Drivers looking to make deals

Associated Press

TALLADEGA, Ala.

Some compare it to trying to land a date for the prom. Really, it’s just two parties haggling over a potentially lucrative business deal.

Only in this case, the negotiations are taking place at nearly 200 mph.

Drivers who usually only talk to their crew chiefs, spotters and perhaps a teammate will be chatting it up with a bunch of guys they’re trying to beat during Sunday’s restrictor-plate race at Talladega Superspeedway, all looking for someone to go along with a one-car-leads, one-car-pushes, then-we’ll-switch arrangement.

“There will be a lot of pleading, a lot of begging,” Clint Bowyer said.

At Talladega and Daytona, the two NASCAR tracks where horsepower is limited by devices that keep speeds from getting out of hand, teams have learned that two cars paired together can go much faster than drafting in a larger pack, which used to be the norm on these big triovals.

One car runs out front with another right on his bumper, shoving him along. After a few laps, they must switch positions to keep the pusher from overheating his engine. During practice sessions on a gloomy, windy Friday, that’s about all anyone worked on: running in tandem and perfecting the all-important switch.

Those tactics will be crucial in the Sprint Cup race. But the more intriguing subplots can only be heard, not seen, as drivers flip from one channel to another on their radios, looking for a partner during the ebbs and flows of a typical race.

Offers will be made.

Agreements reached.

Whoever plays “Let’s Make A Deal” the best is likely to take the checkered flag in the Aaron’s 499.

“It’s going to be interesting at the end of this thing,” Bowyer said. “It will be quite humorous.”

Some drivers are resisting the urge to load up their radio with the frequencies of their competitors. Matt Kenseth, for instance, has given his signal to several other teams, if they want to call him, but his radio will be programmed only to his spotter, crew chief and Roush Fenway Racing teammates.