Preview
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR spotters: Their critical role at the Daytona 500
Spotters play a critical role in NASCAR, and their purpose is never more important than it will be in Sunday's 63rd running of the Daytona 500.
Nick DeGroot
Edited: Feb 14, 2021, 9:11 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
An interesting aspect of NASCAR that few other forms of motorsport share is the so-called eye in the sky that helps guide their driver throughout a race. IndyCar is another series that utilizes spotters, while Formula 1 for example does not.
In WRC, there are co-drivers or navigators who read off pacenotes and prepare the driver for what to expect just up the road. It's a similar relationship, where there must be absolute trust between the pilot the navigator.
But the spotter plays a unique role in NASCAR and is absolutely vital to the team's success in superspeedway races such as the Daytona 500.
Their usual job is to clear the driver, give insight into the lines of rivals and to call out wrecks. But at a place like Daytona, there is so much more. There are green-flag pit stops to coordinate, which are always perilous at superspeedways with everyone so close together. There are deals to be made through the spotters of other drivers, and that could mean the difference between finishing tenth or having a partner that gives the winning push.
Read Also:
- Eye in the Sky: It's about precision for spotter Coleman Pressley
- Eye in the Sky: TJ Majors celebrates first NASCAR Cup title
- Eye In The Sky: Tho duo who guided Ryan Blaney to victory at the Roval
- Eye in the Sky: Joey Meier enjoys multiple roles with Brad Keselowski
- Eye in the Sky: Tony Raines calls Kurt Busch back to Victory Lane
And rarely is there a moment of rest. The action is constant and the danger ever-present in superspeedway racing. A single missed call from a spotter or a self-clearing driver could take out half the field in an instant.
It's almost impossible to win at Daytona or Talladega without friends. They are often found among teammates or cars of the same make, but anything goes with the checkered flag in sight. In 2020, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Denny Hamlin worked with the Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Ryan Newman in the closing laps.
There was a time in the days of the tandem draft when drivers could communicate with one another, but no longer. Those deals have to be struck by the spotters atop the grandstands. It's up to them to find a dancing partner for their driver in this 200+mph chess match. If done right, the Harley J. Earl Trophy and racing immortality awaits. If done wrong, just a tow truck.
Spotter stand
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Why former Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope is still racing at 62
Next article Massive wreck takes out several Daytona 500 contenders early
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nick DeGroot
Kyle Busch Remembered: Winning two NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Kyle Busch Remembered: Winning two NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead
How Kyle Larson can lose the NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
8 h
How Kyle Larson can lose the NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Feature
NASCAR Cup
Feature
NASCAR Cup
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Latest news
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?
Kyle Busch Remembered: Winning two NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Kyle Busch Remembered: Winning two NASCAR Cup championships at Homestead
McLaren’s 2027-spec front wing is making its F1 car more predictable
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
McLaren’s 2027-spec front wing is making its F1 car more predictable
The wet-weather challenges thrown up by Brazilian GP qualifying
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
The wet-weather challenges thrown up by Brazilian GP qualifying
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe