Nascar and "Bump Drafting"

AJ · 05-02-2005

Well it's all over the news today as the cause of the 25 car pile up this weekend. I just saw highlights and wow that was a mess. ESPN did a nice breakdown of "bump drafting" and what kind of effect it has. Some think it shodl be banned, other think it's just part of racing.

What do some of you nascar fans think about it and how it effected the race this weekend by whiping out half the field.

For those who don't know what bump drafting is... It's when a car A is being followed by car B so close and then sind car A is ending up with more wind resisance and car B can go faster by drafting. The bump drafting is when car B bumps car A and uses it's own energy to allow car A to go just a bit fast. They essentally work as a team.

Jakey · 05-02-2005

I missed the race yesterday (f*ck!) but I believe bump drafting should be banned. It is simply too risky of a driving style to be using at the speeds these guys & gals drive at. If I remember correctly, bump drafting is what got so many drivers pissed off at Tony Stewart (who's a piece of shit in the first place) and Kevin Harvick last year.

DSMPARTSGURU · 05-02-2005

OK, NOW QUESTION? how do you stop it from happening? alot of the time it cant be helped....

cc

**Kracka** · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMPARTSGURU

OK, NOW QUESTION? how do you stop it from happening? alot of the time it cant be helped....

cc

Sure it can, they don't use it in any open-wheel racing series.

DSMPARTSGURU · 05-02-2005

open wheeled racing doenst have a front bumper to break the air like a nascar vehicle... so even if they did they are so aerodynamic it wouldnt help any.....

just my.02

chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

Sure it can, they don't use it in any open-wheel racing series.

1QUICK4 · 05-02-2005

Bump drafting has always been a part of superspeedway Nascar racing and always will be.

There is usually always an accident that takes out half the feild during the big track races.

Shotgun! · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1QUICK4

Bump drafting has always been a part of superspeedway Nascar racing and always will be.

There is usually always an accident that takes out half the feild during the big track races.

Word. Nascar is really just about the wrecks anyway. I say the cars need more power and driving aids.

**Kracka** · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMPARTSGURU

open wheeled racing doenst have a front bumper to break the air like a nascar vehicle... so even if they did they are so aerodynamic it wouldnt help any.....

just my.02

chris

Drafting is utilized in open-wheel racing, they just don't hit each other. They either back off the accelerator to conserve fuel or swing out at the last second and use the extra momentum to make a pass.

NASCAR is all about the wrecks like Reid said, hicks don't care about competition, they thrive on carnage.

**scheides** · 05-02-2005

probably best to just ban nascar all together. oh well.

Jakey · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by scheides

probably best to just ban nascar all together. oh well.

The fastest growing sport in America? Right.

**Kracka** · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakey

The fastest growing sport in America? Right.

Unfortunately.

**1ViciousGSX** · 05-02-2005

It's simple, remove the restrictor plates and go racing. As long as NASCAR keeps trying to make everything totally equal and take away any advantage a race team could have, they will have to keep bump drafting to be able to pass. That's why all the cars get bunched up like that. There will always be somebody who will make a mistake and touch another car. NASCAR is turning into the biggest show on Earth. Look at what NASCAR has done in respect to super speedways. They make them run restrictor plates which bunches up all the cars because it's borring to watch 43 cars spread out around a 2.6 mile track. Then they make them run smaller fuel cells to make for more pitstops, because it's the entertainment factor coming into play.

JustROLLIN · 05-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakey

The fastest growing sport in America? Right.

Pretty sure soccer holds that title. But, correct me if I am wrong.

Matt D. · 05-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustROLLIN

Pretty sure soccer holds that title. But, correct me if I am wrong.

Auto racing is the largest spectator sport in the world, and I'm pretty sure NASCAR holds the title of largest spectator sport in the US.

Swifty1638 · 05-02-2005

Nascar did make an effort to not make the racing as close..They put smaller gas tanks in the cars, and unlike busch, they removed the spoilers on the roof of the cars. However, the only way to stop bump-drafting is to let off of the gas. They won't do that, as it looses too much momentum, and you can get run into from behind..it's risky. Open wheel guys draft all the time. SCCA world gt cars draft..alms draft..everyone does it. Nascar has bumpers, and their cars can take a beating..I'll never race in nascar because of that. You don't see ALMS cars bouncin off of each other, because they will tear up half of their car. When they all hit the walls though, they always walk away. the irl guys hit walls 4x as hard as the nascar guys, have half the car, go way faster, yet most always..walk away. Because their car takes the kinetic energy from the accident, and dicipates it, by breakin into houndreds of pieces. I don't see a nascar stock car do that. Instead they bend a few fenders, and such. Sorry, but to me, that's not safe. It may keep the car safe, but the driver then recieves all of the energy from the crash. I actually think, that if the car was crushable, or broke apart, big dale MIGHT still be alive today. That's just my personal opinion..sorry for the off-topic tantrum, I just had to vent. The big one always happens at these events, because everyone get's impatient, and it's go-go-go time..they all are aiming for the same spot, and only one guy (or girl..if shauna was in it) can have it. I think they need to remove the restrictor plates, because while it's exciting right now, without a restrictor, the cars are broken up into smaller packs, and they don't get as good of a momentum run on the persons out front. car A hasta use more poewr then car b, cause they are breaking the airflow more..in essence, car b actually has "stowed-away power" that they can use to swing by, or bump draft. Without that restrictor plate, car b has less of an advantage, and it's more into driver skill...

-A. Swift

Jana · 05-02-2005

Darn, I missed a good race apparently. The only good part of watching Nascar is the accidents. Not that I want anyone to be hurt (Earnhardt was my favorite!), but it just makes things more interesting to watch (on tv & in person).

**1ViciousGSX** · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMChick

Earnhardt was my favorite!

I think I'm in love!

MustGoFaster · 05-02-2005

They just like ramming each other in the ass!

I say whatever. It's a useful technique, let them use it. The accident wasn't really caused by bump drafting if you ask me. One guy got blocked, let off and lost a ton of momentum, went back up into the pack, and caused everybody to have to move. Somebody tried to move to a place that was already occupied by a car, and boom, we have what NASCAR is all about, a spectacular crash.

Shotgun! · 05-03-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustGoFaster

They just like ramming each other in the ass!

I say whatever. It's a useful technique, let them use it. The accident wasn't really caused by bump drafting if you ask me. One guy got blocked, let off and lost a ton of momentum, went back up into the pack, and caused everybody to have to move. Somebody tried to move to a place that was already occupied by a car, and boom, we have what NASCAR is all about, a spectacular crash.

he's right, you know.

BKs50trimGST · 05-03-2005

i'm sorry for saying this but i can't stand nascar, i know high horsepower, low weight cars going crazy fast but i mean for god's sakes, doing the same thing over and over again for 350laps is so boring - i watch the last 10 laps and like to see the crashes. i can't believe ppl can watch the whole race. it's unbelieveable to me.