Fuel Mileage Meaning in NASCAR

Fuel mileage refers to the distance a vehicle travels on one tank of gasoline. Teams calculate how many laps a car can complete before needing a pit stop. Drivers often lift off the throttle early to save a small amount of fuel. This conservation strategy allows a car to stay on the track longer than others. One driver won the race because superior fuel mileage avoided a final stop. Crew chiefs use computer data to predict the exact lap the engine will quit. Running out of gas during the final laps usually results in a loss. Managing this resource is critical on large tracks where pit road is far away. Efficient engines provide a major tactical advantage during long green flag runs.