How Do I Pass Cleanly On A Short Track?

Struggling in traffic? Learn How Do I Pass Cleanly On A Short Track with lines, braking, and setup tips—fast, practical guidance for NASCAR 25 beginners.

You dive under someone at Martinsville or Bristol, it sticks for half a second, then you wash up the track and door the car ahead. Frustrating. The fix is learning to win the corner exit, not the entry. Here’s how to pass cleanly on a short track without wrecks or penalties.

Quick answer

On short tracks, a clean pass starts before the corner: arc your entry, brake a touch earlier, turn late, and prioritize drive off the corner. Get alongside by exit, not mid‑corner. If you can lift earlier and roll the center better than the AI, you’ll get the run off the bottom and complete the pass down the straight—no bump needed.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• Back up your braking point by a car length and release the brake smoothly before the apex.
• Aim for a late apex: enter a lane higher, turn down late, and put your right‑side tires on the bottom groove at exit.
• Roll into throttle at 50–70% at the apex, then smoothly to 100% only when the wheel is nearly straight.
• Use the spotter and mirror; don’t pinch yourself—leave a lane so the car can rotate.
• If available, turn on a braking line or minimal racing line aid to learn marks.
• In AI settings (look for “AI Difficulty/Opponent Skill”), drop a few points to practice clean passes, then raise it back.

What this means in NASCAR 25

Short‑track passing is about corner sequencing: entry → center → exit. Clean passes happen when you sacrifice a tiny bit of entry speed to be straighter and faster at exit.

• Why it matters: Better exits = more speed onto the straights, safer overlaps into the next turn, fewer cautions, and less tire wear.
• Key terms:
  • Tight/push: Car resists turning (plows to the wall). Often from too much speed on entry or early throttle.
  • Loose: Rear steps out. Common if you trail brake too deep or jump on throttle while still turning.
  • Diamonding the corner: Enter a touch high, cut down late, and exit low to maximize exit drive.
  • Tire falloff: Lap times get slower as tires wear. Smooth inputs slow the falloff.
  • Crossover: Let a rival slide past low, cut back under them on exit with better drive.

How Do I Pass Cleanly On A Short Track? The core idea

• Set the pass up two corners ahead.
• Win the exit so you’re at their quarter panel by the next turn.
• Take the inside with a late apex; finish the move by corner exit, not in the middle.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

• You dive in and slide up into the car ahead

  • Cause: Too much entry speed; braking too late; early throttle
  • Fix: Brake earlier, release before apex, delay throttle until the wheel is straighter

• You get alongside but lose ground off the corner

  • Cause: Turning while throttling; pinched exit
  • Fix: Turn down later for a straighter exit; open your hands before full throttle

• Rear steps out on entry (loose)

  • Cause: Aggressive trail braking; rear brake bias
  • Fix: Ease off trail brake sooner; if the game allows, move brake bias slightly forward (1–2%)

• Car won’t turn center (tight)

  • Cause: Over-slowed/overheated front tires; early throttle; shallow entry
  • Fix: Wider entry arc; later apex; wait on throttle until the nose points down the straight

• AI doors you on exit when you think it’s clear

  • Cause: No overlap before apex; poor spotter awareness
  • Fix: Get your bumper to their door by apex; use spotter and mirror; be patient one more corner

• Tires fade quickly and you start bumping cars

  • Cause: Sliding mid‑corner; wheelspin off
  • Fix: Smooth throttle; protect the bottom; let the car rotate before adding power

Step-by-step: How to do it

1. Set up your session

   • From the main menu, look for a solo mode like “Practice,” “Test Session,” or “Race Now.” Choose a short track (e.g., Martinsville, Richmond, Bristol).
   • If there’s an “AI Difficulty” or “Opponent Skill” slider, set it slightly below your usual for practice.

2. Choose assists you can learn with

   • In “Driving/Assists,” enable a braking/optimal line if available, stability help low-to-medium, and keep damage relaxed while practicing.

3. Mark your braking and turn-in

   • Identify a brake marker (wall sign, seam, or shadow). Brake one car length earlier than you have been.
   • You should feel the car settle on entry, not skate.

4. Arc in and late-apex

   • Enter a half lane high, then turn down late. Aim to touch the bottom near the last third of the corner.
   • It should feel like you’re “V‑ing” or “diamonding” the turn—calm and deliberate.

5. Roll the center, then throttle straight

   • Release brake before the apex so the front tires can bite.
   • Bring throttle in smoothly as you unwind the wheel. No mashing while still turning hard.

