Crew Chief

New to NASCAR 25? Your Crew Chief handles strategy, fuel, tires, and radio calls. Get quick steps, beginner settings, fixes, and drills to gain laps.

Quick answer

Feeling lost with strategy, pit calls, and what to adjust mid‑race? Your Crew Chief is the voice that turns chaos into lap time—fuel numbers, tire calls, and setup tweaks. In most NASCAR titles, you can use radio/pit menus to request service, change tires, add fuel, and adjust wedge, track bar, air pressure, and tape. If NASCAR 25 includes it, turn on Crew Chief/Spotter options and use the pit strategy screen for clear, simple calls.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• Turn on Spotter/Crew Chief voice and subtitles so you catch every call.
• Bind or find your Pit Request/Radio button and test it in a practice session.
• Pre-set a default pit strategy: 4 tires, full fuel, fix only major damage.
• Enable HUD overlays that show tire wear, fuel/laps remaining, and engine temp.
• Set Spotter/Crew Chief verbosity to High (or “Detailed”) so you get fuel/tire updates.

What the Crew Chief means in NASCAR 25

• Plain English: The Crew Chief is your race strategist. They help you decide when to pit, how much fuel to take, which tires to change, and what adjustments to make so the car fits the track and your driving.
• Why it matters: Good calls add consistency, protect tires, prevent penalties, and can gain you positions under caution or green-flag cycles. You’ll finish more races and move up fast in career/progression modes.
• Jargon, decoded:
  • Tight/push: Car won’t turn; wants to go straight. Loosen it.
  • Loose: Rear steps out; over-rotates. Tighten it.
  • Draft: Air pull from cars ahead that adds speed.
  • Aero/tape: More grille tape = more speed/downforce but higher temps.
  • Tire falloff: Lap times slow as tires wear.
  • Cautions: Yellow flags that reset the field and create free pit windows.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

• Symptom: Fast early, then you “fall off” hard after 8–12 laps
  • Likely cause: Overdriving and/or car too loose on long runs
  • Fix: Ask for +0.5 to +1.0 turn of wedge (tighter) and +0.5 PSI in rears; manage throttle on corner exit
• Symptom: Car plows to the wall mid-corner (tight)
  • Likely cause: Front tires overheated/under-gripped
  • Fix: Remove 0.5–1.0 turn of wedge (looser), lower front pressures -0.5 PSI, consider less tape
• Symptom: Snappy spins off corner (loose on exit)
  • Likely cause: Rear has too little grip or too much throttle
  • Fix: Add 0.5–1.0 turn of wedge (tighter), lower right-rear pressure -0.5 PSI, be smoother on throttle
• Symptom: Engine overheating warning after you add tape
  • Likely cause: Too much grille tape in traffic or hot weather
  • Fix: Reduce tape 5–10%; use clean air when possible
• Symptom: Pit road speeding penalties
  • Likely cause: Entering too fast or missing the speed indicator
  • Fix: Brake earlier; watch HUD/pit speed readout; practice entry marks
• Symptom: Lose spots after pitting under caution
  • Likely cause: Changing too much or wrong tire call vs field
  • Fix: Match the field: take 4 tires when they do; two-tire only late runs or track-position plays

Step-by-step: How to use Crew Chief settings and pit strategy

1. Find the Crew/Spotter settings

   • Likely path: Options/Settings → Audio or Gameplay → look for “Spotter,” “Crew Chief,” or “Radio.”
   • If you see “Spotter only”: turn it On/High/Verbose and enable subtitles.
   • Goal: You should hear lap times, tire/fuel updates, and traffic calls consistently.

2. Enable race HUD info

   • Likely path: Options → HUD/Display → enable tire wear, fuel/laps remaining, and damage.
   • Goal: You can see fuel to the end of the stage/run and individual tire wear.

3. Set a default pit strategy before a race

   • Likely path: Race Setup/Pre-Race → “Pit Strategy” or “Adjustments.”
   • Recommended baseline: 4 tires, full fuel, repair only major/required damage, conservative tape (10–20% if adjustable).
   • What you’ll feel: Predictable car off pit road and fewer overheating issues.

4. Make in-race calls

   • While on track: Press your Pit Request/Radio button to open the pit menu (or use the pause menu).
   • Change: Tires (2 or 4), fuel amount, wedge (+ tighter / - looser), track bar (down = tighter, up = looser), air pressure (small 0.5 PSI steps), tape (5% steps).
   • Confirm the stop so the changes stick when you pit.
   • Common gotcha: If you don’t confirm or you pit under a closed pit, your changes may not apply or you’ll get penalized.

