How to Drive the NASCAR Superspeedways

The high-banked turns and long straightaways at Daytona and Talledega mean stock cars reach nearly 200 mph. "The superspeedways are all about drafting and aerodynamics," reports Johnny Benson, driver of the Tyler Jet Motorsports #10 Lycos Pontiac.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Binoculars
• Binoculars Cases
• Monopoly® NASCAR® - Collector's Edition
• ESPN - The Magazine
• Sports Illustrated Magazines
• PlayStation NASCAR 2000
• Nintendo 64 NASCAR 99
• Winston Cup Scene Magazines
• Stock Car Racing Magazines
• EHobbies - Diecast Collectibles - NASCAR Stock Car
• Public Service Band Scanners
• NASCAR Uncut Videos
• NASCAR 50th Anniversary Southern Exposure Videos

1. Have your engine shop build your car for horsepower and reliability.
2. Take your car to the wind tunnel. You want your car as slick as possible.
3. Check your book for the proper shock, spring, sway bar and air pressure settings.
4. Use your practice time to improve your drafting techniques.
5. Find a good drafting partner. Sometimes your car will work best in front, and sometimes it will work best as the second car in line.
6. Set up for qualifying. Install the qualifying motor and tape down the front of the car to decrease drag.
7. Plan your race strategy according to your place in the starting lineup.
8. Watch out for impatient drivers who take too many chances. A slight tap at 190 mph can cause a multicar catastrophe.
9. Stay in the draft. Make sure you have a drafting partner when you pull out to pass.
10. Find a drafting partner to pit at the same time if it looks like you'll be forced to pit under the green flag.
11. Patience, patience, patience. Move slowly to the front as the race progresses, but avoid the hot dogs who take big chances and trigger crashes.
12. Pay attention to how your car performs while leading a draft as compared to how it does as the trailing car.
13. Put your car in its best position on the final lap.

Tips & Warnings

• NASCAR mandated a specific shock absorber for all competitors on the superspeedways this year. Benson says, "The car is real comfortable and easy to drive. It is a lot better than the last few years where the cars just beat the heck out of you. It has made the driver's life a lot easier."
• Drivers communicate with one another by hand signals and through their spotters. Some may decide to draft together after a prerace discussion.
• "You are going almost 200 mph, so you have to be very, very careful," says Johnny Benson. "There aren't many small accidents at that speed."