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Crew chief
Drew Blickensderfer answers fan questions once a week.
Submit your question
here. |
August
6, 2009 |
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2009 Q&A
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Q |
When a race is postponed until Monday, how much
does it throw off your week at the shop? Are
there enough crew members left in Concord to
keep the preparations for the next race on
schedule?
Becky
Robertson, Columbia, S.C. |
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A |
It doesn’t hurt us too much. In the 17 shop it’s
pretty quiet, but there are a ton of people still working in chassis, body
hanging, finish fab, and body hanging getting cars ready for us.
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Q |
I was at the Indy race a few weeks ago and I was
standing in front of the gates where all of the
NASCAR trailers are and was wondering what all
goes in the trailers other than the car and
backup car? Also while I was there I was
wondering where do all the drivers stay during
the off time of race day? Thanks!
Alex Geiger,
Woodburn, Ind. |
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A |
In the transporters we carry tons of parts and
pieces to rebuild the car if necessary. The
trailer is a rolling shop with shock dyno,
lounge for meetings, computer ports for
communication with other Roush teams, and areas
for the team to eat. Matt usually comes to the
truck before the drivers’ meeting and then comes
back after chapel service to hang out with us
and talk about the plans for the race up until
driver intros.
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Q |
Hey Drew, at tracks like Loudon and Milwaukee,
do drivers play with the throttle a lot to make
the car turn better? What is that called? Does
front toe out play an important role at it?
Thank you and good luck in the races!
Dan Krane, Arlington, Texas |
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A |
It is hard to play with the gas at those tracks
with the amount of horsepower that Cup cars
have, but sometimes the drivers can give it some
gas to make it turn better. Usually you end up
using up the right rear tire doing this though.
Front toe settings are important. Every track
and every tire combination wants a different
amount of toe in or out.
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Q |
When Matt says the car needs this or the car
needs that and you reply with “10-4,” are you
consulting notes from past races, what the
teammates have as setups in their cars, what you
have been able to glean from other teams? Is
there a computer program that you use to plug
problems into and make “what if” changes to the
car?
William Steen, Tipton, Ind. |
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A |
My “10-4” is just making sure Matt knows we
understood and heard him. There isn’t a program
we can plug “what ifs” into during the race.
Most of the changes made in the race are based
off past experience or off what our teammates
have tried during that race.
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Q |
Hey Drew, Do you and all of the crew get the pit
hats, pit shirts, shoes ext. for free?
Kasey Kuebler, Louisville, Ky. |
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A |
Yes. The companies that support the 17 give us
that stuff to help advertise their product.
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