5. Timing your stop

   • Under caution: Pit when pits are open; follow the field’s choice to avoid losing track position.
   • Under green: Pit before tires are “gone,” not after. Short-pitting can gain time if you don’t get trapped by a caution.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

• Beginner:
  • Spotter/Crew Chief: On, High verbosity, Subtitles On
  • Pit: Auto pit lane On (if available), Manual pit strategy changes only
  • Damage: Visual or reduced
  • Why: You learn calls without penalty overload.
• Intermediate:
  • Spotter/Crew Chief: On, Standard verbosity
  • Pit: Manual entry/braking, manual strategy
  • Damage: Normal
  • Why: Adds realism; you practice clean entries and smarter calls.
• Advanced:
  • Spotter/Crew Chief: On, Minimal verbosity (filter noise)
  • Pit: Fully manual, realistic fuel/tires/temps
  • Damage: Full
  • Why: Maximum control and strategy depth.

Practice drill (10 minutes)

• Track: A stable 1.5‑mile oval (e.g., Charlotte, Las Vegas, or any “intermediate” in your list).
• Plan:
  • Run 8 laps at 90–95% pace; note tire wear and balance (tight/loose).
  • Call for a pit stop: 4 tires, full fuel, and one change (e.g., +0.5 turn wedge).
  • Run 5 more laps and compare lap times and feel.
• Focus: Smooth throttle on exit, consistent entry marks, listen to fuel/tire calls.
• Success: Post‑stop laps are equal or faster with more stability.
• Avoid: Making multiple changes at once; you won’t know which adjustment helped.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

• Ignoring the radio
  • Why: You’re focused on driving only.
  • Fix: Turn up voice volume/subtitles; act on fuel/tire warnings early.
• Big adjustments all at once
  • Why: Chasing balance too aggressively.
  • Fix: Use small steps (0.5 PSI, 0.5 wedge turns, 5% tape).
• Two‑tire stop at the wrong time
  • Why: Track position greed.
  • Fix: Use 2 tires late in a run or under short sprints; default to 4 under long runs.
• Overheating after adding tape
  • Why: Clean‑air setup used in traffic.
  • Fix: Back tape down 5–10% in packs or hot tracks.
• Forgetting to confirm pit changes
  • Why: Closed menu too fast.
  • Fix: Double‑check the pit menu shows your changes and “Pit Confirmed.”
• Speeding on pit road
  • Why: Late braking or missing the line.
  • Fix: Pick a reference on entry; brake early; watch HUD speed indicator.
• Pitting when pits are closed
  • Why: Rushing under caution.
  • Fix: Wait for “Pits open” call on the radio/HUD.

FAQs

• How do I turn on the Crew Chief in NASCAR 25?

  • Go to Options/Settings and look for “Spotter,” “Crew Chief,” or “Radio.” Enable it, set verbosity to High, and turn on subtitles so you don’t miss calls.

• What’s the difference between the spotter and the Crew Chief?

  • Spotter: Traffic awareness—“inside,” “outside,” clear. Crew Chief: Strategy—fuel windows, tire wear, pit timing, and car adjustments. Some games combine these voices in one setting.

• Which adjustments should I try first during a stop?

  • Keep it simple: 0.5 turn wedge for tight/loose, 0.5 PSI air pressure tweaks, 5% tape steps if temps allow. Avoid changing more than two things per stop.

• When should I take two tires instead of four?

  • Late-race sprints (5–10 laps), or when track position matters more than long-run pace. If the field takes four, you usually should too—especially on worn tires.

• How do I stop overheating after I add tape?

  • Reduce tape by 5–10%, run in cleaner air, and watch water/oil temps on the HUD. Tape is powerful but track- and traffic-dependent.

• How do I avoid pit road penalties?

  • Brake earlier, stay under the posted speed, and follow HUD indicators. Request your stop a lap early so you’re not rushing at entry.

• Can I change the plan after I request a pit stop?

  • In most NASCAR titles, yes—you can reopen the pit menu before you hit pit road and adjust tires, fuel, and settings. Just be sure to confirm again.

Next steps

• Recap: Your Crew Chief turns data into pace—fuel, tires, and small setup calls at the right time. Start with conservative settings and make one change per stop.
• Do next: Run a 10‑minute practice, try a single wedge or pressure tweak, and feel the difference.
• Related articles:
  • Tire Wear and Pit Strategy
  • Tight vs. Loose: Quick Fixes That Work
  • Pit Road Entry: Marks, Speed, and No‑Penalty Stops
  • HUD Setup for NASCAR 25: What to Turn On
  • Grille Tape and Temperatures Explained