This week’s race at Richmond will be under the lights Saturday night. A lot of people ask if there is a big difference between day vs. night racing, and the answer is yes. It’s just a totally different set of circumstances.
The way the track reacts under sunlight is quite different than it does at night. The moisture in the air is different. And I honestly believe the way the lights hit the track make it seem different to a driver in some cases. We all know it’s the same track, it’s just the drivers’ perception is somewhat different. That’s all influenced by the lights.
Sometimes a driver really has to clear his head of what he is used to, even from practice to the actual race. Some tracks don’t give the teams a chance to practice at night. In most cases, you practice during the day and then race at night.
So the challenges are completely different. That means drivers and crew chiefs, for that matter, need to anticipate. Unfortunately, what you think is going to happen based on a day practice doesn’t happen at night during the race. In fact, I’ve seen it when it’s gone the opposite way.
So night racing brings in a mystic feel and a certain amount of unknown. There’s like a little “Twilight Zone” spin on it because you really don’t know what’s going to happen. Those of us in the garage grew up racing under the lights at some local short track. That’s where most of us got our start.
That’s a really cool part of night racing to me. Because, even though we are at the top tier of auto racing, we are brought back to our roots — those Friday or Saturday nights racing in Mobile, Ala., or Hickory, N.C. or the Fairgrounds in Nashville.
So to be successful Saturday night at Richmond teams must keep up with the racetrack and make the right adjustments.
The other interesting dynamic is that guys who start the race strong often don’t end up winning. This is a tough, challenging racetrack. Just like any short track, you can’t overwork the brakes getting into the corner. A big focus will be on getting the car to turn through the center of the corner and getting that forward bite to get off the corner.
I love going to Richmond. The racing this weekend, like always, should be really exciting.
It’s one of those kinds of races where tempers will flair during and after the race. Also don’t forget the other agenda for these teams: They know we are coming back here in September to set the field for the 2011 Chase, so a lot of data will be recorded to be used again in five months.
