In a sport as fast as NASCAR, drivers need to know the crucial information about the cars around them. NASCAR drivers are known to do bump drafting, in such cases it becomes highly risky to make a move without being aware of surroundings. At speeds which defy death, one small mistake can cause multi-car wreckage engulfing the entire field. A NASCAR car is based off the production models but modified for use in racing on the ovals. These cars are stripped of many important safety features in the road legal cars for the sake of racing.
NASCAR drivers have window nets around their cars and the windshield behind them is covered with various components. As such, it is nearly impossible for the driver to look around and find out who is around him. It is also incredibly risky to look around and risk breaking concentration in a race. This may lead to a crash and in the worst scenario, taking the life or crippling the driver forever. There are rear view cameras in the car which help the driver know about the cars behind them. They also need to know about those racing beside them. This is the point where spotters come in.
Spotters in NASCAR: History, Relevance, Role in the Modern era of the Sport
Spotters are extra members of the crew who have only one role. They have to sit back and keep a close view at the driver while he is racing on track. They inform the drivers about what's going on around him and what cars are tailing him. Spotters are known to use short truncated words which help the driver understand the situation and act accordingly.
They inform the drivers about the cars which are trying to overtake them or are drafting. Without a spotter, “a driver cannot see” during racing on ovals. Spotters need to have a clear view of the entire track.
Spotters are an ingenious way to keep the drivers breaking concentration while relaying information to them on the team radio. Their work is nearly similar to radio messages delivered in Formula 1 racing. But, the importance of spotters comes in during wheel to wheel racing when they are talking to the drivers and informing them about the vehicles beside them trying to make a move. These instructions are helpful to the driver and he is able to prepare accordingly.
A spotter should be vigilant and careful enough while remaining calm during the race. The spotter is selected on the basis of a lot of trust and scrutiny. He is expected to provide every information within the required timeframe for the driver to react. Spotter became commonplace in NASCAR during the early 1990s after two way communication between drivers and pit crew was started.
There are instances of spotters being used as early as 1950. Often, spotters are ex-drivers who have knowledge about the sport and it's unnerving situations. These qualities help the spotters become the “eyes” of the driver.
FAQ's On NASCAR Spotters
A. According to Sportskeeda, a NASCAR spotter makes around $80000 a year annually.
A. Kyle Larson’s spotter is Tyler Monn.
A. Derek Kneeland is Kyle Busch’s spotter.
A. NASCAR drivers have only one spotter throughout the race.
A. Spotters were found in the sport as early as 1950 but NASCAR’s history has regular spotters from 1980s and early 1990s.
