Ray Evernham just purchased the rights to the IROC series.
If you aren’t familiar with that series it was based on the premise that one entity prepares all the cars and drivers compete in an unprecedented level playing field.
If you took that concept and applied it to our series, where would it lead?
We all have opinions about the cars on the track. In the 2023 season one driver dominated with an unbelievable number of wins when there were some 70 competitors who strapped in during the season.
Speculation runs rampant about that. At the end of the season an unannounced motor check was performed, and all three cars were determined to be in spec.
All political statements aside congratulations to those drivers on their achievements. Not just the aforementioned driver, but all three who were inspected are at the top of their game and deserve admirations and our respect.
Now that we got that premise out of the way..
If you look at that objectively you must ask yourself: “What is it they are doing that we are not?”
On the face of things, they have the same equipment as you. So, what other factors could make the difference?
Setup, experience and luck have a hand in it for sure. Being able to keep the car from mechanical failure is a factor week in and week out.
Maybe they just get more sleep and when that split second decision needs to be made, they simply do it better.
Exploration of the phycology of a race driver
Hey, no expert here. Just putting that out before we start. Most observations I am about to discuss make sense to me. Feel free to join the conversation of all of it – that is the point of doing these articles. They are supposed to be entertaining and informative.
Life factors into racing. Your stress level, your mental preparation and your environment at the racetrack can all make a difference in how you perform on the track.
If you failed before you may have that little hesitation holding you back.
Previous on track incidents may make you biased or reluctant to take chances.
Lack of experience can work in your favor (too new to know not to try running a different lane that works for example). Lack of experience can also end your night.
All of that aside, let’s explore the psychology of your mindset and see if we can help improve your mental state when you are on track.
What are the goals?
- How about staying focused and motivated during a race.
- Suppose we discuss building confidence. Confidence comes from every member of the teams and makes you believe you can do better each time you buckle in.
- Mental toughness and the ability to handle pressure and stress when things do not go just the way you imagined it.
- A winning attitude that isn’t temporary.
- Setting goals for yourself to accomplish.
- Satisfying your need to be accepted in your series and by your peers.
If you can accomplish any of these even to a lesser degree, I guarantee your on-track performance will not suffer for it. To achieve that goal, I hope to break each down a bit and discuss what you can put in your racing drives toolbox as a tool to help you achieve that goal.
Focus and motivation.
Imagine yourself accomplishing that goal. You need to manage your surroundings some and to some extent shut out all of the distractions so you can concentrate on driving. Having a car that is solidly prepared and reliable will do much for your worry about not making the distance. Races are won in the shop and preparation minimizes the stress of mechanical failure.
Visualize yourself on the track to prepare for a race. Drive the track, see the turns and straights.
That few moments when you are lined up to race waiting. Instead of asking why they keep having repeated cautions, I recommend you start by asking yourself:
“Where are you going to start the turn if you have your way?”
“What if they are inside or outside of you?” “On that starting line, what do you want by the entry of the turn?”
There is nothing you can do about that division and the fact that they cannot complete a lap so you might as well use the time to your advantage.
By mentally racing in your head, you prepare yourself better for the different types of obstacles and your performance will be more automatic and less ‘on the fly’. Practice your race, ask the what if’s and prepare yourself with a plan.
Confidence
All drivers start somewhere. No one is a champion immediately. Just like school, some students have to study much harder to achieve over others who it just comes easy. None of that matters if you think you are a lesser driver.
Take what you are good at and use it to be better at what you need work on. If something seems impossible ask yourself if you are going to do it. If the answer is yes.. do it. Knowing you are going to do it is the hardest part.
Doubt is holding you back. Okay you wrecked. Do you think the winner of last week’s race has never hit something? Move on and let the improvement show in this race. Be confident that with more laps, more experience, more understanding, and lessons from past mistakes will move the needle forward. Confidence from your team is important too. Discuss with them your current state. Ask them what you are improving and what needs more attention.
We all race but most do not really break down and discuss lap for lap what was happening and what could be done better in the future as a result. Your team will let you know that you got this. That is a big help.
