Every week, teams are trying to get any little edge they can. And one way that many teams have found they can gain a small edge with pit stops, is to add a little bit of traction to their pit stalls. At places like Las Vegas, that little bit of traction in the stall can make a big difference on the track.
Each track has it’s own little quirks in terms of pit road. Some have small pit stalls, others have stalls that aren’t square or level, and some places have tall or short pit walls. At Las Vegas, everyone knows that pit road is very slick. For whatever reason, when the concrete was poured on pit road, they didn’t do whatever technique some other tracks have used to rough up the surface. So a smooth surface, combined with the little bit of dust that always seems to linger on the concrete, and you have a recipe for disaster (a.k.a. I just busted my ass).
In the past, teams used a chemical known as VHT to add a little traction to their stalls. I had a conversation on Twitter recently with RacingwithRich.com’s Richard Allen (@RacingWithRich) about this very topic. The drag racing fans out there will know that VHT is very common around their favorite strip, as tracks use it to add grip to their surfaces. But within the last few weeks, NASCAR has decided that teams are no longer allowed to use any sort of chemicals or adhesives in their pit stalls. The only additive we are allowed to use now is your favorite soda.
Before, and even during the race, you may have noticed teams dousing their stalls with soda from cans and bottles. Anybody who has ever spilled a soda knows that it makes a sticky mess. Pit crews are using that stickiness to their advantage. Beyond that, some teams have even discovered that using just the syrup from the soda makes for even better traction.
What this added traction from chemicals or soda really means, is crew members have better traction with their shoes while running around doing pit stops, and the cars will have better grip getting into, and leaving the stalls. And that little bit of extra traction can pay big dividends on the scoring pylon when the checkered flag drops.
