Pit boxes behind the wall on pit road
On short tracks or superspeedways, regardless of the driver, race cars comprised of precision parts need to perform and stay intact for a win. Martinsville is a fast short track with tight turns that hosts two events during the long 36 race NASCAR Sprint Cup season. A group of NASCAR crew chiefs whose job it is to direct crew and driver to victory discuss Martinsville, strategies and analysis.
Crew Chief Quote Alan Gustafson (No. 5 Chevy)
"Winning. That's it. I can't predict who is going to run where or where Jimmie (Johnson) is going to have a weakness. I can't do that. The way to score maximum points is to win. Regardless of what the (No.) 48 does, that's the best thing we can do. There's no strategy. You can't project or figure. You've got to win. And that's what we're trying to do.”
Crew chief Darian Grubb (No. 14 Chevy)
“It’s all about the weight distribution and then comfort for the driver – getting everything exactly the way the driver would like to have it. His preference for every little detail from entry to the center of the corner and exit and braking, the throttle application – everything has to be just right, because Martinsville is all about rhythm. Rhythm is what’s going to give you a chance for the pole. Making sure everything is right and making sure you can get every little piece out of the car. In order to go as fast as possible, you have to get the most out of everything that you can get.”
Crew chief Donnie Wingo (No. 26 Ford)
“The challenge of short tracks like Martinsville is track position. Usually there tend to be a lot of cautions at short tracks since everything happens so quickly. We focus on securing a good starting position, so that when Sunday’s race comes around, we’re with the race leaders and can remain on the lead lap.”
Crew chief Jimmy Fennig (No. 6 Ford)
“Try to get a good qualifying effort, stay out of trouble and be there at the end of the race to get a good finish.”
Crew chief Larry Carter (No. 98 Ford)
“I think every crew chief in the garage will tell you that you having track position, especially at Martinsville is key to having a good race.”
Steve Letarte explains the Hendrick Motorsports data sharing philosophy.
Crew chief Steve Letarte (No.24 Chevy)
"Everybody asks how it works, especially with three of our drivers in the Chase. People don't understand; it just happens. It's the way we're designed; it's the way we're built. It's our structure. We don't know anything more than to share. We wouldn't know not to."
Glossary of Racing Terms (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2009 Media Guide)
Rear clip: The section of a race car that begins at the base of the rear windshield and extends to the rear bumper. Contains the car’s fuel cell and rear suspension components.
Restrictor plate: A thin metal plate with four holes that restrict airflow from the carburetor into the engine. Used to reduce horsepower and keep speeds down. The restrictor plates are currently used at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, the two biggest and fastest tracks in NASCAR.
RPM: Short for revolutions per minute, a measurement of the speed of the engine’s crank shaft.
Roll cage: The steel tubing inside the car’s interior. Designed to protect the driver from impacts or rollovers, the roll cage must meet strict NASCAR guidelines and are inspected regularly.
Round: Slang term for a way of making chassis adjustments utilizing the race car’s springs. A wrench is inserted in a jack bolt attached to the springs, and is used to tighten or loosen the amount of play in the spring. This in turn can loosen or tighten up the handling of a race car.
Scuffs: Slang term for tires that have been used at least once and saved for further racing. A lap or two is enough to “scuff” them in. Most often used in qualifying.
Setup: Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car’s suspension before and during a race.
Spoiler: A metal blade attached to the rear deck lid of the car. It helps restrict airflow over the rear of the car, providing downforce and traction.
Staggers: The difference in size between the tires on the left and right sides of the car. Because of the tire’s makeup, slight variations in circumference result. Stagger between right-side and left-side tires may range from less than half an inch to more than an inch. Stagger applies to only bias-ply tires and not radials.
Stickers: Slang term for new tires. The name is derived from the manufacturer’s stickers that are affixed to each new tire’s contact surface.
Sway bar: Sometimes called an “antiroll bar.” Bar used to resist or counteract the rolling force of the car body through the turns.
Template: A device used to check the body shape and size, to ensure compliance with the rules. The template resembles the shape of the factory version of the car.
Track bar: A lateral bar that keeps the rear tire centered with the body of the car. It connects the frame on one side and the rear axle on the other. Also called the panhard bar.
Wedge: Term that refers to the cross weight adjustment of the racecar.
Window net: A woven mesh that hangs across the driver’s side window, to prevent the driver’s head and limbs from being exposed during an accident.
NASCAR 101 crew quotes and term definition story links:
NASCAR 101: cars and crew, how many parts? Part 1:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14357-Tampa-Motorsports-Examiner~y2009m8d28-NASCAR-101-cars-and-crew-how-many-parts-Part-1
NASCAR 101: cars and crew, how many parts? Part 2:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14357-Tampa-Motorsports-Examiner~y2009m9d1-NASCAR-101-cars-and-crew-how-many-parts-Part-2
NASCAR 101: How fans, new and seasoned, can know racing terms:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14357-Tampa-Motorsports-Examiner~y2009m7d24-NASCAR-101-How-fans-new-and-seasoned-can-know-racing-terms
NASCAR 101: Marks on the track and way more:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14357-Tampa-Motorsports-Examiner~y2009m8d7-NASCAR-101-Marks-on-the-track-and-way-more#comments
Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com
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