Track Position

New to NASCAR 25? Learn what Track Position means, why it wins races, and the simple steps, restarts, and pit calls that help you keep spots every lap all race long.

You’re fast for a few laps, then you get shuffled back on restarts or lose places on pit cycles. That’s a Track Position problem—and it’s fixable. Learn the simple habits, restart tactics, and pit calls that keep you ahead so you don’t have to pass the same cars twice.

Quick answer

Track Position is your place on the running order and how well you hold your lane versus the cars around you. In NASCAR racing, clean exits, smart restarts, and pit timing are what protect it. Slow your corner entries, fire off clean at restarts, defend the inside, and use cautions and pit stops to your advantage. Two or three small choices per run usually mean five to ten spots by the end.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• Turn on your HUD tools: spotter, virtual mirror, and any “relative/interval” timing box you can find in the options/HUD settings.
• Pick a stable or “tight/baseline” car setup preset in the garage/setup screen (look for labels like Stable, Balanced, or Default).
• Bind controls for Look Left/Right and Pit Request/Confirm in the controls menu so you can defend and plan stops without menu diving.

What Track Position means in NASCAR 25

Track Position is simply where you run on the track compared to others—and how well you protect that spot through corners, restarts, and pit cycles. It matters because:

• Speed: Clean air (no one directly in front) helps front grip; “dirty air” causes aero push (understeer/tight) behind a car.
• Consistency: Defending the inside into Turn 1/3 saves multiple spots in one move.
• Safety: Fewer cars around you = fewer chances to get caught in someone else’s spin.
• Progression: Career goals, stage points, and wins depend on staying up front, not just setting one fast lap. Key terms:
• Tight/Push/Understeer: Car won’t turn; it wants to go straight.
• Loose/Oversteer: Rear wants to step out.
• Draft/Side draft: Using air off another car to gain speed or stall their run.
• Tire falloff: Lap times get slower as tires wear/overheat.
• Cautions/Restarts: Yellow flags bunch the field; restarts are high-risk/high-reward for positions.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

• Lose 2–4 spots on restarts
  • Cause: Wheelspin or choosing the wrong lane for your car’s balance
  • Fix: Modulate throttle the first 100–200 ft; if offered lane choice, pick inside when defending, outside only if your car rolls the top well
• Get stuck behind slower cars lap after lap
  • Cause: Aero push from following too closely into entry
  • Fix: Back up your entry by a car length, arc in higher, turn down off center, and pass off exit using the run
• Fast early, then drop like a rock after 5 laps
  • Cause: Overdriving entries overheating the RF tire
  • Fix: Brake 5% earlier, turn once (not sawing the wheel), and be full throttle by exit; preserve tires
• Freight-trained on the straight
  • Cause: Poor exit speed or letting cars side draft you
  • Fix: Prioritize exit; if a car gets alongside, crowd to break their side draft (leave racing room)
• Lose 5–10 spots on pit stops
  • Cause: Speeding, missing the box, or repairing optional damage
  • Fix: Enter pit road under the limit, aim for a smooth, straight stop; skip optional repairs when track position matters
• Pit, then cycle out behind everyone
  • Cause: Pitting too late relative to others
  • Fix: Short-pit by 1 lap on green runs or stay out under caution if you’re near your fuel window and many pit
• Can’t hold bottom in traffic
  • Cause: Car is too loose on entry or center
  • Fix: Choose a “stable/tighter” preset; if adjustments exist, add a click of wedge or lower rear tire pressure slightly

Step-by-step: How to do it

1. Enable awareness tools

   • Menu path (likely): Options/Settings → HUD/Display → turn on Spotter, Virtual Mirror, and any “Relative/Standings” overlay.
   • Working sign: You hear clear spotter calls and see gaps to cars ahead/behind.
   • Gotcha: If your HUD looks cluttered, keep only mirror + relative box to reduce distraction.

2. Choose a stable baseline

   • Menu path (likely): Garage/Setup → Preset/Handling → select Stable/Balanced/Default.
   • Change: Avoid “loose/expert” presets until you’re consistent.
   • Working sign: Car feels a touch tight in traffic but predictable on exit.

3. Nail restarts

   • How: Anticipate the green, roll on throttle—don’t stab it. Hold your lane to the start/finish and into Turn 1. Defend the inside if cars are stacked behind you.
   • Working sign: You keep your row intact and don’t spin the tires.

4. Drive for exits, not apexes

   • What to change: Brake a fraction earlier, turn in once, and aim to be full throttle by exit. “Slow in, fast out” beats “dive-bomb and slide.”
   • Working sign: Higher exit speed and fewer cars pulling alongside on the straight.

5. Use the draft smartly

   • How: Tuck in down the straight, then step out early enough to keep clean air on the nose into the corner. Side draft gently if door-to-door.