Mental Toughness
Imagine for a moment you are in the car and were winning with four laps to go. It is your first chance to win. You lose the lead as the caution comes out. Are you going to be so devastated that the win was just so close that you could touch it? If you are, you aren’t focusing on the chance to take back that lead. The race isn’t over and yes you may not win, but getting excited by the pass isn’t helping you so why expend energy instead of racing for the win.
Mentally you can cost yourself on the track more positions than any ill handling car or other factors.
Mentally tough drivers have the ability to check emotions. That they started in the top five, got spun in the first corner but still race back up through the field is a fine example of that. It happens all the time.
Racing isn’t fair – be mentally tough, shake off the emotions and use your skill to better your position on the track.
When a team checks in at the pit stand to go in there isn’t any promise of a top five start so why not deal with the hand you are dealt like it was supposed to happen. Focus on the task at hand and not the injustice of the moment. Being mentally tough is likely the hardest task. Race drivers are emotional and often see what happens on the track as a personal attack in the moment. A thick skin goes a long way for getting back into the game. Shake it off!
Long-term Winning Attitude
Jeff Gordon was on a team that was so incredibly successful all drivers would do well to look at the way they went about winning. The ‘Rainbow Warriors’ literally had a moto that was: REFUSE TO LOSE.
What if you could adopt that attitude. Look at the glass half full and if you have a wreck realize that it may have been worse instead of seeing it as devastation. Many teams would see finishing second three weeks in a row as a great thing if you can relate. Okay you did not win, but what is there to complain about when you are consistently finishing in the top five and 98% of the other teams are not. All in the perspective.
Learning from both good and bad put you ahead as long as you look at it with a winning attitude. No Debby Downers allowed.
Settin’ Goals
Drivers who set specific, measurable goals for themselves are more likely to see success on the track. Goals can be related to lap times, finishing position or plain old finishing the race. Set a goal and work toward it. Goals lead to determination and allow you to strive for them. Without goals, you are just bobbing along hoping.
Make those goals public to those around you. Work as a team to achieve and celebrate when you achieve then set higher goals.
Here is an example of a worthy goal: Look at lap times. Are you faster in the beginning? Do you fall off? How much? If you could maintain a few tenths consistently to the end of the race how much difference would you see in finishing positions. Why is your car falling off? What can you do? Maybe drive a little more conservative and save tires? That is a goal you can set and work toward.
Meeting Peer Expectations
Most of us are worried that our reputation will take a hit if we don’t perform to lofty expectations. There is a fine balance between driving respectfully and winning. You should consider where you stand in the scheme of things.
Everyone knows that no one person is universally loved by everyone. The goal here is to fit in enough to not be hated, but respected.
What if you went out and had a discussion about with those who race against you. Find out what they think you need to work on and do that. New drivers need to exercise restraint and earn a place in the pecking order. Unless you want to be outside the social circles (in the infield and on the track) you better give a wide birth to those who are top runners in the series. Don’t roll over, but stay in your lane.
Spend some time and ascertain where you are on the ladder. What can you do to climb a rung? If you are faced with controversy, how will you react? Being prepared to answer these questions with some foresight is not a bad thing. Drivers in the moment often do not consider what things look like on Tuesday looking back. Don’t be embarrassed and have regrets that you cannot take back. The test is if it wasn’t related to YOU, how would you see it. We have all been there when some maniac is overreacting, and we are silently mouthing get a life in our head as nothing that has transpired met that level of emotion in our estimation. Walking away is almost certainly the right course of action. Being a bigger person takes mental toughness. See above.
The Final Take
We hope that all of this had you wondering what it is you can do to be better prepared for the things not related to the car but the driver.
If you are not the driver perhaps you could approach what and how you say things differently going forward and bolster your drivers mental state to improve your race team’s chances. The racing movie Days of Thunder has many quote-worthy parts, but Harry motivating Cole is a reoccurring theme.
Spend some time with your thoughts and decide what is important and how you will react to situations that could matter and require a decision in the moment. Ask yourself how prepared are you to deal with adversity? If you remember back to the reasons, you started racing you will find the motivation to calm down and use your potential to create good memories as well as improve your standing in the sport.
What are your goals? How important are they to you and your team. Remember that you are not alone in this. Winners have people who support them. This is not a one-person sport.
Best of luck.
