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When the NASCAR Cup Series returns to EchoPark Speedway this weekend, fans will once again hear broadcasters talk about one of the circuit’s most unusual features before drivers ever take the green flag.
It isn’t the drafting.
It isn’t the banking.
It’s pit road.
Formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, EchoPark Speedway has perhaps the most distinctive pit road layout in the Cup Series. The nearly 3,900-foot pit lane features NASCAR’s longest pit entry and requires drivers to navigate two different speed zones before they ever reach their pit stall.
The layout creates a challenge unlike anywhere else on the schedule, adding another layer of difficulty during green-flag pit stops at the 1.54-mile drafting track.
Unlike a traditional pit road, drivers at EchoPark Speedway exit the racing surface entering Turn 3 and travel through a long approach before arriving at their team’s pit box.
That extended entry is divided into two separate speed zones.
Drivers first enter a high-speed section where NASCAR permits speeds of up to 90 mph, allowing them to safely cover the unusually long distance between the race track and pit lane.
As they approach the working pit road where crews are stationed, they must slow to the standard 45 mph pit road speed limit before reaching their stall.
Timing the transition is critical.
Brake too early and a driver gives away valuable time over the course of a green-flag stop. Brake too late and they risk speeding penalties that can completely change the outcome of a race.
The challenge doesn’t stop there.
EchoPark Speedway also features some of the shortest pit stalls in NASCAR at just 27 feet, 6 inches, leaving crews with very little room for error during service.
Because EchoPark Speedway produces large drafting packs similar to Daytona and Talladega, green-flag pit stops often determine who remains with the lead group and who loses the draft.
A clean trip onto pit road can preserve valuable track position.
One mistake entering pit lane, whether it’s braking too late, entering the 45-mph zone too fast or overshooting the pit stall, can drop a driver several seconds behind the lead pack, making it difficult to recover without a caution.
NASCAR Senior Managing Director Brad Moran recently highlighted EchoPark Speedway’s “unique pit entry,” dual-speed sections and extended DVP clock as some of the track’s distinctive features ahead of this weekend’s race.
Those characteristics make every trip down pit road one of the most technically demanding sequences drivers will face all season, even before the crew changes a single tire.
Continue reading...
It isn’t the drafting.
It isn’t the banking.
It’s pit road.
Formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, EchoPark Speedway has perhaps the most distinctive pit road layout in the Cup Series. The nearly 3,900-foot pit lane features NASCAR’s longest pit entry and requires drivers to navigate two different speed zones before they ever reach their pit stall.
The layout creates a challenge unlike anywhere else on the schedule, adding another layer of difficulty during green-flag pit stops at the 1.54-mile drafting track.
Drivers must manage two speed limits before reaching their pit stall
Unlike a traditional pit road, drivers at EchoPark Speedway exit the racing surface entering Turn 3 and travel through a long approach before arriving at their team’s pit box.
That extended entry is divided into two separate speed zones.
Drivers first enter a high-speed section where NASCAR permits speeds of up to 90 mph, allowing them to safely cover the unusually long distance between the race track and pit lane.
As they approach the working pit road where crews are stationed, they must slow to the standard 45 mph pit road speed limit before reaching their stall.
Timing the transition is critical.
Brake too early and a driver gives away valuable time over the course of a green-flag stop. Brake too late and they risk speeding penalties that can completely change the outcome of a race.
The challenge doesn’t stop there.
EchoPark Speedway also features some of the shortest pit stalls in NASCAR at just 27 feet, 6 inches, leaving crews with very little room for error during service.
Why it matters on race day
Because EchoPark Speedway produces large drafting packs similar to Daytona and Talladega, green-flag pit stops often determine who remains with the lead group and who loses the draft.
A clean trip onto pit road can preserve valuable track position.
One mistake entering pit lane, whether it’s braking too late, entering the 45-mph zone too fast or overshooting the pit stall, can drop a driver several seconds behind the lead pack, making it difficult to recover without a caution.
NASCAR Senior Managing Director Brad Moran recently highlighted EchoPark Speedway’s “unique pit entry,” dual-speed sections and extended DVP clock as some of the track’s distinctive features ahead of this weekend’s race.
Those characteristics make every trip down pit road one of the most technically demanding sequences drivers will face all season, even before the crew changes a single tire.
Continue reading...
