The Basics Of The Draft: How To Gain Speed Using Other Cars

Learn the basics of “the draft” in NASCAR 25 so you can gain speed using other cars, make safer passes, and run faster laps without changing setups.

Quick answer

The basics of “the draft”: how to gain speed using other cars comes down to using the air behind another car to cut drag and get a speed boost. In NASCAR 25, you’ll gain speed by tucking in close behind a car on the straightaways, then using that extra momentum to pull out and pass.

Stay about half a car length to one car length behind on the straights, keep your steering smooth, and “pop out” just before the corner or before you reach the braking/turn-in point. The goal is to gain speed from the draft, not to hit the car ahead or drive into the corner too hot.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• Pick an oval track in Single Race / Quick Race and start at the back of the field.
• On the straightaway, line up directly behind a car and hold your wheel or stick steady.
• Watch your speed and engine sound rise as you stay tucked in the slipstream.
• When you feel the car “pull” forward, gently move half a lane up to start a pass.
• The moment you move out, notice how quickly your run stalls if you move too far away.
• Restart and repeat, focusing only on following distance and smooth steering.

What this means in NASCAR 25

Draft (or slipstream): The pocket of lower air pressure behind a car at speed. When you sit in that pocket, your car faces less air resistance (“drag”), so you go faster with the same throttle.

Why it matters in NASCAR 25:

• More speed for free – You gain mph on straights without touching the setup.
• Easier passing – Use the draft to get a “run” and complete safer overtakes.
• Better racecraft – Knowing when to follow vs. when to pass keeps your momentum up.
• Safer driving – Controlled drafting avoids desperate divebombs into corners.

Basic aero terms that matter here:

• Drag – Air resistance that slows your car. Drafting reduces this.
• Aero push (tight in traffic) – When you follow too close in the corner, the front loses grip because of dirty air; the car wants to go straight (we call that “tight”).
• Loose – The rear steps out; not usually caused by the draft itself, but by sudden steering or throttle changes when you move out of line.

On big ovals (like Daytona or Talladega, if available in NASCAR 25), drafting is almost everything. On shorter tracks, the draft still helps on the straights, but corner entry and exit matter more.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

Use this like a quick troubleshooting chart.

Step-by-step: How to do it

These steps use generic menu names so they work even if labels differ slightly.

1. Set up a practice race with traffic

1. From the main menu, look for a Single Race, Quick Race, or Race Now option.
2. Choose a superspeedway or large oval (look for tracks with very high speeds and long straights like Daytona/Talladega if included in NASCAR 25; otherwise pick the fastest oval you see).
3. Make sure you start mid-pack or toward the back so there are cars to draft.

What you should feel/see: Plenty of cars in front and beside you on the straights—perfect for testing the draft.

2. Learn to sit in the draft safely

1. On the backstretch or frontstretch, pick one car ahead of you to follow.
2. Line your car up directly behind theirs—imagine you’re painting your front bumper over their rear bumper.
3. Gently close the gap until you’re close enough to see fine details on their bumper but not touching.

What you should feel/see:

• Your speed climbs more than when you’re all alone.
• Engine sound picks up slightly as the car “frees up.”
• The gap to the car ahead shrinks quicker without extra throttle.

Common gotcha:
If you weave left-right while drafting, you scrub speed and lose the benefit. Keep steering movements tiny and deliberate.

3. Time your “slingshot” pass

1. Stay tucked in until you feel your car start to “pull” toward their bumper.
2. When you have a strong run (closing rate is obvious), ease your car half a lane up or down—don’t jerk the wheel.
3. As soon as your front bumper is beside their rear tire, commit to the pass: stay in the throttle and keep your line steady.
4. Once you’re clearly ahead (you no longer see their car in your side mirror), gently move back to the preferred racing line.

What you should feel/see:

• The car surges forward as you pull out.
• Your run stalls a little once you’re fully out of the draft—that’s normal.
• If timed right, you’re still faster than the car you’re passing.

Common gotcha:
Pull out too early (while still far back), and you’ll lose the draft and stall next to them. Wait until you’re already closing quickly.

4. Adjust how you draft in the corners

1. As you approach the turn while following a car, lift the throttle a touch earlier than you would alone.
2. If your car starts to feel like it doesn’t want to turn (pushing toward the wall), move ¼ to ½ lane higher to put the nose in clean air.
3. Don’t try to sit directly on their bumper in the corner at first—stay a little farther back until you’re comfortable.

What you should feel/see:

• The car turns more willingly when you’re slightly offset.
• You can maintain decent speed without sliding up the track.

Common gotcha:
Trying to push draft (bump-draft) in the corners as a beginner—this usually ends in a spin. Save any bumper contact for later, and only on straights if the game’s physics support it well.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

Drafting is mostly about racecraft, but a few settings can make learning easier.
Since exact NASCAR 25 assist names may vary, look for options that sound similar.

• Beginner

  • Steering assist / stability: On or High – Helps keep the car stable when you tuck in behind others.
  • Traction control: On (if available) – Reduces wheelspin when you move out of line and get back in the gas.
  • Damage: Light or Off – Lets you practice drafting mistakes without ruining your race.
  • AI difficulty: On the easier side so you can catch and pass them.

• Intermediate

  • Steering assist / stability: Medium – More control over your exact line in and out of the draft.
  • Traction control: Low – Forces smoother throttle, which helps when completing passes.
  • Damage: Normal – Makes you respect distance when drafting.
  • AI: Slightly higher so you need the draft to move forward.

