How Weather Conditions Can Affect NASCAR Races
Figure 1. Most NASCAR races enjoy good weather - Source: Pexels
We all have our favorite memories of NASCAR. Whether it is Ricky Craven edging past Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003 in one of the closest finishes ever, or Jimmie Johnson claiming his seventh championship at Homestead-Miami in 2016, our memories are usually bathed in the sunshine of nostalgia.
The weather plays a very important part in the running of NASCAR, and that is why we are dedicated to offering our prediction service to enhance the experience of everyone involved. The drivers, spectators, and even those using California betting sites to make their own predictions rely on an expert and correct weather forecast to fully enjoy the spectacle.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the ways weather can affect NASCAR races, and how even the smallest details can change the way we enjoy this beautiful sport.
Rain and Moisture
All motorsports are affected by the weather, but you may have noticed that organizations like Formula 1 or MotoGP more regularly allow races to go ahead when it has been raining compared to NASCAR. The main reason for this is that NASCAR racers do not have a wide range of tires like other sports.
There has been an expanded use of wet-weather tires in recent years, but NASCAR is best when the sun is blazing down on the oval. Standard slick tires, with no tread, put cars at risk of hydroplaning when there is rain or even moisture on the track. The mist and spray would also severely diminish visibility for the drivers. The result is that most NASCAR races are enjoyed in the sun.
Wet Weather Rules
For safety reasons, there has been the development of wet weather rules in NASCAR, and that has been ramped up in recent years. No one wants to see the drivers put in dangerous positions due to inclement weather, so wet-weather tires have been rolled out in phases in the last 15 years.
Now, NASCAR decides whether a race can start when it has been raining, and all cars must begin with the same kind of tire. Once the green flag is waved, discretion is passed to the teams themselves. There are also specific pit rules that can be enforced when the weather is wet to ensure race order, and fairness remains in place.
Temperature and Heat
Thankfully, it is the heat that most NASCAR drivers and fans have to contend with. Temperature can still be a very serious issue for the teams, however, and high and low forecasts will affect how a driver prepares and deals with the race. Racing conditions can change the way a race goes entirely.
Hot temperatures will cause the track to become greasy and reduce tire grip, while the cold can harden the rubber of tires, making handling more difficult until they have warmed up. Cooler air can improve engine efficiency, however, and can also be much better for the drivers, who can really feel the heat in the cockpit on hotter days.
Day to Night Races and Changes
NASCAR drivers even benefit from weather forecasts concentrating on sunsets and sun conditions. With some races transitioning from day to night, drivers can appreciate knowing when they will need to deal with the effects that the change in temperature and light conditions brings.
Track surfaces can alter dramatically as the heat of the day disappears and cooler air is introduced. This will mainly affect the handling of the cars as they race around the oval. There is also the risk of the low sun causing glare for the drivers coming out of corners as the race moves from day to night conditions.
Fan Enjoyment
It is not just the drivers who can benefit from knowing what the weather will be like during a race, of course. Although the risks are not as great for those simply enjoying the spectacle from the stands, the level of enjoyment can be severely tested by extreme weather, whether that is the heat or the cold.
Sunny days at NASCAR are the best, but extreme heat and the direct sun that many fans will experience can cause physical discomfort and affect mood. Similarly, cold conditions require fans to think about clothing choices and preparation. Rain and thunderstorms obviously bring their own problems for fans, who may end up not getting to see their NASCAR heroes race at all when it is particularly bad.
Figure 2. Bad weather can severely affect NASCAR races - Source: Unsplash
Here’s to the Sun, NASCAR, and Good Times
As you can see, the weather – and knowing what to expect from the weather – is hugely important to NASCAR racing. The good news is that most of the time we fans don’t have to worry about a thing. The drivers and teams can deal with the decisions about tires and track conditions, and everyone else can settle in and enjoy the action.
NASCAR in the sunshine is something that we can all enjoy, and the technology used by the teams and racetracks these days ensures that the enjoyment can continue even when the sun is not shining as much as we may want it to.
RaceWeather will continue to play its part in making sure that everyone knows what the day will hold, and NASCAR can keep on providing the good times for a long time yet.
