Discover the thrills of car racing


The Strategic Elements Of NASCAR

Watching a NASCAR race can be one of theDuring pit stops as a race nears
most entertaining and exciting ways tocompletion, crew chiefs must constantly
spend a Sunday afternoon (or in somedecide whether or not to change two or
cases a Saturday night). Every race onfour tires, or add fuel only, and
the Nextel Cup schedule has its share ofwhether or not to pit at all. One of
drama and strategy that provide the fansthe most dramatic events within a NASCAR
with an enjoyable, dramatic experience.race occurs when a crew chief decides to
What makes NASCAR worth watching? Howgamble and not bring his car in to the
about the strategy and planning thatpits near the end of the race-thinking
each race team employs in their attemptsthe car has enough gas to finish. This
at victory.strategy often results in victories and
When a caution flag is waved during aprobably equally as often results in
race, the crew chief must decide whethercars running out of gas-unable to
or not to bring his driver in for a pitfinish.
stop. If you decide to come into theAdditional important strategic elements
pits and other teams follow, well great.in NASCAR racing are the adjustments
If you decide to pit and others staymade to the car throughout the race.
out on the track, then you can fallDepending on how a car is handling, a
behind very quickly. You better hopecrew chief may decide to add or reduce
that the fresh tires on your car allowair pressure in the car's tires, based
you to catch up with the guys thaton the feedback the driver is giving
didn't come in for fresh tires of theirhim. Make the right adjustments and
own.your car improves and you're a contender
A crew chief must evaluate how racefor a victory. Make the wrong
tires have been performing throughoutadjustments, and you have a miserable
each race. As a race nears completion,day. It has to be very frustrating to
a race team may decide to put only twodrive four or five hundred miles knowing
fresh tires on their car. They may evenyou have no chance to win.
elect to add fuel only and not changeTo pit or not to pit? Gas or no gas?
tires at all. This strategy savesTwo tires or four tires, or how about no
valuable time, and gets a driver backtires? These are just a few examples of
out on the track quickly. The gain inthe many decisions each race team has to
track position can send a driver todeal with. The strategy involved makes
victory, or send a driver to the back ofwatching a NASCAR race a fun and
the pack, surpassed by cars with freshentertaining way to spend an afternoon.
tires.



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