{"id":548,"date":"2022-01-13T10:58:47","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T10:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motorracingsports.com\/?p=548"},"modified":"2022-01-18T02:00:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T02:00:33","slug":"what-does-the-pace-car-do-in-nascar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorracingsports.com\/what-does-the-pace-car-do-in-nascar\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does The Pace Car Do In NASCAR?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In every NASCAR race there is a pace car or safety car. <\/strong>Along with the race officials the pace car has ensured that NASCAR races are run smoothly and safely. It is often provided by the race track and until 2018 was driven by Brett Bodine a former NASCAR driver. The models and makes may have changed race to race but its role and function have not<\/strong>. We explore these in more detail below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The NASCAR Pace car is utilized at NASCAR race tracks to control the speed of competitors during both the start of races and when the race is under caution. It is also used by drivers to gauge the revs needed to safely and legally enter and drive in the pitlane due to a lack of speedometers in NASCAR.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n However despite its low speed and safety roles there have been incidents involving Pace cars through motor racing. We take a look at the NASCAR pace car roles and incidents here<\/strong>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The pace, or safety car in NASCAR has more than one important role. We take a look at these below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.Lap placeholder.<\/strong> This is one is less easy to follow so bear with us. (a Hollywood version of this was in Days of Thunder here<\/a><\/strong> btw) which may explain this better than we do! However here we go:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. The “Lucky Dog”<\/a> “beneficiary or “free pass” rule. When the pace car goes on to the track the first car that is lapped is allowed to get back on to the lead lap. There is some controversy surrounding it as it doesn’t necessarily give the lap to the fastest or most deserving drivers<\/strong>. We are in the process of writing a longer article about it as the pace car only plays a minor role in this rule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Sponsorship and promotional.<\/strong> In most NASCAR races the pace car is assigned by the track has been lots of different models of car. it is also a chance to have sponsorship displayed to the millions of viewers<\/strong> as, somewhat ironically, the pace car in an eventful race may be the one of the most seen cars in television coverage! <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also the chance that you can spot a celebrity driving or at least being a passenger in a pace car at the start of the race. We linked to Days of Thunder above, well Tom Cruise returned to daytona in 2009 to drive the starting pace car there as well.<\/strong> Other celebrities who have taken the wheel in a NASCAR<\/a> Race Pace car are below. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is the Role Of The Pace Car in NASCAR?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n