Tips for Daytona Road Course

Here is some useful tip for Daytona:
Turn 1:
Come through tri oval low and stay low as you approach 1. First apex is the grass right after road course pit lane. Brake in straight line’ish, going wider then turn in so that your main apex is at the stack of tires that protects pit lane wall. From there bleed power back on and use the entire track out and a little of yellow curb, if needed.
Do not want to be inside anyone as you approach turn 2 “the S curve” because inside lane is pinched down to nothing. Single file through there is best. This should be flat out in which ever gear you are in.

Turn 3: East International Horse Shoe
Low grip on entry. You should start your braking when the pit exit “blend” line ends depending on your car and brake performance. Late apex. Then track out all the way almost nipping the merge curb where old track returns. Continue tracking out to yellow curb. Once completely tracked out work your way across the track to driver’s right. This sets you up for turn 4.

Turn 4: The Kink
Drive toward the kink on the right side of the road. Follow white asphalt stripe until the stripe kinks to the right, that’s when you turn to the left. You may lift but once you are comfortable, no braking. You should brush the left curbing, HOWEVER, you should only brush the SECOND half of the curbing, and only brush, tires should not completely cover curbing. If you hit first half of curbing you are too early and will have to lift to keep from going off at turn out. Track out using all road, do not but right side tires on curbing, could cause spin.

Turn 5: West Horse Shoe
Very long right hander. Very Very late apex, of the way around corner although some car can and will urn in earlier and approach from the middle on the track. Take wide or medium wide on entry. Then slowly bring it in until apex point. Then track out to yellow curbing. Be very careful, do not overstep this curb. Road is slightly cambered off track. Ground slopes heavily away from track. Tire wall is very close.

Turn 6: Back to the Bank
Kevin Buckler “get in get on it get out as soon as possible” Again apex point will depend on your own car but start working on corner at 4/8 apex and then move back to 5/8 and see where you can best get back on the throttle the soonest. The goal is to get your car turned early so you can get back to full throttle ASAP. Do not need to track out to yellow curb on right, leave room out there for fast cars. There is a black sealer line on the asphalt that runs from about apex area out to the oval. Try to stay on the left side as you arc around and back up to the oval. Lots of room out here. Buckler, “no need to climb the banking, stay low to begin with and drive the low line around banking, until you need to pass”. Always pass on the high side. Top GT cars doing north of 170mph. Closing distances from behind are planned well in advance. Therefore, if you are going to pass, make sure fast GT’s are not coming hard from way back.


Bus Stop:
Brake hard from the “#2” sign then, if possible, work your way down as you become more comfortable. Be in control on entry. If not going to make turn in, go straight but come to a complete stop. When done correctly, hit all 4 curbs and be building speed all the way through. Watch mirrors, fast cars will always attempt to pass on entry. Single file is best.

Short Shoot from NASCAR 4 to TriOval (start/finish):
There is a very noticeable dip in raceway where the 18-wheelers used to cross into the infield before the tunnels were built. Be prepared for the car to wiggle to the right (toward the wall) when it lightens up over the dip. Give yourself room between other cars and the wall in this section.