This is the Statt Mann Baby. Time to Scatt a little bit.

If you’ve been paying attention, you know I’m not a big fan of NASCAR racing.  But I am fascinated by the myth that all NASCAR drivers must do is turn left.

Nascar Cup Logo

By way of example, let’s look at the four-race window we’re in right now.  Richmond last week is a D shaped oval with 14-degree banking in the turns.  Three-quarters of a mile in length. No symmetry at all.

Martinsville this week is the shortest track on the Cup schedule: a half mile paperclip.  Only 11 degree banking. That’s relatively flat.

Texas next week is 1.5 miles in length with 20 degrees banking at one end and 24 degrees at the other.  Symmetry free!

Then Talladega is the longest: 2.6 miles in length and 33 degree banking in the turns.

Left turns all. Entry and exit speeds vastly different.  Track distances all over the place.  But if you think the left turns at Talladega are the same as the left turns at Martinsville you miss the point entirely.  And these tracks change every few days.

Different setups for the cars and different driving styles for the drivers.

So, the next time someone suggests all left turns in NASCAR are the same tell ‘em to flush the mouse.  And take the cannoli.

Or, in short, get out of here!

Peace.