Inside Line

New to NASCAR 25? Learn the Inside Line: what it is, when to use it, and how to pass clean without spinning. Fast tips, setup tweaks, and 10‑minute drills.

You’re hugging the bottom, but the car pushes up or snaps loose, and you get freight‑trained off the corner. That’s the classic beginner pain. Learn the Inside Line the right way and you’ll make clean passes and protect your position without burning the tires.

Quick answer: the inside line is the low lane through the corner. Enter a half‑lane higher, brake earlier in a straight line, turn once, clip the bottom late (not the apron), and roll back to throttle smoothly so you exit with drive. Don’t pinch the exit—leave the car room to unwind the wheel.

Quick answer

The Inside Line is the lower groove near the apron used for passing or defending. It works when you brake a touch earlier, keep the car straighter on entry, aim for a late apex, and pick up throttle smoothly so you don’t push up into traffic. If you’re turning the wheel and mashing the gas at the same time, you’ll either get tight or loop it—separate those inputs.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• On corner entry, lift and brake 10–15% earlier than usual while straight.
• Turn once, smoothly, and aim to touch the bottom after the center—late apex.
• Stay off the painted apron seam; keep the lefts just above it.
• Roll to 30–50% throttle before the center, then squeeze to full on exit.
• Give yourself half a lane on exit so the wheel can unwind—don’t pinch it.
• Use the mirror/spotter. If the outside car is at your door, hold your lane.

What this means in NASCAR 25

Inside Line (low line): The lowest usable lane in the corner, close to the apron. It shortens the track and lets you position inside another car to pass or defend.

Why it matters:

• Speed: Shorter distance can beat a longer outside lane—if you keep exit speed.
• Consistency: A clean, single-turn arc reduces sliding and tire wear.
• Safety: Late apex and smooth throttle help prevent push (tight) or spin (loose).
• Racecraft: It’s the safest way to pass at short and flat tracks without contact.

Key terms, quick definitions:

• Tight/push: Car won’t turn; it drifts up the track. Usually too much speed/too little front grip mid-corner.
• Loose: Rear steps out, especially with throttle. Often from pinching exit or early gas.
• Draft/side draft: Air effects. Side draft slows the car beside you on straights; be careful near corner entry.
• Tire falloff: Lap times drop as tires wear. Smooth inside-line laps save rubber.
• Cautions: Yellows after incidents. Clean inside passes reduce your chance of causing one.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

• Symptom: Car washes up mid-corner and tags the outside car.

  • Likely cause: Entered too low/too fast; no trail braking; early apex.
  • Fix: Enter half-lane higher, brake earlier, hold light brake into the center, touch the bottom later.

• Symptom: Spin when touching the apron.

  • Likely cause: Inside tires on paint while loaded or adding throttle.
  • Fix: Keep left tires just above the seam; get fully settled before adding throttle.

• Symptom: Great entry, awful exit—get re-passed on the outside.

  • Likely cause: Pinched exit; turning too much while flooring it.
  • Fix: Leave a half-lane to unwind the wheel; squeeze throttle progressively.

• Symptom: Rear hops or chatters on braking.

  • Likely cause: Too much rear brake bias or braking while turned.
  • Fix: Add a bit more front bias (if available) and finish most braking while straight.

• Symptom: Can’t complete the pass on the inside.

  • Likely cause: Early turn-in and early apex; you stall out center-off.
  • Fix: Delay turn-in a car length; aim for a late apex to fire off low with drive.

• Symptom: Car gets tight behind traffic on the inside.

  • Likely cause: Aero push in dirty air plus low entry.
  • Fix: Enter a half‑lane higher, small trail brake, and rotate before tucking to the bottom.

Step-by-step: How to do it

1. Set up your approach

• On the straight, get your car straight before braking. Aim to enter a half-lane up from the apron.
• You should see clear track ahead of your nose; if you’re tucked under a bumper, give a small lift earlier to avoid aero push.

2. Entry and rotation

• Brake a touch earlier than you think and keep a few percent of brake past initial turn-in (trail braking) to help the nose bite.
• Turn once, smoothly. Don’t saw the wheel.

3. Late apex and throttle

• Let the car come down to the bottom after the center. Avoid the apron seam.
• Add throttle in a squeeze: 30–50% at/just after the center, then smoothly to full as the wheel unwinds.

4. Hold your lane in traffic

• If you’re inside another car: keep your lefts off the paint and give them a lane on exit. Your spotter/mirror should confirm “outside.”
• If they’re inside you: give space on entry; cross over with a better exit if they over-slow.

Common gotcha: Turning in early just to “be low.” Early apex forces you to lift on exit, kills speed, and causes contact. Delay the turn a beat and aim to be lowest at/after the middle.

