Auto racing is a sport like no other, requiring drivers to use their special skills to maneuver a 3,000-plus vehicle.

But does that make racecar drivers athletes? That question has been thrown around since the start of racing. In a debate on Fox Sports Live about who is the most dominant athletes in sports February 2013, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb says six-time NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson is not an athlete.

Auto racing is a demanding physical sport, which requires strength, stamina and special skills, all which fit the bill of an athlete.

In NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) drivers battle a 3,450-pound stock car while dealing with four G’s and racing on 33-degree banking. On top of that, they get commands from their spotters and crew chiefs giving them signals in their ear. “Car up top, car on the bottom, pit this time.”  These drivers are multitasking while knowing they might not end this race alive. Imagine that for four hours with no breaks, except cautions.

Physical strength is key. In football, players have to catch balls and run fast. The quarterback throws the ball 60 yards down the field while the receiver has to concentrate on where the ball is going while running in a straight line. In baseball, pitchers throw 90 mph-plus fastballs.  

Yes, anybody can turn a wheel– but not at 200 miles an hour? It’s much harder than it looks.

Drivers need strength to hang on to the steering wheel for four hours, stamina to sit up right and handle the heat with no air conditioner. There are no bathroom breaks and they can drink little liquids during the four hours, or more, they’re in the car.

Mental Discipline is important. The drivers have to make quick decisions, with bumper-to-bumper action, cars inches apart from the car in front, in back and on the side of the car. One miss-calculation could result in a wreck or loss of time.

In the NHRA (National Drag Racing Association), drivers blaze down a quarter-mile drag strip exceeding 300 miles an hour while 6 G’s pushing up against their bodies.

Imagine gravity pushing you down into the seat, your eyes push back into your sockets, you’re body shaking, every fiber of your body rumbling. When you get out your’re physically worn, trying to catch your breath, sweat dripping down your face from the heat inside. Wearing a driving suit makes the temperatures inside the car exceeding 120 degrees.

Food is important also. The drivers eat foods that give energy like energy, bars, fruit and whole grains. They eat anything with carbohydrates and protein and maintain strict diets.

During the summer months hydration is most important as they can lose several pounds of water over the time they are in the car. Dehydration leads to fatigue, slower reactions, mistakes and sickness or fainting. 

Hydration keeps drivers alert, focused and performing at their best. That’s the same for racecar drivers. 

Racecar drivers race more than 30 times a year, sometimes more. In the sprint car world, they race at least 80 times a year.

In any sport, skills are required. In auto racing, special skills are required. The skills aren’t transferable like in football, baseball or basketball. 

Racecar drivers are athletes: the things they do, most people can’t. Besides, have you ever strapped in?

The best way to answer the question is to put McNabb in a car for 500 miles and see how he reacts.