Steve O’Donnell, the chief operating officer of NASCAR, recently stated to the Sports Business Journal that the organization may employ artificial intelligence in its upcoming racing forms. The well-known YouTuber and NASCAR fan Taylor Kitchen expressed her opinions on the subject. Teams have already employed AI to manage real-time data and enhance strategy on race days, according to Newsweek. AI-powered technologies have previously been used to analyze data such as GPS data, acceleration, and vehicle handling. On the other hand, using AI to improve the sport’s operational features would be novel. The revelation was just published by renowned journalist Adam Stern on X (previously Twitter), to which Kitchen replied,
“AI is a fantastic tool when applied sensibly and morally, which I believe NASCAR is dedicated to achieving. But I hope O’Donnell and NASCAR take note of the comment’s concern and clarify their strategy to developing a new playoff structure, stressing the value of communication with both their rivals and the public. “It’s crucial that NASCAR recognizes the significance of the playoff system for their audience and rivals and shows that they are considering criticism seriously,” she continued. There’s enough to be enthusiastic about. Three new tracks—Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway—will compete in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Additionally, on June 15, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City will host a regular-season race that pays points for the first time in NASCAR history. AI is used by the NASCAR team to cut down on pit road refueling time. For a while now, Richard Childress Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series team, has been utilizing AI to carry out more effective pit stops. To accurately establish the car’s entry into the pit box, the Chevy team currently uses in-car transponders and a camera positioned on the box.
The crew will find it simpler to determine how much gasoline the vehicle needs during a pit stop in this manner. According to The Express, Lenovo AI data scientist Sachin Wan described the process as follows: “An AI engine analyzes each frame and determines if the fuel can is plugged or unplugged. Since we’re operating at 30 frames per second, the data is precise to within 0.03 seconds. Richard Childress Racing’s technical director, Eric Kominek, claims that AI gives the team confidence in their numerical performance. “The teams can determine fuel mileage to within 100 feet by using the precise fuel additions and the telemetry data,” Kominek added.
“The AI fuel flow numbers are very helpful, whether the teams are trying to ensure they don’t have to wait on fuel during the next stop or optimize their best finishing position for a stage or race end.” In the past, the gasoline guy would plug in the petrol can for roughly seven seconds, which typically required mental computations. The fuel man, however, understands just when to unplug after AI gets involved, guaranteeing a smooth pit stop.