6. Execute the pass

   • Lap 1: Close in and show a nose on entry to pressure them.
   • Lap 2: Back up your entry, cut down later, and get your right‑front to their left‑rear by apex.
   • If you have overlap at their door, hold the bottom and complete by exit onto the straight.

7. Use the crossover when blocked

   • If they defend low, feint low, arc higher, then cut under them mid‑corner. Drive off low underneath.

8. Common gotcha

   • If you’re wheel‑to‑wheel on exit and still turning, do not go full throttle. That’s how you wash up into them. Wait half a heartbeat.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

• Beginner:
  • Stability/traction helps: On or Low if available (prevents snap oversteer on entry/exit).
  • Braking line or cornering guide: On (learn marks).
  • Damage/flags: Relaxed while learning (fewer cautions).
• Intermediate:
  • Stability low/off; braking line corners-only; AI difficulty near your pace.
  • If available, nudge brake bias +1–2% forward for stability on entry.
• Advanced:
  • Assists off/minimal; full damage/flags.
  • No line; rely on visual markers and spotter only.

Note: If NASCAR 25 names these differently, look for options labeled “Driving Assists,” “Stability Control,” “Racing/Braking Line,” and “AI Difficulty.”

Practice drill (10 minutes)

• Track: Richmond or Martinsville against a small AI field.
• Drill:
  1. Spend 3 minutes running single laps focusing only on earlier braking and late apexes.
  2. Spend 4 minutes stalking one AI car: don’t pass until you get a better exit; then complete it by the next straight.
  3. Spend 3 minutes practicing crossovers: let them go low, cut under, drive off.
• Success looks like: You can pass cleanly within two corners without contact. Lap times stabilize and tires stay consistent.
• Avoid: Forcing the pass center‑corner. If in doubt, reset and try again next corner.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

• Divebombing from two car lengths back

  • Why: Chasing braking points, adrenaline
  • Fix: Get to their bumper first, then pass on exit

• Gassing it while the wheel is still cranked

  • Why: Impatience off the corner
  • Fix: Unwind the wheel, then add throttle smoothly

• Pinching the bottom too tightly

  • Why: Fear of losing the inside
  • Fix: Leave a half lane to let the car rotate; you’ll exit faster

• Trail braking too deep

  • Why: Trying to keep overlap mid‑corner
  • Fix: Release brake earlier; stabilize the nose before turn‑in

• Ignoring the spotter

  • Why: Tunnel vision
  • Fix: Keep mirror/spotter on; wait until you’re at least to their door before committing

• Overheating front tires

  • Why: Sliding center, scrubbing speed
  • Fix: Wider entry arc; lighter hands; later apex

• Living on the outside lane at Martinsville

  • Why: It feels safer up there
  • Fix: Work the bottom; the outside rarely holds unless you’re clearing off exit

FAQs

• What’s the best line to pass at Martinsville?

  • The inside with a late apex. Enter a touch high, cut down late, and drive off low. Complete by exit onto the short straight.

• Should I use the bump‑and‑run in NASCAR 25?

  • Use it sparingly. In most NASCAR titles, slight taps can unsettle AI and trigger cautions or penalties. Prioritize clean exits and crossovers first.

• How do I avoid sliding up into the leader?

  • Back up your braking, release before the apex, and delay throttle until the wheel is straighter. Aim to be alongside at exit, not center‑corner.

• Is the outside lane ever good on short tracks?

  • Occasionally at Bristol or Richmond on newer rubbered-in grooves, but for beginners the bottom with a late apex is the higher‑percentage, cleaner pass.

• How do I set AI difficulty for practice?

  • Look for “AI Difficulty” or “Opponent Skill.” Set it slightly lower to build the pass technique, then raise it as you get consistent.

• Can I change brake bias?

  • If NASCAR 25 allows in-car or setup adjustments, move brake bias forward 1–2% for entry stability or rearward 1% for rotation. Make small changes and test.

• What camera view helps with clean passing?

  • Use a view where you can see reference points and the bottom groove clearly—often cockpit or hood. Make sure mirror/spotter are on.

Next steps

Clean short‑track passes come from earlier braking, late apexes, and straight exits. Set up the move two corners ahead and finish it on the straight. Now, hop into a short practice race, use the drill, and focus on exit speed over entry bravery.

Related articles:

• Short-Track Braking: Smooth Entry, Faster Exit
• Finding the Fast Line at Bristol, Martinsville, and Richmond
• AI Difficulty and Racecraft: How to Tune the Challenge
• Tire Wear and Pace: Managing Falloff on Short Runs
• Spotter, Mirrors, and Awareness: Staying Clean in Traffic