The Path to The NASCAR Winner's Circle by Mikayla N. Murphree
Most of the casual NASCAR fans assume that you must possess the fastest car to win. In many cases that is correct. Both the drivers the teams are working long hours during the week to create just the right vehicle set up to provide 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. Not everyone can be the fastest which is why teams analyze a multitude of strategies in order to find ways to win.
For 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 precipitation was falling. Should the rains have continued the race would have been stopped. Reutimann two other drivers Ryan Newman Robby Gordon gambled on Mother Nature.
At about 6:30 p. m. EST NASCAR officials were obliged to cancel the race giving Reutimann his first Sprint Cup win. In the past a victory in a rain shortened event had a proverbial asterisk beside it. Sometimes these wins cause complaints from fans who consider the win as a mere fluke. The opinions of some fans often find an audience on NASCAR news channels. This must be weighed against the fact that NASCAR is probably the most competitive form of auto racing around. A win is win every driver on the track would be happy to perform the 'rain dance' if it meant that they were going to make the coveted trip to victory lane. NASCAR news has been on hand to witness some impressive creative strategies end in victory.
Strategy played a part in Reutimann's victory. Armed with the information form latest weather reports his crew chief decided to keep Reutimann out on the track. If the showers had stopped the cars reentered the track then they would have went to the pit but according to Childers Reutimann they would have made necessary adjustment to increase automotive performance. Such reconfigurations would have taken too long. Additionally Reutimann would have lost his place on the track if they had pit stopped with the others so he chose to wait on the rain. Their strategy turned out to be the winning strategy.
Kyle Busch led 173 of the 207 laps paced while race winner Reutimann led only five laps was in the fourteenth place when the skies opened up.
NASCAR news reported similar events involving Jeff Gordon. In 2007 Gordon used a similar strategy to win a race at Pocono. He did not have a car that could contend for the win but his team sensed that the rain showers were approaching it paid off. If the showers had come only five seconds later Gordon would have likely finished in second place. Driver Ryan Newman was just passing Gordon's car when NASCAR put out the caution flag.
Sometimes the stars must align perfectly in order to get the victory. Factors like tire strategy fuel mileage offer the type of strategies that can get a driver to victory without needing the fastest thing on the track.
In 2003 Newman his Penske Racing team were renowned for stretching fuel mileage with a smaller carburetor. At least four of his eight total wins during the 2003 season could be contributed to fuel mileage.
In the past some drivers have taken a two tire pit stop in order to obtain track position late in the race so they could go for the win. Often it has allowed the driver to make get a win.
In NASCAR a win is win regardless. It makes no difference how the trophy was gained the driver will accept it every time.
I like many others am interested in the experience of NASCAR racing keep up on NASCAR news nascapper. com nascar news. html items when I can. Writing about NASCAR provides its own rewards. The Path to The NASCAR Winner's Circle
