NASCAR might look like a simple sport from the outside. It’s an activity that sees cars going around in a circle multiple times as they look to try and come out victorious. If you’ve never watched it before, you’d be forgiven if you were of the opinion that it was just a left turn after left turn and not much else.
However, there is a lot more than what meets the eye when it comes to the technical aspect of the sport. These are where the smallest of differences and margins between the teams that compete can make all the difference.
What do teams need to focus on when preparing for the Championship?
When competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, the stock vehicles that are created need to be made from scratch. They also need to meet various requirements when it comes to the specifications of the car.
This includes:
- Engine
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Window Nets
- Weight Requirements
Engine
The engine is under strict guidelines, as it can only be a V8. It’s also must have a compression rate of 12:1 and a displacement that is no greater than 358 cubic inches. Every NASCAR race car will need to use a carburetor and not a fuel injector when delivering the fuel-air mixture that goes into the engine. Teams can adjust the engine thereafter, but they need to make sure they meet these requirements as a minimum. Most engines, once tweaked, can generate between 750 and 790 horsepower.
Specific Car Requirements
The Next Gen NASCAR car features independent front and rear suspensions, with designers using a double wishbone design for the front and a solid axle that has trialling arms at the back. The brake rotors need to be made of magnetic iron or steel, but they cannot be any bigger than 12.7 in diameter. Cars must also have a window net installed to protect drivers from debris and keep their arms in the cockpit when experiencing a crash. They are required to lower the net if they are uninjured following one.
Weight Requirements
At the same time, the rules require that the vehicle’s weight requirements be adhered to. These can be indicative of the driver’s weight, with those who are lighter being able to have heavier cars. A car and driver’s weight total should not exceed 3,400 pounds, but a car needs to be a minimum of 3,200 when it does not contain a driver. This is why we never see a heavy individual racing.
What about in the pit lane?
Although a betting website has Christopher Bell and Kyle Larsson among the favorites to win the NASCAR Championship this season, it won’t all be down to the driver’s efforts while out on the track.
While they will get all of the glory, they are going to need to have a strong and solid pit crew behind them. These are the individuals that create the perfect environment and offer the efficiency that is required for the driver to have the best possible race.
In order to prepare for each race and potentially a Championship-winning season, a pit crew can do a number of different things to give their team the best chance of winning.
Teamwork
Teamwork is an important aspect and if this isn’t at its best, it can have a negative impact on how things turn out. They need to get aspects such as timing, precision, strength, and focus spot on. Pit stops need to be completed quickly but with skill. They cannot be sloppy nor can they be completed with mistakes. If they are, it can have a huge impact that can be difficult to come back from.
It’s no real surprise that team members continue to practice for hours each week. This can involve doing several drills each day making sure they are ready for race day. It can also include practicing in different weather conditions, as races will take place in almost all of them.
As individuals, those working in the pit crew know that they need to be consistent with their work and keep it to a high standard. They also know that they need to be able to adapt at a moment’s notice to any situation that may be presented to them. If they can stay in sync with everyone on and off the track, the team will have the best chance of building team-winning relationships.
NASCAR requires perfection
It’s clear that NASCAR is all about perfection when it comes to trying to win the Championship. Everyone and everything needs to be perfect. From the car to the driver and their pit crew, if there is anything that isn’t quite right, it can have a deciding say on whether they will be successful or not.
