Each NASCAR season, the issue of fuel mileage remains a persistent challenge that drivers, crew chiefs, and team engineers continue to grapple with. Despite more than 75 years of competition, no one has yet perfected a foolproof fuel mileage strategy. Ryan Blaney, the driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang, recently highlighted the critical importance of this skill and why it remains a demanding aspect of the sport.
Fuel mileage strategies are vital because they can make or break a race outcome, often involving split-second decisions on whether to pit for fuel or attempt to stretch the tank to the finish line. Blaney explained that drivers must balance the instructions from their crew chiefs while using their own judgment to push the limits of their fuel supply.
Balancing Strategy and Instinct: Drivers’ Role in Fuel Saving
Blaney emphasized that mastering fuel mileage requires more than just following a predetermined plan. He revealed how drivers often sense if the gas tank has just enough fuel to finish the race without an extra pit stop. This decision can involve high risks and depends on factors such as track conditions and weather changes.
His former crew chief, Todd Gordon, humorously remarked that the best time to begin saving fuel is from the moment a driver wakes up on race day, underscoring how fuel strategy thinking starts well before the race begins. Blaney acknowledged there is truth to this, noting how variables like track temperature, tire wear, and the possibility of rain constantly influence the calculations throughout a race.
Fuel Mileage Tactics During the Race
According to Blaney, fuel mileage races often come down to timing, especially during the final pit stops. He described how caution flags can abruptly force a pit stop decision, disrupting plans and requiring teams to adapt quickly.
“It’s part of the game sometimes,”
Blaney said.
“In a fuel mileage race, if it’s tight (for) your last pit stop and then a caution comes out and it’s like, ‘All right, well, we have to pit.’ Even if you’re going to be two laps short, you’ve got to pit at that point, then try to save what you can.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
He also pointed out that despite only a few races each season being classified as fuel mileage events, drivers practice fuel saving consistently as a precaution for unexpected cautions or race developments.
“Save gas nowadays all the time,”
Blaney remarked.
“And if it’s for a pit stop, you kind of speed up just because you never know what predicament you’re going to be in (if/when a caution occurs).”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Track Variations Impact Fuel Strategy
The time available for refueling varies significantly depending on the track. Large tracks like Daytona, Indianapolis, Talladega, and Pocono usually provide enough time for a full fuel fill during pit stops. Conversely, shorter tracks such as Bristol, Martinsville, and Atlanta impose tighter time constraints, forcing drivers to leave the pit box before completely refueling in order to maintain competitive track position.
Blaney explained the challenge with saving laps varies widely by track and distance. For example, saving three laps at Dover is very different from saving the same number of laps at Michigan, where each lap covers a longer distance.
“Sometimes it pops up like, ‘Hey, you need three laps’ and it’s easier at some tracks than others. Three laps at Dover is a little bit different than saving three laps at a Michigan. Three laps, that’s a lot of miles in Michigan, that’s six miles.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
The Unique Skill of Efficient Fuel Management
Blaney underscored that fuel mileage management is not simply about saving fuel but doing so without sacrificing too much speed. The skill lies in balancing fuel conservation with maintaining strong lap times, often requiring drivers to alter their driving style spontaneously.
“It’s kind of like a skill: some guys are really good at it when they have to save, and how it’s not only saving, it’s ‘How much time do you not lose while saving? That’s a skill that you have to have,”
Blaney noted.
He further described the complexity of real-time fuel estimation in NASCAR, where the amount of fuel left is not precisely known, forcing drivers to continuously calculate based on race conditions and feedback from their crews.
“You’re completely changing up your driving style in the moment on the fly while trying to keep the best lap time, but also trying to save as much gas as you can. NASCAR is neat because you don’t know how much gas is in it, you’re just calculating how much you think you’ve got in, you can see the fuel mileage on it in real-time,”
Blaney explained. —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Future of Fuel Strategy with Next Gen Cars
With the introduction of the Next Gen car and its updated drafting traits, especially at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, fans hope that the focus on fuel mileage strategy will lessen. However, Blaney’s insights suggest that the fuel challenge remains a significant, often frustrating element of NASCAR racing.
Mastering fuel mileage strategy remains a vital skill that can determine race outcomes, requiring a combination of precise teamwork, quick thinking, and driving finesse. For Ryan Blaney and drivers like him, this aspect of racing will continue to demand attention and expertise in every competition.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What did Kyle Petty say about Ryan Blaney?
A. Ryan Blaney made a remark about Kyle Petty after the Cup Series championship. In March 2023, Kyle Petty, a former NASCAR driver, commented on Blaney. He mentioned that while people praise Blaney’s abilities, he doesn’t always deliver on them.
Q. Has Ryan Blaney ever won Talladega?
A. Blaney secured victory in the Talladega fall race by narrowly beating Ryan Newman by just 0.007 seconds in a photo finish. Despite spinning early onto pit road, Blaney moved forward to the Round of 8.
