Most of the newcomers to stock car racing think that NASCAR is merely about racing as fast as possible over hundreds of laps. This premise ignores the stratum level of complexities within each race. Raw speed is an important factor, but it is a part of a much bigger process of decision-making, planning and implementation. NASCAR races are tactical events in which the engineers, crew chiefs, spotters, and pit crews collaborate and have a common goal. The recognition of this wider system enables the fans not to view races as a series of laps, but as a developing chess game at a high velocity. It is strategy that defines when a driver drives hard, when they save equipment and when they place themselves in positions where they can capitalize on end-of-race opportunities.

A race weekend starts many days before the engines can start. Teams use track data, weather and historical performance in the development of a baseline set up. The aerodynamic equilibrium, the gear ratios, and the setting of the suspension are decided by the engineers depending on the simulation and experience. Such preparation determines the behavior of a car in long runs, short runs and in restarts. Minor changes in the lap times and tires wear patterns can be altered even on a small adjustment. The awareness of NASCAR begins with the observation that cars are designed to suit each track, or each instance of the race. No standardised set up cuts across the board.

Tire management is an issue all the time during the race. The tires wear out with increased number of laps, which decreases grip and slows down lap times. The drivers should choose on which part to push and where to withdraw. Aggressive driving will earn a position in the early stages, however, when tires get worn out, the driver will find himself in a compromised position at a later stage. There are drivers who are experts at saving tires and this means they can race down the track in the event of a prolonged green-flag run. This ability is not necessarily reflected on lap charts but it can easily dictate the placement.

There is another complexity in fuel strategy. The teams determine the distance that a car will go on a tank of fuel and book pit stops. The decision of leading or playing behind others can have a radical effect on track position. These decisions are complicated by the use of caution flags. Caution will give a chance to pass a pit, with less time wastage, however, passing at the inappropriate time can lead a driver to be held up by other slow moving vehicles. The awareness of NASCAR emphasizes that such decisions are computed risks and not guesses.

Modern strategy has been transformed by stage racing. Races are separated into stages where points are given upon completion of every stage. Teams have to identify their priorities either stage points or the general race positioning. Pursuing points on the stage can mean compromising on the preceding track, whereas the stage points can be ignored to give the final track a better spot. No right and wrong way is universal. The teams change strategies depending on where they are standing in the championship, the performance of the car and the nature of the track.

Another strategic battleground would be restarts. Track position can prove to be better than sheer speed. This is because being close to the front enables the drivers to avoid accidents and manage racing lines. The teams can devour new tires to hold their ground or lose in the short run to benefit in the long term. Such decisions are influenced by the experience, data and intuition.

The popularity of NASCAR indicates that it is not the accelerator button that makes a person win a race. They are conquered by disciplined pursuit of a plan which develops lap by lap. Speed is transformed into results by strategy. Speed is never a winning factor without a strategy.

Finally, the knowledge of NASCAR strategy changes the spectator experience. The fans start to observe pit cycles, tires falloff and fuel windows. Races are narratives of calculated risks and moving motion as opposed to recurring motion. This realisation enhances the love of the sport as well as to those people who enable success.