The flip debate

    As we leave Daytona, there are two questions going on right now. Why are car’s flipping this frequent and what impact does removing grass have on a car flipping? Between Michigan and Daytona, we have seen 3 car flip in similar fashion and a car in different fashion that almost rolled over. There are different variables in how each flip occurred but it does seem weird that 2 of the 3 flips occurred at Michigan in the same weekend but different series. Also there was an adjustment made that involved a fin on the back of the car to help keep cars on the ground for Daytona. We had an another flip, on the back straight around the same area that Ryan Preece flipped last year. Did the grass really need to be moved? Let’s get into it.

     For starters let’s get into the flips a little more to understand what’s going on. The Kyle Sieg flip last week in the NASCAR Xfinity series was a result of two cars spinning but the car in front is getting a push from the car in the back making it easier for air to get under the car. His roof flaps also didn’t deploy correctly as he got airborne. The Xfinity series also ran a different package that was more superspeedway based. He was able to get checked and released.  This would be the first of two flips that would occur that weekend.

       The next flip is Corey Lajoie. This occurred around the same spot backstretch as the Sieg flip as this time Lajoie made contact with the 10 of Noah Gragson, and single car spun down onto the apron when the car got airborne and flipped. The flip looked similar to Siegs but it also had its differences. For one the car was spinning by itself with nobody pushing it and the roof flaps deployed, but so did the car. It was also windy that day and the the wind might’ve helped aid the flip. Also cup cars were running faster than the Xfinity cars. There’s also talk about the smooth underbody that helps the car turn into an airplane but I think wind likely helped aid this flip. This flip led to NASCAR requiring a shark fin for Daytona in an attempt to prevent blow overs. It didn’t….

    Our last flip brings us to the back straight at Daytona. With 2 laps to go contact on the back straight sent Josh Berry and Austin Cindric sliding down towards the infield when the 4 car started to catch air and went upside down. This was another situation where if a car is pushing into another car that’s turned sideways, it’s easier to help the sideways car flip and that’s what happened here. Prior to that one there was a crash involving Micheal McDowell spinning and getting airborne on the nose of Joey Logano’s car and nearly flipped. This happened because I believe once the 34 got sideways and the 22 hit the side of his car, that helped lift the car up. Of all of these crashes nobody was hurt.

       All of these crashes did happen on asphalt though which brings up the question of why are track’s removing so much grass when a car is just going to flip anyway at these speeds. The car not barrel rolling is definitely a plus but a negative is the car upside down just sliding into the inside wall at like 140 mph. The driver is also hanging onto their straps as when the car is upside down, the driver lifts out of their seat due to gravity. 

     Since these cars started going this fast there have always been flips. The cars no matter the gen have flipped, but the rate at which they have been flipping the past two weeks is something to look at. Another interesting thing is the flips in the next gen in general have all been fords. Strange trend. Bottom line though, each of the last 3 flips all had their own characteristics of what led to it, and there isn’t much that can be done except slow the cars way down. Will they do that? I’m not sure but time will tell.