Changing conditions all race long will have teams tweaking their cars throughout Sunday's race at Fontana. Credit: Autostock

Adjustments key to California success

Late-afternoon start will have crews guessing all day at Fontana

The glare, wind and hot track temperatures will keep drivers and crews guessing all afternoon in Fontana, but mid-race adjustments to the changing conditions could be the deciding factor on Sunday.

Brendan Gaughan says some drivers will make their adjustments later in the day and just hope to hang on through the race's early laps. Credit: Autostock

"This place is going to start out 100 degrees and the track temperatures will go to 80 and end up about 75," said Brendan Gaughan, driver of the No. 77 Kodak Dodge. "Some guys may be able to stay ahead all race, and some of us are making plans for adjustments in the late stages of the race and just hold on the first half of the race."

Gaughan wasn't the only driver in the garage concerned about setting up his car properly for race conditions. Ricky Rudd, who found some speed during final practice and posted the eighth-fastest time (after qualifying 20th) wanted to be careful not to dial his car out.

"Happy Hour practice was much more reflective of what the race is gonna be like, so I'm hoping we don't miss our setup," Rudd said. "It's a difficult race we're coming in to because we've done all our practicing with a real cool temperature."

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"The track is going to be probably 130 (degrees) when we're racing, so we've got to be real careful not to get ourselves dialed out."

While Rudd was fast in final practice, polesitter Brian Vickers paced the field and is apparently using the desert winds to his advantage.

"I'm not going to give away all my secrets but one thing I have learned is that you really have to pay attention to the wind at the big tracks," Vickers said. "They can dramatically affect how you have to approach the entry and exit of each corner."

Some drivers may find the wind an advantage, but the late afternoon sun in Turn 3 could pose a problem during the late stages of the event.

Jeremy Mayfield says qualifying on Friday gave teams a hint of what to expect Sunday. Credit: Autostock

"I noticed from practice until the time I went out to qualify (Friday) the backstretch was already starting to be a little delusional back there I guess you'd say," Jeremy Mayfield said following final practice. "Everything started to blend in with the sun."

"We're used to that stuff, sunshine in our eyes and the windshield getting all blasted up. We'll adapt to it somehow."

Adapting to the changing weather conditions is going to be the key to getting into Victory Lane, but Mayfield's teammate, Bill Elliott, summed it up in one simple sentence:

"He who has the best adjustability is the guy who is going to be able to win."