| Watching a NASCAR race can be one of the
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| | During pit stops as a race nears
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| most entertaining and exciting ways to
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| | completion, crew chiefs must constantly
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| spend a Sunday afternoon (or in some
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| | decide whether or not to change two or
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| cases a Saturday night). Every race on
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| | four tires, or add fuel only, and whether
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| the Nextel Cup schedule has its share of
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| | or not to pit at all. One of the most
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| drama and strategy that provide the fans
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| | dramatic events within a NASCAR race
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| with an enjoyable, dramatic experience.
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| | occurs when a crew chief decides to
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| What makes NASCAR worth watching? How
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| | gamble and not bring his car in to the
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| about the strategy and planning that each
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| | pits near the end of the race-thinking
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| race team employs in their attempts at
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| | the car has enough gas to finish. This
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| victory.
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| | strategy often results in victories and
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| When a caution flag is waved during a
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| | probably equally as often results in cars
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| race, the crew chief must decide whether
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| | running out of gas-unable to finish.
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| or not to bring his driver in for a pit
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| | Additional important strategic elements
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| stop. If you decide to come into the
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| | in NASCAR racing are the adjustments made
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| pits and other teams follow, well great.
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| | to the car throughout the race.
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| If you decide to pit and others stay out
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| | Depending on how a car is handling, a
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| on the track, then you can fall behind
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| | crew chief may decide to add or reduce
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| very quickly. You better hope that the
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| | air pressure in the car's tires, based on
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| fresh tires on your car allow you to
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| | the feedback the driver is giving him.
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| catch up with the guys that didn't come
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| | Make the right adjustments and your car
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| in for fresh tires of their own.
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| | improves and you're a contender for a
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| A crew chief must evaluate how race tires
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| | victory. Make the wrong adjustments, and
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| have been performing throughout each
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| | you have a miserable day. It has to be
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| race. As a race nears completion, a race
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| | very frustrating to drive four or five
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| team may decide to put only two fresh
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| | hundred miles knowing you have no chance
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| tires on their car. They may even elect
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| | to win.
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| to add fuel only and not change tires at
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| | To pit or not to pit? Gas or no gas?
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| all. This strategy saves valuable time,
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| | Two tires or four tires, or how about no
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| and gets a driver back out on the track
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| | tires? These are just a few examples of
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| quickly. The gain in track position can
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| | the many decisions each race team has to
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| send a driver to victory, or send a
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| | deal with. The strategy involved makes
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| driver to the back of the pack, surpassed
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| | watching a NASCAR race a fun and
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| by cars with fresh tires.
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| | entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
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