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A Win Is A Win In NASCAR
| It is often said by casual NASCAR fans that you need the faster car to win the race. Often, this is right. Both the drivers and the teams are working long hours during the week to create just the right vehicle set up to produce the fastest possible speed before they reach the track on the weekend. As reported by NASCAR news sources repeatedly, there is no such thing as a guarantee. Unfortunately, not every car can be the fastest on the track, so the teams are constantly analyzing new ways to win.nnFor instance, David Reutimann won the 2009 Coca Cola 600 when crew chief Rodney Childers told him to skip the pit stop as the leaders were entering. The race was beyond the half-way point, and precipitation was falling. The question was whether the race would continue or be canceled with the rainfall on the track. Not only Reutimann, but two other racers, Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon, made a gamble on the weather holding off.nnAt about 6:30 p.m. EST, NASCAR officials finally cancelled the race, giving Reutimann his first Sprint Cup win. In the past, when a victory was due to weather-shortened circumstances, there has always been this proverbial asterisk placed beside it. For the fans, these types of wins are regarded as flukes and support for them is less intense. NASCAR news is definitely filled with such press. This must be balanced with the fact that NASCAR is probably the most competitive form of auto racing around. No matter how it is won, most drivers know that if it meant risking a drive in the rain, they would do it without any qualms, provided that it led to victory lane. It has become a privileged position in NASCAR news correspondents to witness the displays of amazing and winning strategies by racing teams.nnStrategy was absolutely a key ingredient in Reutimann's win. His crew chief followed the weather report, and felt as if it was in his driver's best interest to stay out. If the showers had stopped, and the other drivers reentered the track, then they would have went to the pit, but according to Childers and Reutimann, they would have made necessary repairs to increase automotive performance. Such reconfigurations would have taken too long. They would have sacrificed track position if they had pitted with the leaders, so they opted to wait out the rain. Their strategy turned out to be the winning strategy.nnKyle Busch led 173 of the 207 laps completed, while race-winner Reutimann led only five laps and was in the fourteenth place when the skies opened up.nnNASCAR news related similar events involving Jeff Gordon. Gordon had used the same trick to win at Pocono in 2007. Although his car was no longer in shape to win, his team believed that rain was coming, and it paid off big. In fact, if the rain would have come a mere five seconds later than it did, Gordon would have completed in second. Ryan Newman was in the process of passing Gordon when NASCAR displayed the caution flag because of the rain.nnSometimes, the stars must align perfectly in order to win a race. Tire strategy and fuel mileage are other methods that can allow a driver to win a race without having the fastest car.nnBack in 2003, Newman and the Penske Racing team were known for using a smaller carburetor to draw out fuel mileage. In fact, at least four of Newman's eight wins that season were by because of fuel mileage.nnWe have seen drivers in the past use a two-tire pit stop to gain track position late in a race, allowing them the opportunity to go for the win. In a number of occasions, this method has worked in the driver's favor.nnNo matter how it was achieved, a win is a win. However the trophy reaches hi hands, a driver will be glad to accept it.nn |
About the Author
I, like many others, am interested in the experience of NASCAR racing and keep up on NASCAR news items when I can. Writing about NASCAR provides its own rewards.
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