Talladega 2011: 3 Wide by 2 Deep, a Drafting Breakdown

In a three-wide thriller of a finish at Talladega, fans were treated to a spectacle that competitively pitted age against youth, dominant leading strategies against others more patient, and in some cases, teammate against teammate.  All were represented in the top five finishers, all within a fraction of a second of the winner.  Long beloved for three-plus wide racing, Talladega is also one of two restrictor plate race tracks now becoming known for an added dimension in lining up racing cars:  "two deep."

Not regarded a favorite drafting style by NASCAR's elitest drivers, "two deep" refers to the practice of restrictor plated cars racing in full contact, pushing pairs to be competitive.  Unlike traditional drafting in which only a single void of broken air is all that connects the cars, and unlike intermittent bump drafting that was taboo in the corners, two deep pair style drafting consists of one car pushing another car around the racetrack.  Literally touching and pushing with reinforced bumpers, sometimes lubricated for smoother contact transition, all the way around the racetrack.

Restrictor Plate Cars Don't Race Solo

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TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 17: Kurt Busch, drivner of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil-AAA Dodge, and Dave Blaney, driver of the #36 Golden Corral Chevrolet, lead the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 17, 2011 in

Since the equalizing effect of restrictor plates, no single car can stand out enough to run competitively outside the draft.  To make a mistake that loses one's spot in the draft is to become a sitting duck;  soon the flock that left one behind flies back around one lap ahead.

We have two predominant reasons the formerly train-like convoys are breaking into pairs.  In the first place, the most recent resurfacing jobs at each track allow this type of racing contact to be possible.  For one race car to physically push another through a corner at a speed near 190 m.p.h. requires that the race surface be pristine.  One crack, bump or short whoop section could easily cause a pushed race car, with already minimized air on the rear spoiler (lessened downforce), to lose traction in the rear tires.  In perfect track conditions a pushed driver must still rely on judicious use of his brakes, and or the full traction of the push car to keep them tight and straight.  Only recently did contact in drafting become acceptable beyond the straight stretches.

Common sense and racing don't always mesh, but the second reason for the pairs is that two car pushing trains are risky enough.  With the introduction of even a third car, the full contact push drafting becomes exponentially more dangerous; instead of only one pushing car with full air on the rear spoiler, we now have one pushing car with little or no air on the rear spoiler (the middle car.)  This minimized downforce results in compromised rear grip, which forces the driver to lift off the throttle to retain control.  High risk enters here as that driver is not in a position to check up with a fiercely digging push car under his spoiler.  By not going deeper than two in their race packs the drivers ensure that all push cars have full air on the rear spoiler, and that each pack has only one driver that can see nothing more than the trunk deck and spoiler of another race car. 

A More Open View for Some

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TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 17: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, and David Reutimann, driver of the #00 Aaron's Coloring Contest Toyota, lead the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on Apr

In the aforementioned ways, the form drafting is taking could actually serve to lessen the blow of the "Big One" in restrictor plate races.  Forty-three cars in one pack is what made this racing a nail biter, and also a day-ender for high percentages of drivers that were collected in one signature accident.  Drafting in packs of no more than two deep inherently means the cars will be more spread out on the racetrack, potentially minimizing the impact of any single accident.  More spread out on the racetrack also means more drivers with more visibility; this is laughably fundamental in lowering risk and no consolation to those drivers that are still doing the pushing.

Whether two deep full contact drafting is a fad or if the plates will become less restricting are things that remain to be seen.  Drivers have shared how they feel about both, but don't expect NASCAR to implement big changes quickly.  More drivers are finishing, and in a sport where fierce competition IS hot pursuit, we saw the definition of both in a margin of victory of .002.  If drivers race the wheels off of cars to finish that close, while three and four-wide at NASCAR's longest track, it may not bother the rest of us if they draft no more than two deep to get there.