What is a wedge adjustment?

What exactly is a wedge adjustment when drivers hit pit row in NASCAR?

The biggest strategic decisions in NASCAR all happens in pit row. This is where crews do work on the cars and crew chiefs review fuel windows, tire strategies and other adjustments. The announcers up in the booth will refer to these procedures, but sometimes they might briefly just touch on it and leave the viewer wondering what some of the terms that they are using mean.

One of the common adjustments on pit row is a wedge adjustment. Ofter, a driver and crew chief will be heard over the radio talking about needing a wedge adjustment on the car during a race.

Essentially, a wedge adjustment is increasing or decreasing the tension on the spring in the rear suspension. Depending on how a car is adjusting to the track, a driver might notice that track conditions have changed to a point where a wedge adjustment is needed.

There are holes with tubes in the rear window attaching directly to the springs in the suspension. From there, the crews are able to make the adjustments that are needed.

Racing is such a calculated sport, that no matter how much a crew might tune the tension on the rear suspension during the race, a change could occur in how the cars are reacting to the tracks, which could always call for more adjustments.

Strategy on pit row, whether it’s fuel, tires or adjustments, will make or break a driver’s day.