Road Courses
Do Road Courses (Like Superspeedways) Level the Playing Field?
Are road courses, like superspeedways, where drivers with little chance of winning the championship can ‘luck’ into a playoff berth? […]
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Grass
Does Grass Pose a Danger to Racecar Drivers?
Now that most tracks have put SAFER barriers on any possible surface, it might seem like racetrack safety is a done deal. That’s not what we’ve heard this week at Daytona, though. Some of the drivers […]
Bristol Motor Speedway
Turning at Bristol: A Weighty Matter
A lot of drivers cite Bristol as one of their favorite tracks. It’s a great exhibit for the argument that racing is more than just pure speed. High banks (which we know mean speed!) and a short track, which means tight racing. But a lot of drivers will tell you that Bristol is one of the most exhausting, physically demanding tracks on the circuit. Add to that the inherent stress of short-track racing, where 43 cars are operating in a limited (half-mile) track. […]
Goodyear
The Dirt on Radials vs. Bias-Ply Tires
NASCAR started transitioning away from bias-ply tires in 1989. So why did they start making a comeback in 2013? […]
Grass
Hey Larry Mac! Cars Do Not Speed Up in the Grass!
Cars don’t speed up when they transition from asphalt to grass. They just slow down more slowly. […]
Engines
Why is Michigan so Hard on Engines?
Four Hendrick Motorsports engines failed at Michigan International Speedway . But Michigan is hard on engines. Let’s see why. […]
Aerodynamic Forces
200-mph Laps at Michigan Are Not Like 200-mph Laps at Superspeedways
People worry that 200-mph laps at Michigan International Speedway could make cars airborne, as can happen at superspeedways. Should they worry? […]
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan: Don’t Believe the Speeds
All the talk at Michigan about high speeds and the hoopla over passing the 200-mph barrier prompts me to offer this caveat: Take the speeds you hear with a grain of salt because the average lap speeds are estimates, not measurements. […]