are embracing distance running

What do you call someone who spends four hours in blistering heat, loses up to 10 pounds in sweat and has to make critical decisions under duress? Most runners would say that sounds like an ultra—but it’s also the job description for a professional racecar driver. And increasingly, those drivers are lacing up and logging miles just like the rest of us.

A growing number of drivers are turning to endurance training to stay sharp, handle extreme conditions and avoid burnout. At the heart of that movement is Josh Wise, a former driver who now trains the next generation of racers through his Wise Optimization program.

Running changed his career—now it’s changing theirs

Wise didn’t win titles through sheer talent alone. Midway through his own career, he realized if he didn’t get fitter, he’d be out of the sport. “I started feeling more energy, more clarity, I started feeling good that I was doing something to improve myself,” he told 5GOATs. What started with a gym membership quickly became a full-blown obsession with endurance: first cycling, then triathlons and eventually Ironman races.

These days, Wise applies the same discipline to the athletes he coaches. A running test is now a staple of his program, and the goal is clear: a sub-six-minute mile. “We want everyone to run a sub-six-minute mile,” he said. “Generally, I think 70 per cent of our guys can run close to or sub-six-minute miles.”

Josh Wise compares race car drivers to other athletes, “The car is their body, they are the brain.” 🧠

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— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) August 17, 2024

Why running works for racing

Drivers don’t just need cardiovascular fitness—they need mental stamina, heat tolerance and razor-sharp focus under pressure. Running, especially longer efforts, trains all of that. Time trials and longer races, like half marathons and 10Ks, are now a regular part of training for many in Wise’s circle.

And while the public might not equate stock car racing with endurance, Wise is clear: this is high-performance athletics. “The average person wouldn’t live—couldn’t survive a race in a NASCAR vehicle,” he said. “I’m not talking about crashing. I’m talking about heat. I’m talking about forces.” Running isn’t cross-training for these athletes—it’s also survival training. Just like in a marathon or ultra, success in their sport is about managing effort, staying mentally locked in and performing under extreme physical stress.