6. Make pit calls that protect position

   • Caution: If most pit and you’re inside a couple of laps of the fuel window, consider staying out or taking two tires to gain/hold spots.
   • Green flag: If tires are falling off, short-pit by 1 lap relative to the pack.
   • Working sign: You cycle out net even or ahead of cars you raced before pitting.
   • Gotcha: Don’t dive to pit road from the outside lane at the last second—set up low before entry.

7. Minimize pit-lane losses

   • What to do: Brake before the cones, enter straight, and stop centered in your box. Skip optional repairs unless the car is barely drivable.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

Note: Options vary by title. Use what’s available in NASCAR 25.

• Beginner:

  • Driving line: Corners only (learn braking/turn-in)
  • Stability control: Medium (calms exits)
  • Steering assist/sensitivity: Low–medium (smooth input)
  • Damage: Visual only (practice without big penalties)
  • Why: Keeps the car predictable so you can focus on restarts and exits.

• Intermediate:

  • Driving line: Braking only
  • Stability: Low
  • Traction/ABS (if present): Low or off
  • Damage: Reduced/standard
  • Why: More tire feel and better pass/defend control.

• Advanced:

  • Assists: Off/minimal
  • Why: Maximum feel for tire life, side draft, and clean-air handling.

Practice drill (10 minutes)

• Track: Any 1.5-mile “intermediate” oval (e.g., something like Charlotte or a similar speedway in your track list).
• Focus:
  • Run 3 laps at 80% to find your brake mark.
  • Do 2 x 4-lap runs where you brake earlier and aim to be full throttle by exit each lap.
  • Finish with 3 restarts (restart the session or line up with AI) focusing on throttle modulation and defending the inside.
• Success looks like: Exit speeds within 1–2 mph lap-to-lap, no wheelspin on restarts, and holding position through Turn 2.
• Avoid: Diving into Turn 1 too hot—protect the exit and your lane first.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

• Over-attacking Turn 1

  • Why: Trying to “win the race” at corner entry
  • Fix: Lift/brake earlier and beat them off the corner

• Changing lines every lap

  • Why: Chasing the car ahead’s line
  • Fix: Commit to one arc that protects the inside on entry

• Full-throttle stabs on restarts

  • Why: Panic to not get jumped
  • Fix: Roll into the throttle; short-shift if you use manual gears

• Pitting late under green

  • Why: Stretching fuel too far
  • Fix: Short-pit by 1 lap when tire falloff is high

• Speeding on pit entry

  • Why: Braking after the cones
  • Fix: Lift/brake before the entry line and aim under the posted limit in your HUD

• Repairing optional damage while leading

  • Why: Thinking “green bar only”
  • Fix: Skip optional repair when track position is king

• Blocking both lanes

  • Why: Mirror driving
  • Fix: Pick one lane to defend; don’t weave

FAQs

• What is track position in NASCAR 25? Track Position is your current place and control of lane against nearby cars. It’s gained or lost mostly on restarts, corner exits, and pit cycles—not single hot laps.

• How do I keep track position on restarts? Choose the lane that fits your car (inside to defend, outside if you roll momentum), modulate throttle, and hold your line to Turn 1. Prioritize a clean exit over a late dive.

• Is taking two tires worth it for track position? Often, yes under late-race cautions or short runs. You’ll gain spots but may be tighter/looser; defend for a few laps and you can hang on. For long runs, four tires are safer.

• How do I avoid getting stuck in dirty air? Don’t tailgate into entry. Leave a gap, arc in slightly higher, and turn down off center to pass on exit using the run. That reduces aero push.

• Should I stay out under caution to keep my spot? If you’re near the fuel window and many pit, staying out can net big track position. Expect pressure on the restart; defend the bottom and pit at the next caution if needed.

• Why do I lose time on pit road? Usually speeding, a crooked stop, or optional repairs. Enter under control, square up in the box, and skip non-essential repairs when position matters.

• What assists help me hold position? A stability aid on low–medium and a corner-only driving line help you manage exits and braking points while you learn traffic and restarts.

• How do I pass without losing time? Set it up over a lap: lift a touch earlier, rotate the center, and drive off under them. Use side draft on the straight; clear before the next corner so you can return to your preferred line.

Next steps

Track Position comes from three habits: smooth exits, smart restarts, and timely pit calls. Lock those in and you’ll stop giving spots away for free.

Do this next: Run a 15-lap race at an intermediate oval. Focus only on exit speed, defending the inside on restarts, and one proactive pit call. Then review your results and adjust.

Related articles:

• Restarts 101: Launch, lane choice, and first-lap defense
• Pit strategy basics: Fuel windows, tires, and cautions
• Tire management for consistent long runs
• Side-drafting and clean passes
• Controller and wheel setup for smooth inputs
• AI difficulty: Find the sweet spot for learning