• Advanced

  • Assists: Off or minimal – Full control for precise bumpers and side-drafting.
  • Damage: Full – Punishes impatient or reckless drafting.
  • AI: Challenging – You’ll need smart drafting choices and timing to gain positions.

Practice drill (10 minutes)

Goal: Feel the difference between no draft, weak draft, and strong draft.

Track suggestion: Any high-speed oval with long straights (e.g., Daytona/Talladega if available; otherwise the fastest oval on the list).

Drill steps

1. Out-lap solo – Run 1–2 laps with no cars around you. Watch your top speed at the end of the longest straight.
2. Weak draft – Stay about 2–3 car lengths behind a single car on the straight. Note your top speed.
3. Strong draft – Move up to 0.5–1 car length behind them. Compare your top speed again.
4. Pass practice – Once you feel that strong draft pull, move half a lane out and complete the pass, then slot back in behind the next car.
5. Repeat this cycle: draft, pass, draft, pass—always focusing on smooth steering and controlled closing speed.

What success looks like:

• You can consistently gain 2–5 mph (or more) over your solo top speed.
• You’re passing cars on the straights without slamming into them or overshooting the next corner.

Key mistake to avoid:
Don’t stare at the speedometer. Glance, but keep most of your focus on the car ahead and your relative closing rate.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

1. Staring at the bumper, not the gap

   • Looks like: You suddenly ram the car ahead out of nowhere.
   • Why: You’re “fixating” on their bumper, not noticing how fast you’re closing.
   • Fix: Look slightly through their car and watch the sides of the screen for how quickly they’re growing.

2. Leaving the draft too soon

   • Looks like: You pull out to pass and get stuck side-by-side with no momentum.
   • Why: You’re moving out before the draft has fully pulled you in.
   • Fix: Count “one… two…” while in strong draft before moving out, and wait until you’re clearly gaining.

3. Trying to draft in the middle of the track alone

   • Looks like: You ride in the middle lane with no one in front; AI cars blow by you on the inside or outside.
   • Why: You’re not lining up behind anyone, so you’re losing the air advantage.
   • Fix: Always pick a car to follow and get back in line behind the fastest lane of traffic.

4. Oversteering while tucked in

   • Looks like: The car feels twitchy or unstable when close to others.
   • Why: You’re overcorrecting every little movement instead of letting the car settle.
   • Fix: Use smaller, smoother stick/wheel inputs; think “nudge” instead of “turn.”

5. Following too close into corners

   • Looks like: The car won’t turn and slides up the track toward the wall.
   • Why: Aero push plus too much speed from the draft into the turn.
   • Fix: Lift earlier before the turn and/or move a bit higher to get clean air on the nose.

6. Hammering the gas after a pass

   • Looks like: You complete a pass, move back up, and the rear steps out (loose) or you drift to the wall.
   • Why: Big steering motion plus full throttle at the same time.
   • Fix: Blend up gently after you clear the car, then add throttle smoothly as the wheel straightens.

7. Ignoring side-draft possibilities (optional for beginners)

   • Looks like: You sit beside another car and never quite clear them.
   • Why: You’re not getting close enough to their side to use side-drafting (if modeled strongly in NASCAR 25).
   • Fix: Once comfortable, run a little closer to their door on the straight to slow them and help you pull ahead—but give yourself margin until you’re consistent.

FAQs

How do you draft in NASCAR 25?
Line your car up directly behind another car on the straight, close the gap to about half a car length to one car length, and hold a steady line. You’ll feel the car accelerate more easily as drag drops. Once you have a strong run, move out of line smoothly to pass before the corner.

What is the best distance to draft behind another car?
For beginners, aim for roughly 0.5–1.0 car lengths back on the straight. Too far and you won’t feel much effect; too close and you risk contact. As you gain control, you can creep closer, especially on long straights.

Does drafting work on every track in NASCAR 25?
Drafting works anywhere there’s enough speed for air resistance to matter, but it’s strongest on big ovals and superspeedways. On short tracks, you’ll still get some benefit on the straights, but corner entry and exit speed are more important than pure draft.

Why do I get tight when I follow another car into the corner?
That’s aero push: the air over your front end gets disrupted, so the front tires lose grip and the car wants to go straight. Lift a little earlier before the turn and move slightly higher or lower to put your nose into clean air.

Can I bump-draft in NASCAR 25 as a beginner?
You can try, depending on how NASCAR 25’s physics and damage are tuned, but it’s advanced. For beginners, treat bump-drafting as optional: focus first on clean following distance, timing your run, and side-by-side control before you start making deliberate bumper contact.

Why do AI cars always pass me on the straights even though I’m full throttle?
You’re likely running alone while they’re using each other’s drafts. Get in line behind a fast AI car, tuck into their draft, and let them pull you forward instead of fighting them side-by-side with no help.

Next steps

Drafting is free speed: you’re trading clean air for momentum. In NASCAR 25, learning when to follow and when to pull out of line will make your races calmer, faster, and a lot more fun.

Next, load up a race on a big oval, start in traffic, and dedicate a few races to nothing but practicing the draft and timing your passes. Once that feels natural, start mixing in more advanced skills like side-drafting and multi-car lines.

Related articles (suggested topics):

• “Racing Lines 101: How To Hold A Consistent Line In NASCAR 25”
• “Corner Entry And Exit: Braking, Throttle, And Turn-In Basics”
• “AI Difficulty And Assists: Finding The Right NASCAR 25 Settings For You”
• “Superspeedway Racing Guide: Surviving The Pack At Daytona And Talladega”
• “Clean Passing In NASCAR 25: How To Gain Spots Without Wrecking”