Drivers,

With the weather warming up, we are moving into the part of the season where your setup will change more and more through the night. We've had rather tacky tracks so far this season, but there have been a few slick spots peeking out. Since we've got quite a few new drivers, I thought it might be appropriate to share some basic changes that can really make a difference when it comes to that dusty dry feature. If you've never been on a dry track, it can really sneak up on you. With a little setup work, and some patience, we can continue to put on awesome shows for the crowd through the summer.

We all know the 3 easy ways to get the car loose enough for a heavy track: Tilt, Stagger, and Offset. As the track dries out, all three of these can be managed to maximize traction and drivability. We've found that reducing tilt (raise both LF and LR) has a very comfortable impact on corner entry and exit on dry tracks. Reducing stagger also seems to help through the majority of the corner. Right rear offset manages side bite, and will usually have the greatest impact at the apex of the corner. The wing can help on corner entry, but also generates drag that can hurt straight line speed, especially in the lighter, lesser powered classes like the 250.

The other significant thing you can do on dry tracks is change your driving habits. There are 2 'styles' that almost always work well, and are rather easy: "Park and Pivot" and The Catfish. I would not recommend attempting the cushion (if its there) to newer drivers, so we'll skip that.

"Park and Pivot"- Many drivers prefer a hammerdown mid-low line early in the night, so much in fact that you can see the 600 class apex is often after the midpoint of the corner. This generates the greatest corner entry speed, by "stretching" out the end of the straight away. As the track dries, there is not enough grip to hold onto this line at speed. The result is sliding up off the corner, losing momentum. Solution? You can stretch the beginning of the straight away instead! If you've got to slow you car down to make the corner, you might as well take that opportunity to point yourself in the right direction right? By entering a little higher, and using quick but heavy braking, you can turn the car earlier, and accelerate down the bank, through the apex and exit, while your opponents are sliding up the track losing momentum and grip. You still make the straights longer, while avoiding the slickest part of the track. When done right, your front tires will be straight through most of the corner. The result can be a pass made by early-mid straight, instead of what has become a game of chicken into the next corner, where the car on the outside has the momentum advantage, and has become overly aggressive.

The Catfish- Because the preferred line early in the night often leaves good moisture at the bottom of the track, especially through the corner exit, Deming can still be run by the bottom feeders. It takes a great deal of patience, heavy EARLY braking and never feels fast. If you focus on slowing the car enough on entry to not slide up the track, you take advantage of the shorter distance, AND get a great run off the corner. 250's, this is where you've got a HUGE advantage- you can shift. Last week, I "double shifted" several times in heavy traffic and when passing, especially in turn 1- keep that motor up on the pipe where it makes power. Braking before turn in doesn't seem to upset the balance of the car as much. Shift while braking, so you can get back on the gas at the apex. IF you find yourself up on the slick part of the track, roll into the throttle, dont hammer it. If you overpower the tire, you lose forward bite. The motto for this line: "Slower is Faster".

Finally, don't be afraid to ask others what they are going to change for the main. We'll happily share exactly what changes we make, every week, every time on the track. I won't guarantee we are always right (especially now that we are readjusting to tail tanks). It does none of us any good to be stuck with yellow after yellow when a few simple changes can make this the most exciting racing of the season.