Turning up the Heat on NASCAR

You drive fast. You beat the other guys. Right?

Yes, but not exactly.

There is so much more to it.

Danica Patrick’s crew engineer, John Klausmeier, eyes the forecast days ahead and then…

On race day, it’s more on the race strategy weather, calculate fuel mileage, and weather is a big part of my Sunday routine. We have all of the wind conditions, and we can track the wind orientation on the racetrack. So, obviously, you know, going in a circle, you can either get crosswinds or headwinds or tailwinds.

But even on a hot day, the cars are so much more prepared for the drivers to be able to have a good experience on a Sunday afternoon at the racetrack. They are also very well insulated, so when the Weather Channel is not able to provide me with my optimum perfect day to race, overcast skies and 72 degrees, if it’s sunny and 110, it’s bearable now thanks to technology.

So the winner is, the fastest, smartest and most weather adapted driver and crew.

NASCAR is just at its peak right now. It’s the best it’s ever been.

At the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, I’m Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf.