With short-track Richmond International Raceway being the next stop on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit, dont be surprised to see Scott Riggs piloting his race machine around the 0.75-mile track with an AroMetrics air freshener hanging from the roll cage. In a recently released study, drivers were found to be more alert and experienced less fatigue when the scent of pine was added to the car interior. The study also revealed that drivers demonstrated a decreased level of anger [hmm.. maybe Kurt Busch, Michael Waltrip and Jeff Green can get some air freshners] and improved overall driving performance when exposed to strawberry and pine scents. Its amazing that something as simple as a smell can make a difference while youre driving, offered Riggs, who will be behind the wheel of a specially designed AroMetrics/Valvoline Chevrolet in this weekends Chevy American Revolution 400. Imagine what a nice clean race we could have if everyone had AroMetrics in the car. The researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University (Wheeling, W.Va.) who conducted the study, used a car simulator, exposing participants to pine and strawberry scents, and monitoring driving tendencies, including lane tracking, speed, collisions, and reaction times, as well as behavioral factors such as alertness, fatigue, anger and overall performance. The study used AroMetrics new Auto Fragrance System air fresheners as the method of dispensing the scent in the simulated car environment.(MB2/MBV Motorsports), see an image of the scheme on my #10 Team Schemes page.(5-13-2005)
