Okay, so the other day I was watching NASCAR, and this question popped into my head: Can they actually switch drivers during a race? I mean, it’s a super long race, and these guys are going at insane speeds. Surely, they get tired, right?
So, I started digging around. First, I just did a quick search. It was kinda confusing at first. Some results were about, other motorsports, totally not what I was looking for.
Then i found something that looks like a forum, i read it, and found some interesting thing, and I kept digging.
My Deep Dive into Driver Swaps
So, what I found out is that, normally, in a regular NASCAR Cup Series race, they don’t usually switch drivers. Nope. One driver starts, and that same driver finishes, no matter how grueling it is. It is a very long racing.
But, there are some exceptions, mostly in endurance races, like the Rolex 24 at Daytona, these races are for 24 hour! Even NASCAR drivers can’t finish it, that is insane. Sometimes NASCAR drivers will participate, and in those cases, yeah, they’ll have a team of drivers who take turns.
I also discovered something called “relief drivers.” It’s not a common thing, but it can happen. Basically, if a driver gets sick or injured before the race starts, they can have a relief driver on standby. This relief driver can step in if the original driver can’t continue. There are some rules, though. Like, the original driver has to actually start the race, even if it’s just for one lap. And if they switch, the car usually goes to the back of the pack.
- Regular NASCAR Cup Series: Generally, no driver swaps. One driver, start to finish.
- Endurance Races (like Rolex 24): Yes, driver swaps are common and expected.
- Relief Drivers: Possible in cases of illness or injury before the race, but with rules.
It’s pretty wild to think about how much endurance these drivers have. To drive those cars at those speeds, for that long, is just mind-blowing. I gained even more respect for them after doing this little research project!I also found that it is possible, but only in the condition that i write above.
My curiosity is satisfied, and I think I finally find the answer.
