How does weather challenge NASCAR engineers? Chris Buescher's team breaks it down

Weather is considered one of the most challenging factors during a NASCAR race. Andrew Kluckhuhn, one of Chris Buescher's team engineers explained how weather affects the race car's setup through an Instagram reel.

With most components standardized on a modern NASCAR race car, it all boils down to the setup done by the teams. Engineers have to consider several factors while making crucial changes to the car. While some changes are based on the driver's input, one of the biggest challenges for an engineer is to adjust the vehicle according to the weather prediction.

Kluckhuhn, an engineer for the #17 RFK Racing car explained on Instagram, the entire process of optimizing the car for specific weather conditions on the racetrack. This includes forecasting the weather and adjusting the airflow to the car's engine, transmission, and brakes using tapes before it is shipped to the race venue.

Here's a look at the post from RFK Racing's Instagram page, captioned:

"How does weather affect a NASCAR Engineer’s job? 🤔⛅️"

"We'll start Monday or Tuesday looking at the upcoming weekend's weather forecast. Once we know the ambient weather conditions that are going to be at the racetrack, we know the cooling potential will need to keep the engine brakes and transmissions operational," Kluckhuhn explained (0:05 onwards).

"A lot of these races that will transition from day to night will have a large swing in track temp. That temperature change will produce more grip and normally faster lap times as the track cools off...In addition to ambient temperature changes, severe weather can affect a race's outcome. Understanding the scope of the storm can be a difference between winning or finishing 25th," he added (0:46 onwards).

While Buescher had a steady start to the 2024 season, several missed opportunities during the middle of the regular season eventually pushed the Texas-based racer out of contention for the Playoffs. He is currently placed 17th in the driver's table.

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“We came here to be spoilers, and we’re going to do that,” - Chris Buescher on a surprise win at Watkins Glen on the final lap

After losing the chance of competing in the 2024 Playoff at Darlington, Chris Buescher took a surprise last-lap win at Watkins Glen on September 17th. The #17 RFK Racing driver raced bumper-to-bumper with Shane van Gisbergen of Kaulig Racing to clinch his first-ever win on a road course.

“I thought we lost it there on the last one, but, man, to stay right there with him. It was a spot he was better than us, but he just missed it, so I tried to cross over and just hard racing. What an awesome finish," Buescher commented during the post-race interview.

“To be that good for so much at the end of the race — all race — to get a win is good. We came here to be spoilers, and we’re going to do that,” he added.

With a difference of just 0.979 seconds between the two, Buescher and van Gisbergen created one of the closest wins in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.