The temperatures are skyrocketing and have been since we got here. Hot summer days are as common as overly optimistic Chiefs predictions. But this week was even worse than usual. Temperatures flirting with 100 degrees, combined with high humidity, had drivers sweating more than ever. And it's the hottest I ever hope to be.
Drivers come up with novel ways to counter the oppressive heat.
The cooling apparatus for Jimmy Hensley, the third-place finisher in his Cummins Dodge, wasn't as sophisticated. Hensley stuffed a Ziploc bag full of ice inside his firesuit. He refilled it midway through the race. Then, it's like a sauna. It's even worse at Heartland Park, which has plenty of concrete and asphalt, but hardly any shade.