Part 1:   The first part of this project will explore your use of basic statistical measures and web based searches.
Your presentation can be as creative as your group wants to make it.  You should be able to answer the following questions.

• There are different types of racetracks, different categories that NASCAR has divided tracks into based on its shape, speeds, length, etc.  Which type of track is Dover Downs?
• There are two Winston Cup Races held each year at Dover Downs, both are sponsored by MBNA.  What is the Fall race called? the Spring race called?  What differences can your group see between the Spring race and the Fall race?
• Who was the winner of the Fall '98 Winston Cup race at Dover Downs? How long did the race take?  What was the average speed of the winner?
• Look at the past 10 Winston Cup races at Dover Downs, what is the mean time to complete the race?  Is there any inaccuracy with this calculation? Look carefully, why could this mean time, be inaccurate?
• Compare the mean of the average speeds from the past ten Dover Downs Winston Cup races. Note: the speed given for each race winner is considered an average speed because it accounts for the speeding up and slowing down when under caution ,pit stops, etc.
• What is the fastest lap in Dover Downs history, find the speed?
• Using the speed above, how long would it take to complete this lap at Dover Downs?  If you used the same speed how long would it take to complete a lap at Daytona, how long would it take to complete a lap at Sears Point? (Hint: use the equation which involves distance, time, and rate of speed.  t = d/r )

Part 2: This section will require you to use research from part one.  You will still need to use basic statistical measures and graphing techniques.  Your research may need to be more in depth.  Each group should continue to gather data and collect statistics.  Remember, each group can display their data as creatively as they wish.  Once you have collected data from all parts of the project you can combine your results into a cohesive project.  Groups do not need to present their final project in four different parts.  Progress will be checked throughout each section to keep your project on schedule.

• Find the median speed of the past ten Dover Downs Winston Cup races. How does this compare with the mean calculated in Part one? As part of the pit crew you must decide which speed to use.  Which would your team use and why?  If you were in charge of marketing for the race track, which speed would you use and why?
• List the names of drivers that completed the last NASCAR Winston Cup race or you may use the last Dover Downs Winston Cup race.  Define the word "complete" based on your group's definition and proper racing terminology.  List all URL's and off-line sources your group uses in building your definition.
• Using your research from part one when you calculated the average of all the winning driver's average speeds from the past ten races at Dover Downs, calculate the Mean Absolute Deviation of these speeds.  What would this statistic mean to the pit crew and statistician of a race team?
• Find the mean speed of the past ten races in this year's Winston Cup circuit.  Calculate the mean absolute deviation of these speeds.  Would this statistic be more or less useful to a race team, then the MAD calculated using just Dover Downs races?
• Make a histogram of the average race winner's speeds for the past ten Dover Down's races.
• Make a histogram of the average race winner's speeds for the past ten Winston Cup races.
• Compare and contrast these two histograms.

Part 3: This section will require your group to use more advanced statistical skills, such as scatterplots, linear regression, plots over time.  this section will also require your group to use deep thinking and reasoning skills.  There must be logic and meaning behind all statistics.  It will be your groups role to find these answers and help develop the race plan for the team.  You may need to do more extensive research to back up you reasoning and explanations.  remember to keep the creative process going as you keep building your project.  You are more than half way done, consider this the half way point.  I will evaluate all groups progress and award a bonus to the team leading at this point.  Remember, just like in a race the team leading here is not always the team in the lead at the end, so keep working hard and race to the finish.

• Find the data from the last ten years of Dover Downs Winston Cup races. Find the time of the race (length, duration) and the average speed of the winner.
• Graph this data in a scatterplot.  Which variable would go on the x-axis, which would go on the y-axis?
• Does a line fit this scatter plot?  Use your calculator to create a line of best fit (linear regression line).  Record the equation of your line.
• Make a plot over time using the last ten years and the time of the race.
• Make a plot over time using the last ten years and the average winning speed.
• Why is there some time changes? what actions would effect the length of the race?  Be specific.  Do research to back up your hypothesis.

• What three automobile companies currently have race cars in the Winston Cup circuit?
• Make a table showing how many cars from each automobile company participated in the last Dover Downs Winston Cup race.
• Are all cars supposed to have an equal chance of winning?
• Use probability to determine the chance of winning for each car company that raced in the last Dover Downs race.
• How accurate would this mathematical calculation be in determining the winner.  Does your team feel any other criteria helps decide the winner? Give a detailed list of winning criteria in your final project.