Menu pointers (if you want visual or input help):

• Racing/Driving Line assist: If you see an option like “Racing Line” or “Corner Only,” enable it to learn late apex timing. If it offers “Full,” try Corner Only to avoid bad straight‑line habits.
• Controller/Steering settings: Look for “Steering Sensitivity/Linearity.” Lower sensitivity or add linearity to make small inputs calmer on the bottom.
• Brake Bias: If adjustable, move 1–2% toward the front to stabilize entry on the inside line. If no bias slider exists, brake slightly earlier instead.

If you see X vs Y:

• If there’s a “Stability Control” assist: start Medium to prevent snap oversteer on exit.
• If there’s no stability assist: be extra gentle with throttle; add earlier, not harder.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

• Beginner:
  • Stability/Traction assists: On or Medium (if available) to tame exit wheelspin.
  • ABS/Brake assist: Low ABS or minimal brake assist to prevent rear lockup on entry.
  • Racing line: Corner Only to learn late apex marks.
  • Why: Helps you focus on line and throttle without fighting spins.
• Intermediate:
  • Stability low, ABS off or low, racing line off on tracks you know.
  • Why: More rotation and feel; builds tire management and exit drive.
• Advanced:
  • Assists off, manual brake bias tweaks (if available).
  • Why: Maximum rotation and tire life control; fastest once consistent.

Note: Stock cars don’t have real TC/ABS; these are game assists. Use them to learn, then wean off.

Practice drill (10 minutes)

• Track: A flat short or mid-track if available (e.g., Richmond, Phoenix, New Hampshire). If unsure, pick any oval with clear apron and multiple grooves.
• Drill:
  • Laps 1–3: Enter half-lane high, brake earlier, trail brake to the middle, late apex, gentle throttle.
  • Laps 4–6: Put a ghost cone in your mind—don’t touch the bottom until you can see the exit wall straightening.
  • Laps 7–10: Add a bot/car outside. Hold the inside line without touching the apron or washing up.
• Focus: Smooth single input (one steer, one throttle squeeze). Listen for tire scrub; less squeal = better.
• Success: Your exit speed improves, you stop drifting up, and laps get more consistent within 0.2s.
• Avoid: Diving in super low and early; it feels heroic, but you’ll be slow off.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

• Diving to the paint on entry

  • Why: You want to “own” the inside early.
  • Fix: Enter half‑lane up; rotate, then come down late.

• Hammering full throttle at mid-corner

  • Why: Chasing exit speed.
  • Fix: Squeeze throttle while unwinding the wheel; don’t combine max steer with max gas.

• Riding the apron seam

  • Why: Aiming for “lowest possible.”
  • Fix: Keep left tires a tire-width above the paint while loaded.

• Turning twice (sawing the wheel)

  • Why: Early apex forces a correction.
  • Fix: Brake a touch longer, turn once, late apex.

• Ignoring mirror/spotter

  • Why: Tunnel vision.
  • Fix: If you hear “outside,” hold your lane and plan exit space.

• Side-drafting into the corner

  • Why: It works on straights, so you try it before turn-in.
  • Fix: Release side draft early; get stable before braking.

• Overheating right-front tire

  • Why: Pinched exits and sustained push.
  • Fix: Open your exit arc; use light trail brake to rotate center.

FAQs

• What is the inside line in NASCAR 25?

  • It’s the low lane near the apron used for passing or defending in corners. You shorten distance but must protect exit speed with a late apex and smooth throttle.

• Is the inside line always faster?

  • No. It’s strongest on short/flat tracks and for defending. On high-banked or multi-groove tracks, the outside may carry more exit speed. Use the inside when you can clear by exit.

• How do I pass on the inside without wrecking?

  • Out-brake slightly while straight, turn once, late apex, and give the outside car exit room. If you’re not at their door by center, reset and try again next corner.

• Why do I spin when I touch the apron?

  • The paint is slick and changes banking. If your lefts drop onto it while loaded or adding throttle, the rear unloads. Stay just above the seam until the car is straight.

• How do I defend the inside line?

  • Move down early on the straight to take away the lane. Brake in a straight line, late apex, and fire off. Don’t weave or block in the braking zone.

• What assists help me hold the inside?

  • Stability control (if present) and a Corner‑Only racing line assist help most. Slightly more front brake bias also stabilizes entry.

• What camera view is best for the inside line?

  • Cockpit or hood usually gives better depth for late apex and seam placement. If available, reduce FOV zoom so you can see the bottom seam and exit wall together.

Next steps

Inside line mastery is about patience in, rotation in the middle, and drive off. Practice the late apex and smooth throttle, then add traffic and lane discipline.

Do this next:

• Run a 10‑minute drill on a flat oval and aim for consistent exits.
• Then practice one clean inside pass per run—no apron, no door contact.

Related articles:

• Racing line basics: late apex vs early apex on ovals
• Corner entry: braking while straight and trail braking 101
• Exit drive: throttle control and unwinding the wheel
• Tire wear and heat: saving the right-front on long runs
• Side draft and when to release before turn-in