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example of a driver who’s won a variety of different races on a variety of different tracks: everything from short tracks to superspeedways to intermediate tracks to road courses. Getting across the finish line isn’t just about how fast you can go; it’s about strategizing and planning how to manage the specific risks particular to each track.
    The Coca-Cola 600, which is on the Sprint Cup Series schedule, is the longest NASCAR race. At 600 miles long, not only does it test the drivers’ skills, thewinner is often the one who endures with grace and patience, takes a daring risk at the end, and steals first place. It’s important to know when to play it safe and when to take a chance.
    The race is long and risk is always tempered by staying power. To return to the marathon analogy, let’s look at the format of a race such as the Coca-Cola 600. Because it is the only 600-mile racing event, it requires that drivers pace themselves. They have to focus the entire time, knowing when to pass and when to draft. For the most part, that focus is channeled toward staying ahead of the pack while still saving energy for those last few laps leading up to the final one, when everything counts the most. But if drivers aren’t on top of their game during the whole race, they can fall behind, and then at the end, be out of the race. The best drivers know how to pace themselves, but that isn’t to say that most of the excitement happens at the end of the race. It is thrilling to watch over 40 stock cars zipping along, each trying to stay ahead of the other and taking calculated risks to keep them at the front of the pack.
    The test of endurance applies just as easily to the cars, which are engineered to very high standards and must meet tough demands. Imagine what would become of the average automobile if it had to endure just a dozen laps at those speeds, without the proper pit crew, machinery, and engineering. NASCARvehicles must be carefully maintained, even during the race, which is why having a good car can make all the difference; fewer pit stops means more time saved. On the other hand, refueling, changing tires, and making running repairs can really help a car and the driver’s time. If major repairs aren’t needed, a pit crew can be done in less than fourteen seconds; however, it doesn’t mean that the driver isn’t sacrificing valuable time. If drivers can save even just a few seconds, it can change the entire outcome of a 600-mile race.
    Good drivers know their cars. They have to be able to identify problems and make decisions about whether to continue with the race or head to a pit stop. This means that drivers can’t just drive fast and burn rubber; they have to be on the ball, as both drivers and mechanics. They have to judge, solely by the feel and sound of the car, with a crew chief talking in their ears, whether that tire really does need changing. Other issues are sometimes only picked up on through intuition. The driver’s inner sense and ability to detect mechanical flaws can be a deciding factor in the race. Races have been lost due to flat tires and car malfunctions; leaders have become followers due to a blown-out tire. Drivers and pit crews who are able to carefully time their pit stops according to their car’s needs and the demands of the race are the most successful on the track. Drivers needto know when to trust their machines and intuition – when to take risks and when to play it safe.
    Pit crews play a major role in all of this. They do what your mechanic probably takes days to do in a matter of seconds – then again, it’s a team of trained professionals concentrating on one vehicle. The driver has to drop speed very quickly, like coming off the highway straight into a driveway. And it might as well be a driveway – the driver is given an incredibly small amount of space to pull into.
    Pit activity is closely monitored and regulated