Aerodynamic Forces

Overpressured Shocks on the 5-Car: How Does that Create an Advantage?

The 5 car got sent to the back for the start of the race last Sunday at Dover after qualifying third when their shocks didn’t clear post-qualifying inspection. Shocks and springs work together to control the rate at which the body of the car moves. The ideal attitude is the hound dog position: nose down, tail up, as demonstrated in the photo at right by my capable assistant Darwin. That position prevents air from getting underneath the car and it sticks the spoiler up in the air as much as possible, which means that more air hits it and creates more downforce. […]

Aerodynamics

33 car penalties

After being a non-event (The 33 car from Richmond was “just barely legal” and NASCAR was checking with RCR to make sure they didn’t have a mistake on their build sheet) for a couple of days, the situation changed today when a 150-point, $150,000, 6-week crew chief/car chief suspension was announced based on violations from the New Hampshire car. […]

Racing
NASCAR

A New Trackside Sign: Speech Limits

Jenna Freyer of the AP reported that some NASCAR drivers have been fined recently for negative comments about the sport. She wrote:

“The Associated Press has learned that NASCAR warned teams during the offseason that public criticism of the sport would no longer be tolerated, and at least two star drivers have been fined — one as much as $50,000 — for comments that were deemed destructive to the industry.” […]

Dean Sicking

An Open Letter to Randy LaJoie: What the Media Hasn’t Said.

It was quite a surprise getting into the car Tuesday and turning the radio to my favorite Sirius NASCAR  show.  A very distraught Randy LaJoie was explaining that NASCAR was about to announce that they […]

Acceleration
Aerodynamics

Eight Issues NASCAR Needs to Address in 2010

Because NASCAR likes nothing better than unsolicited suggestions, right? If I could change just one thing about NASCAR during the off season, it would be banning people from calling into Sirius radio talk shows and […]

Browne, Josh

Pit Road Speeding Explained

The black helicopters were out over Indy on Sunday, or so suggest some Juan Pablo (a.k.a. Juablo) fans. This happens every time someone leading a race (or contending for the lead) gets a pit road […]

Center of Gravity

More on the Red Bull Sheet Metal Penalties

After getting in late from Columbus, I made the mistake of listening to the radio as I attempted to sleep. Listening to the comments about the Red Bull Racing penalties got me slightly riled. NASCAR […]

Penalties

The Science of …Base Valves and Taking Away a Win

Brad Wilson asks: “The NASCAR Camping World East Series is a regional tour that is merely a blip on the radar that is big-time racing, but NASCAR changed a precedent this Tuesday. They stripped driver […]