Learning the laws of motion and measuring the center of gravity might not have been so frustrating in college had the teacher come from the University of NASCAR. You could learn about friction and air resistance through drafting class at Talladega Superspeedway followed by Advanced Heat Transfer 101 via your university-issued firesuit.

“

I didn't finish high school, because I never understood why I had to learn the things they were teaching.

”

DIANDRA LESLIE-PELECKY

Sadly, there is no such institution, but we do have Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, physics professor at the University of Texas at Dallas and author of The Physics of NASCAR.

She and the powers that be at the National Science Foundation have collaborated with NASCAR to create a series of user-friendly videos that teach high-school and college-age students the basic concepts of friction, safety and sound through the functionality of stock cars traveling at speeds up to 200 mph.

Keep in mind these videos aren't your typical after-school special with Bill Nye the Science Guy. The videos, entitled The Science of Speed, go into great detail and are filmed on location inside numerous Sprint Cup Series garages and race shops starring top drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Brian Vickers.

Learning science from a NASCAR driver you watch every Sunday and respect is far more valuable than trying to memorize formulas from a text book, believes Vickers, who is an admitted computer geek and techie.

"When schools are able to teach science to students in a way that they enjoy and can relate to it, they'll retain the information. I believe it can help," Vickers said.

Leslie-Pelecky and the NSF hope the videos are an unconventional teaching tool to reach students whose interest in science is waning. They also look to improve the country's science scores among students in grades eight through 12.

Experts say the country is faced with a challenge right now to regain its position as a world leader in global innovation.

"It is critical for the economy for us to remain a superpower, but I think we've fallen behind," Vickers said. "All the new high-tech inventions and advances are based on math and science so it is important for our future that students are interested."

“

Through NASCAR, these videos have major potential to reach a major audience.

”

DIANDRA LESLIE-PELECKY

Through the videos -- free and downloadable online (www.science360.gov) -- educators and scientists aim to enhance students' critical thinking, problem solving, and innovative use of knowledge for generations to come.

Aside from cutting-edge inventions, Leslie-Pelecky asks: "How are Americans supposed to make decisions on emerging energy technologies if they don't understand how it works? If we don't keep training people in math and science, we lose and that will have an impact on the economy and way of life."

Interestingly enough, Leslie-Pelecky, a relatively new follower of NASCAR, had no appreciation of the sport until she was able to see it in a new light three years ago. She was channel surfing one afternoon and stumbled upon a race and thought to herself, "Why would anyone want to watch cars go in circles all day?"

Not an original thought by any means, her interest then was piqued when she saw a car bobble, spin out and hit the wall on its own with little explanation.

"I was mystified, so I wanted an explanation; a scientific reason other than the air was taken off his spoiler. Well, my questions led to more questions," she said.

Before she knew it, she was spending most every weekend at a NASCAR track compiling data and questioning crew chiefs about the engineering of the sport. At the end of her adventure, she had enough information and insight for a book and also was funded by the NSF to create The Science of Speed videos.

"Teaching this way appeals to me," Leslie-Pelecky said. "I didn't finish high school, because I never understood why I had to learn the things they were teaching."

Now a college professor and scientist, Leslie-Pelecky perhaps has enough knowledge to be a crew chief, pit a car and consult on engine packages.

"If you would've told me three years ago I would be doing this I would've said you're insane but if you think about how many students teachers reach on an average day it is a small number," she said, "But through NASCAR, these videos have major potential to reach a major audience."