What takes place on pit road?

Race day on pit road starts with the pre-race ceremonies, where the cars are displayed in starting order line up with the drivers and team members making final preparations for the race.  During this time, there is the formal presentation of "Old Glory" and a salute to and from our military teams that compete for our standards and freedom around the world.  Sometimes, the air display is so low it almost is on pit road, so that counts too.  After the "Star Spangled Banner" is played or sung, and a prayer is heard, the cars leave for the warm-up lap and the final pace lap.  

Races can be won or lost on pit road. A visit to a pit road actually makes for two very long laps.  The "in lap" requires accurate lane placement, correct pit road speed and "first time right" parking.  The crew refills the gas tank, changes 2 or 4 tires and maybe adjusts the weight balance or rear axle travel geometry.  Then the car re-enters into pit road traffic at limited speed until it blends onto the track and accelerates up to full racing speed to complete its "out-lap".  Of course, additional time can be consumed on pit road due to congestion of other cars or extra work required due to things like repairing body damage or attending to more serious mechanical concerns.  Fortunately, NASCAR provides official observers to count things like too many crewmembers servicing the car or loose wheel nuts, and they will allow the car to return for either rectification or penalty if they observe a problem. 

On some tracks, the cars are covering well over 200 feet per second, so any time saved on pit road is extremely valuable.

After the checkered flag is waved, the cars that did not win drive down the pit road and are quickly inspected for post race technical compliance and then the winning car proceeds to a victory lane celebration, which is on or very near pit road - so it is a very busy place throughout race day.