Tim Brewer on racing at California Speedway
Q – The Cup and Busch teams were just at Michigan International Speedway, the sister track of California Speedway. Are there many differences in the setups between the two tracks?
“There are some similarities, but teams will most likely use the same car they used at Michigan, especially Kurt Busch. If I were that dominant in a race, I would put the car right on the truck and take it straight to California. There are a lot of good feelings when you come off a win with a car.
“California is a horsepower track as well as a good-handling track. The major transition that teams are watching for is starting late in the evening and being able to carry the momentum into the night. The surface has cooled drastically and you have to build a lot of adjustability into your car."
Q – Does racing at night on a high-speed track like California Speedway present any special challenges to drivers and teams?
“You’ve got to be able to adjust the car when the track transitions and cools off. When that happens it gets tighter. It may be harder on the drivers, but the crews welcome it because when the sun is up it will be 100 degrees or better outside. The crews are waiting for the sun to go down because it’s hot on those guys down there. It’s very physically demanding on the pit crews."
Q – How tough is a 500-mile race at California Speedway on engines and cars?
“It is very tough on the valve train and engines because they’re held at a constant RPM instead of accelerating and pulling up. You’re turning a lot of RPMs for a long time continuously. When the valve train intake – including springs and push rods – go through harmonics like that, it’s like taking a hammer and beating on those components. RPMs are always a challenge to an engine builder."