FYI WIRZ: NASCAR's Top 5 Talk Race 13 at Kansas

Drivers for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) took to the air this week after a two week stint in NASCAR’s hometown of Charlotte, N.C. to familiarize themselves again with the 1.5-mile tri-oval track at Kansas Speedway.

Of all track configurations the 1.5-mile ovals are often characterized as “cookie-cutter” because eight tracks on the NASCAR circuit have this distance in common. But the degree of banking varies and so do track surfaces that are subject to different weather patterns and obviously varying age processes. These eight tracks are never resurfaced simultaneously.

Drivers know that the cookie-cutter tracks may look alike from the air, but laps run under fast wheels are never exactly the same.  

The top five drivers in the points talked about race 13, the STP 400, at Kansas City which will be televised by FOX 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 5.         

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of motorsports topics by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com. Quotes derived from motorsports industry press releases.  
 
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Ford)

On a hot weekend: “The deal is that there are a lot of guys out there are physically fit and if they aren’t fit they are just plain tough,” Edwards said. “What ends up happening is that a car and the affects of heat on the race track and the way the tire interacts and the speed slowing down I think has a bigger impact on the outcome of the race than the driver fitness and ability to handle the heat. It is definitely two parts and I think that is a good way to ask that question. I think the car and the slick race track will have a bigger impact on the outcome of the race.”

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Chevrolet)

“You don’t have to throw out all the notes because Kansas is in June,” Harvick said. “You will have somewhere to start. It really depends on what tire they bring as to what direction to go with your car. So you adjust to that and the tires are constant evolution. Goodyear is trying to make things better and trying to make more technology and do things so you have to keep up with that side of it. The cars evolve constantly from an aerodynamic standpoint. The weather will probably be warmer so things will definitely change a little bit but it won’t be an overhaul.”

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Chevrolet)

“So much has changed with us we’re going back (to Kansas) with an empty notebook,” Johnson said. “New cars, new concepts; I’m excited. I think the track is a great racetrack to compete on. What has happened in that area and surrounding the track is just amazing. I’m excited to go back. We’re there for two dates and hopefully the grandstands are full for both dates and I know that we’ll put on a good show.

“The track in my opinion has aged really well and I guess there is some concern that it may have aged too much in a short period of time but the bumps, the asphalt fading and losing grip as it has really promotes multiple lanes of racing and that’s what we’re looking for as drivers.”

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Toyota)

“Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and all the guys in the shop have worked really hard to be as prepared as possible for Kansas,” Busch said. “I’ve really never had much luck at Kansas in the Cup car, so I’m hoping we can turn that around this weekend. I’ve run well there, at times, but seem to be snake-bitten a bit with mechanical issues or getting caught up in an accident. We’re hoping we can turn that around this weekend and get some more time there so I can learn as a driver and the team can learn more about set-ups there.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Chevrolet)

“Kansas is a tough track,” Earnhardt said. “It is getting slick down in three and four and off of turn two. It is starting to get pretty slick over there. Just trying to get good forward bite out of the corner without getting the car too tight in the middle, that’s the key. The only thing that is different about the (1.5-mile) tracks themselves is just the condition of the asphalt; the condition of the track surface. Some tracks, depending on the region they are in, get slicker than others.”

Photo credit: Dwight Drum at Racetake.com