{"id":5380,"date":"2022-09-05T14:47:37","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T14:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motorracingsports.com\/?p=5380"},"modified":"2022-09-05T14:48:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T14:48:00","slug":"why-do-nascar-drivers-drive-so-close-to-the-wall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorracingsports.com\/why-do-nascar-drivers-drive-so-close-to-the-wall\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do NASCAR Drivers Drive So Close to the Wall?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve ever watched international track stars running a race, you\u2019ll know that one\u2019s position on the track is key to one\u2019s overall racing strategy. When it comes to tracks of an even, regular shape, the general idea seems to be to get to and stick to the inside track as much as possible. In the world of NASCAR, however, it\u2019s not that simple at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the inside of an oval speedway is the shortest route it is rarely the quickest. Driving closer to the outside wall in NASCAR races allows for faster speeds due to shallower turning and less braking. This often equates to faster lap times and is why NASCAR drivers drive close to the wall of an Oval Racetrack.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we are going to explore the reasons behind NASCAR drivers\u2019 apparent \u201chugging\u201d of the outside wall on the track <\/strong>which seems to happen with alarming frequency. If the track is an oval, isn\u2019t the inside part of the track the shortest and therefore the fastest route? The answers to these and other related questions may surprise you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/a>Why NASCAR Drivers Go So Close to the Wall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s first look at the core content of today\u2019s article, answering why<\/strong> it is that NASCAR drivers hug the wall<\/a> so often. <\/strong>The simple answer is that riding the track closest to the wall is, in reality, the fastest and most efficient way to complete each circuit<\/strong>. This seems completely counterintuitive, of course, when you remember your basic knowledge that on any round track, the inside lanes offer a shorter route.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main difference comes in the speeds at which different oval track races<\/a> are conducted. Long-distance runners on an athletics track naturally gravitate towards the inside lane because at their speeds it\u2019s easy to control themselves as they turn and maneuver through the race<\/strong>. When you\u2019re in a speeding stock car<\/a> heading up to 200+ miles per hour, however, sticking to the inside of the track would present you with a pretty big problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>NASCAR Races and \u201cThe Groove\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A critical part of any NASCAR race for the driver<\/a> is being able to keep his or her car in \u201cthe groove.\u201d<\/strong> This isn\u2019t a preset path carved into the track like some kind of railway or monorail, but refers to the optimum route around the track that allows drivers to finish each circuit in the shortest possible time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On an oval track, the groove will take drivers up close to the wall on straighter, wider parts of the course, and then at the last opportune moment they\u2019ll take the turn, drawing them closer to the inside, and then back out toward the wall again on the other side. <\/strong>This brings us to the aforementioned \u201cpretty big problem\u201d when it comes to trying to stick to the shorter inside of the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inside may be shorter, but it prevents you from staying \u201cin the groove\u201d throughout the race because drivers have to moderate their speed much more severely when trying to stick to the inside track.<\/strong> The turn to the left is much harsher, thus needing far stronger and keener braking maneuvers. When keeping your car on the outside of the track close to the wall, you do have to cover more distance overall, but you can do so at far greater speeds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, hugging the wall and then maneuvering just at the right moment to take the corner time after time helps build a smooth and race-winning momentum. The tricky part is doing that when there are about 39 other drivers on the race track with you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Happens \u201cOutside the Groove\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keeping one\u2019s car in the groove is a fine balancing act that draws a lot of mental and physical strength from NASCAR drivers<\/a> during a race. Falling out of the groove and either being too close to the wall or too close to the inside can create a tremendous lack of balance<\/strong>, making it harder to stay fully in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, those who fall out of the curve during a race run a much greater risk of being involved in accidents, either crashing themselves or causing others to crash. The more drivers can stay in the groove, the safer the drivers will be overall, but also the more effective drivers will be at trying to overtake others without too much risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/a>Other NASCAR Track Slang<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe groove\u201d is a key term that refers to the optimum route around a NASCAR track, in particular an oval track. There are other terms as well that define areas of the track both good and bad that the drivers may find themselves in at some point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>In the Gray<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When teams hear that one of their drivers is \u201cgetting into the gray,\u201d they know that they are straying closer to the \u201capron\u201d of the track, which is an area on the inside of the track below the yellow\/blue lines at different speedways. It\u2019s okay for drivers to traverse the \u201cgray\u201d of the apron, but not all the time — hence the idea of \u201cgray\u201d meaning unclear as to whether it\u2019s okay or not<\/strong>. On straight sections of the track, it\u2019s allowed, but not on the main bend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Driving on the Marbles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wear and tear on the tires and other components of the NASCAR vehicles usually depends on the condition of the track. Speedways that have recently repaved their track, for example, will see drivers experiencing far less wear and tear and high speeds have less effect on the tires thanks to the smoother, more even surface. Those speedways whose tracks are themselves becoming worn, however, present new hazards.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One such hazard is an area of the track known as \u201cthe marbles.\u201d If and when a track causes excessive wear on tires, and when other bits of debris come loose during a race, they tend to gather more in one zone of the track, invariably closer to the outside of the track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The motion of the cars tends to send things flying outward. Therefore, if a race has been especially rough, drivers might find their \u201cgroove\u201d moves somewhat closer to the inside of the track as they\u2019re afraid of getting impacted by these rogue bits of debris.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact is that not every \u201cgroove\u201d is the same, because not every track is exactly the same. Even when the shape of two tracks is very close, the other conditions might not be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An older, less recently repaved track will create more debris to generate a \u201cmarble\u201d zone<\/strong>, and the different shape of tracks means finding the optimum route is a new adventure on every race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NASCAR Drivers aim to complete the race in the fastest possible time, not the shortest possible distance and with oval tracks and the speeds they manage to achieve this is often by finding ways to maintain that speed for as long as possible. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way is to reduce the impact of braking and cornering and this is acheived by staying high on the track, close to the wall, until they have to turn. It also makes the cornering less severe as if there is room, they can then use the whole track from the outside to the inside to keep as much speed in the car as possible. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So unlike slower sports, the shortest route is not always the fastest in NASCAR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n