Aerodynamics
The NASCAR Vortex Theory
The NASCAR Vortex Theory says that cars racing around an oval track create a rotational disturbance that repels oncoming storms. Truth? Or Myth? What’s a Vortex? A vortex is a region in a fluid (and […]
The Building Speed Blog
Distributions
Does NASCAR Have a Momentum Effect?
Here’s a drinking game for you the next time you tune into any sports broadcast, be it motorsports, golf, rugby, boxing or tennis. Drink every time you hear the word ‘momentum’. You can play the […]
Brains
Sterling Marlin, Parkinson’s and Deep Brain Stimulation
Sterling Marlin, one of only three drivers to ever win the Daytona 500 two years in a row, announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2012. Last week, Marlin’s team announced that he was undergoing surgery to implant a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device to treat his Parkinson’s. […]
Aerodynamics
NASCAR: Caps, Limits and Level Playing Fields
Every sport faces it: One, or a few, teams pull ahead because they can spend more money than anyone else. Those teams and their fans are fine, but it means the league has failed to […]
Aerodynamics
Brad Keselowski: The Smartest Driver in NASCAR
Brad Keselowski may not have an engineering degree or years and years of experience, but I’m ready to nominate him as the Smartest Driver in NASCAR. He is a man with a plan and it’s […]
Allmendinger, A.J.
Can Simulators and Video Games Make Great Racecar Drivers?
There are two schools of thought about what makes some people the best in their fields. One is that some people have innate skills or traits that allow them to become great. The other is […]
Aerodynamic Forces
Will You Be Able to Tell if NASCAR Cars are Slower in 2019?
When is the answer to better racing slower cars? It just might be for NASCAR. Note: This post analyzes the change in speed due to the new rules package. Please don’t interpret it as my […]
Byron, William
Johnson/Knaus: Looking Back, Going Forward
Every new NASCAR season brings new driver/crew chief pairings, but 2019 will be first time in 17 seasons that Chad Knaus will not be on Jimmie Johnson’s pit box. Let’s look at why the switch was made and its likely implications. […]
Diversity
NASCAR and Women in Motorsport
It’s no secret that there aren’t a lot of women in motorsports, especially at the top levels. Why? And is that a problem? The Numbers Let’s take a look at how many women there are […]
Busch, Kurt
NASCAR 2018: The Year in Charts and Graphs
This is the time of the year when everyone takes one final look back at the last year before turning to think about the new one. So, in this last blog of the year, I thought I’d summarize the season in charts and graphs. […]