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