Oval track racing.... why?

[Wally]

I watched some Nascar oval track racing on Ten HD the other day. I couldn't help but think... why? Hundreds of laps going round and around in circles... are these guys even braking or changing gears?

I did have it explained to me once that rather than battling the track in road circuits, where you have to "attack" each corner in a different way, in ovals you're battling the car in front of you more than the track. So maybe there's something there....

Can you guys see any sense in oval racing?

[Bird]

As you said: extremely close battles, tactics of tyre management, drafting...it's a whole different thing.

I don't get it either, but on the iRacing forums there are a lot of fanatics who'll explain it to you in minute detail :D

What really baffles me; how can you practice for such a race? There's really nothing more boring than to praccy for an oval race is there? :lol:

[gawaterman]

Think its much harder than it looks, Ambrose didnt exactly shoot straight to the top.A lot to do with car setup and strategy
I race a Nascar mod (VHR) every 2nd Friday and love it. There is a lot of strategy that comes into it too when you use yellow flags, its all about setting yourself up for the dash from the last yellow to the checkered flag. You also have to adjust your setups and driving styles to keep tyre wear in check. Drafting is also exciting
Quote:What really baffles me; how can you practice for such a race? There's really nothing more boring than to praccy for an oval race is there?
Thats all about setup for speed and tyre wear, not that I do it

[gawaterman]

Also, last week, another League I'm in ran they Bathurst Legend Cars (Falcon GTHO's and Monaros) around a dirt speedway, and everyone was raving about it. I missed it, so tried it with the BL cars and also TCL cars and it was fun, even by myself, so I could imagine it would be fantastic with a big field. Try the BL cars around Knocksville.

[yokelhama]

I've done a few oval races in the Indycar & Cart mods, they're pretty good fun when you're drafting etc, lots of passing for sure. Not so much fun to watch on tv tho.

Also there's few cool RallyCross style tracks around (tarmac & dirt) they're fun in the right car as you can get some nice drifts happening thru the dirt sections then onto the tarmac.

[Wally]

My simple brain just loses interest when strategy comes into play and managing tyres is tedious :) But drifting... that I can understand. I did try one oval race, once. There were cars passing me from above, from below... I was trying to drive with more than half an eye on the mirror and caused a massive pileup, and swore myself off ovals for life lol.