Handling Condition Meaning in NASCAR

Handling condition describes how a car responds to the steering input of a driver. This term covers whether a car is loose or tight during a corner. A loose car has a rear end that slides toward the wall. A tight car resists turning and wants to go straight into the fence. The team improved the handling condition by adjusting the rear spoiler angle slightly. Drivers constantly report these feelings to the crew chief over the radio. Perfect handling allows a driver to maintain full speed through the entire turn. Track temperature changes often cause the handling to shift throughout the afternoon. Mechanics use wedge adjustments to fix these issues during a fast pit stop.