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If you’re familiar enough with NASCAR to know this much about the goings on of this season, I’m surprised you have this perspective on oval pack racing. To say

If you’re familiar enough with NASCAR to know this much about the goings on of this season, I’m surprised you have this perspective on oval pack racing. To say it’s just driving around in a circle is missing so much. Instead of writing an essay, I’ll just make the claim that it’s like saying that writing software is just typing on a keyboard for a few hours. Yes there’s certainly more randomness / chaos in oval racing, but it’s certainly not brain dead or simple. Pack racing is also unique across nearly all motorsport disciplines (I’m a bit of a motor sports addict). There’s certainly things to criticize about NASCAR like there is for all forms of organized competition, but the meme that NASCAR is silly because they “just turn left” is extremely closed minded. Is soccer just kicking a ball around until the other team screws up? Sorry for the tone, I don’t really mean to direct it at you personally, but more so at the prevalence of this meme. If it was true then stock car oval racing wouldn’t be a thing, it’s simple as that.

ok_dad 3y ago
I don’t simrace much on ovals but it is challenging. I prefer road courses, I’m not much into the tactics of racing, which is a large part of ovals. Don’t get triggered too hard, it was mostly a joke :)
pradn 3y ago
I am curious, why exactly is it so much more than turning left? Is it minute adjustments like in curling?
- ok_dad 3y ago
  From a drivers view an oval race is you trying to perfect your arc around the big curves to lose very little speed, while also trying to gain advantage when an opponent makes mistakes. Your ability to deviate from the perfect line is limited. There is a large amount of strategy before and during the race to perfect your car’s tuning, plan fuel and tire strategies, and respond to caution flags since that gives some additional ability to refuel or whatever and maybe be able to use it to your advantage. Road course racing has all that stuff but it’s also a bit more down to driver skill and less of strategy, IMO. You can drive much more varied in most road racing and still gain advantage versus another opponent who might be technically more perfect or have a slightly better car.

ok_dad 3y ago

I don’t simrace much on ovals but it is challenging. I prefer road courses, I’m not much into the tactics of racing, which is a large part of ovals. Don’t get triggered too hard, it was mostly a joke :)

pradn 3y ago

I am curious, why exactly is it so much more than turning left? Is it minute adjustments like in curling?

ok_dad 3y ago
From a drivers view an oval race is you trying to perfect your arc around the big curves to lose very little speed, while also trying to gain advantage when an opponent makes mistakes. Your ability to deviate from the perfect line is limited. There is a large amount of strategy before and during the race to perfect your car’s tuning, plan fuel and tire strategies, and respond to caution flags since that gives some additional ability to refuel or whatever and maybe be able to use it to your advantage. Road course racing has all that stuff but it’s also a bit more down to driver skill and less of strategy, IMO. You can drive much more varied in most road racing and still gain advantage versus another opponent who might be technically more perfect or have a slightly better car.