Most of the casual NASCAR fans assume that you must possess the fastest car to win. Often, this is very true. All drivers and teams toil for countless hours throughout the week hoping to formulate the magic setup in order to have fastest car possible when they reach at the track the following 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 study 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, and precipitation was falling. Should the rains have continued, the race would have been stopped. Reutimann, and two other drivers, Ryan Newman and 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 a win, and 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 and creative strategies end in victory.

A solid plan contributed to Reutimann’s victory that day. His crew chief followed the weather report, and felt as if it was in his driver’s best interest to stay out. Had the rain died down, and the other cars headed back out to the track, then they would have had to make a pit stop, but Reutimann and Childers knew they would have needed to make essential adjustments to improve vehicle performance. Such adjustments 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. This approach was ultimately the right one to achieve victory.

Kyle Busch led 173 of the 207 laps paced, while race-winner Reutimann led only five laps and 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, and 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.

It may be that the stars themselves should align to achieve a victory on the track. Other strategies to help a racer win without possessing the fastest vehicle deal with fuel mileage and tire strategy.

In 2003, Newman and his Penske Racing team were noted 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 a win, regardless. It makes no difference how the trophy was gained, the driver will accept it every time.

Tags: Gambling

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