Dots on the front nose of car...

[CarlEdwardsRulz]

I've occasionally noticed these dots on the front of the car for different races... What are the teams using these dots for?

It seems like they're usually a different number of them on each car.

 

[NDilbeckWx]

There's usually a different number, because they typically symbolize the number of runs that car has made in a given practice (possibly qualifying) session.

 

[fioriniandre]

They are "Tech Stickers" We have those in the Late Model class down in Canada. When they tech the car before qualifying they need a sticker so the officials can see easy that car has been through tech.

 

[Thunder98]

What nascarfan9 said, often times the number of practice runs they make. Figured that out doing the '13 Test set.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Those dots aren't tech stickers. NASCAR puts the tech/inspection stickers on the windshield. As nascarfan9 said, they're used during practice sessions to identify runs. The teams will often go back and look at photos and tape of each run to see things like ride height, load, etc..., so those dots help identity which run corresponds with which adjustments.

 

[Ben Althen]

Most teams use a sophisticated software called Dartfish. They record all of the runs on the track, and then use Dartfish to overlay runs to see the differences between each run.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Most teams use a sophisticated software called Dartfish. They record all of the runs on the track, and then use Dartfish to overlay runs to see the differences between each run.

I was wondering what that program was called. For some weird reason, I always have "cat" in my mind. "Something-cat". I don't know why. Should've figured you'd know.

 

[dalejr88rox]

Both of you have the same picture, so for a moment I thought you were talking to yourself

 

[CarlEdwardsRulz]

Thank you guys so much for the feedback. I find the random things the teams do like this fascinating. Now that you guys mentioned it, it makes perfect sense the teams would use the dots to identify the runs throughout the race weekend... I never heard anything about this before.