Is Drafting Allowed in NASCAR?

Yes. Drafting is not only allowed in NASCAR, it’s a core part of race strategy. However, sustained “locking bumpers” (extended, continuous pushing that forms a tandem) is prohibited on the superspeedways—Daytona, Talladega, and the reprofiled Atlanta—with officials issuing in-race penalties when they judge the push to be excessive. Within those limits, bump-drafting and side-drafting are legal and routinely used across NASCAR’s national series.

What Drafting Is—and Why It Matters

Drafting reduces aerodynamic drag by having a trailing car tuck into the low-pressure wake of a car ahead. The lead car effectively parts the air, letting the follower save throttle and build a “run.” On superspeedways with horsepower-limiting rules and high grip, this effect becomes decisive, producing pack racing and frequent lead changes. Even at intermediate and larger ovals outside the “big three,” drivers use side-drafting to slow rivals and slingshot past.

The Rulebook in Practice (2025)

Drivers, teams, and officials all recognize that drafting is inseparable from NASCAR racing, but there are boundaries designed to keep packs intact without turning races into two-car freight trains. The key points below summarize how NASCAR applies the rules today.

• Drafting itself is legal at every track and in all three national series (Cup, Xfinity, Trucks).
• Bump-drafting—brief, forceful contact to help a car ahead—is permitted, but drivers are responsible for maintaining control; rough or reckless contact can draw penalties.
• “Locking bumpers” (sustained, continuous pushing that creates a tandem) is prohibited on superspeedways (Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta) and is subject to black flags and in-race penalties, typically a pass-through under green or being sent to the tail of the field under caution.
• Enforcement is most visible in the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series; Cup is also monitored, and officials can penalize if contact is judged to be sustained pushing.
• Context matters: brief pushes to initiate a run are common; prolonged nose-to-tail contact, especially down straights, risks a call for locking bumpers.

In effect, NASCAR permits the push-and-pull that creates dynamic pack racing but curbs extended tandem formations that can distort competition and raise safety concerns.

Where Drafting Dominates

While drafting appears everywhere, some tracks reward it so much that the race complexion is defined by the draft. Here’s where it matters most right now.

• Daytona International Speedway (2.5 miles): Classic pack racing; lane management, runs, and timing are everything.
• Talladega Superspeedway (2.66 miles): The largest oval; multi-lane packs and the strongest drafting effect.
• Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.54 miles, reprofiled 2022): Now races like a mini-superspeedway with pack dynamics and frequent bump-drafting.
• Michigan, Pocono, and select intermediates: Drafting and side-drafting matter for passes, even if packs don’t form like at the superspeedways.

At these venues, the draft shapes strategy, from when to pit to which lane to choose, and which competitors make the best drafting partners late in a run.

Techniques Drivers Use in the Draft

Modern NASCAR racers blend classic air games with split-second decision-making. The techniques below are standard tools of the trade, used within the limits officials set.

• Pack drafting: Running in tight, multi-car lines to minimize drag and share momentum.
• Side-drafting: Pinching alongside a rival to disturb their airflow, slowing them while gaining a small speed edge.
• Bump-drafting: A controlled tap to the rear bumper to propel the car ahead, most common on the straights at superspeedways.
• Brief tandem bursts: Momentary, coordinated pushes to create a surge—short enough to avoid “locking bumpers” penalties.
• Run building and lane switching: Lifting and re-accelerating or changing lanes to catch a stronger tow before making a pass.

Mastering these moves—especially judging when a push becomes too sustained—is central to surviving and contending in pack races.

Safety, Officiating, and Recent Trends

NASCAR’s limits on locking bumpers are grounded in safety and competitive equity. Prolonged tandems can raise closing speeds, destabilize the lead car—particularly in the corners—and enable two cars to dominate a run. With the current Cup “Next Gen” car, pushing is still commonplace, but officials remain vigilant at superspeedways across all national series. Penalties for locking bumpers have been most frequently applied in recent Xfinity and Truck superspeedway events, with Cup races also monitored for sustained contact. As packages and track surfaces evolve, NASCAR continues to fine-tune guidance, but the core principle remains: draft freely, push briefly, don’t lock up.

Strategy Implications

Because drafting is allowed but controlled, teams plan for both collaboration and caution. Spotters choreograph when to accept or deliver a push, drivers pick stable partners with compatible styles, and pit cycles are organized in “packs” to rejoin the draft efficiently. The closing laps often hinge on timing a run without crossing the line into sustained contact that risks a penalty—or a wreck.

Summary

Drafting is absolutely allowed in NASCAR and is central to how races are won, especially at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta. Bump-drafting and side-drafting are legal tactics, but sustained “locking bumpers” is not, with officials enforcing penalties to preserve safety and fair competition. The result is racing that rewards savvy use of the air—within clearly defined limits.

Is drafting legal in NASCAR?

Yes, drafting is legal in NASCAR and is a fundamental strategy, especially at superspeedways, but tandem drafting (where one car’s nose is in constant contact with the lead car’s bumper) was banned in 2014 due to safety concerns and high-profile crashes. The allowed form, known as bump drafting, involves a brief, momentary push of the car in front to help it along, not a prolonged connection.
 
What is drafting?
Drafting, or creating a slipstream, involves a trailing car following closely behind a lead car to reduce wind resistance and increase speed. 
What is allowed?

• Normal drafting: Opens in new tabCars can run closely behind each other, forming drafting lines or packs to gain speed. 
• Bump drafting: Opens in new tabThis is when the trailing car briefly pushes the lead car’s bumper to provide a short burst of speed. 

What is banned? 

• Tandem drafting: This was a more extreme form of bump drafting where the two cars would remain in contact for an extended period. It was banned in 2014 after a series of dangerous crashes, including one where a car became airborne and hit the catch fence.

Why is tandem drafting banned?

• Safety risks: The prolonged, high-speed contact of tandem drafting created a high risk of massive accidents. 
• Regulating the technique: The NASCAR hierarchy worked on car designs, cooling systems, and spoilers to help reduce the need for such extreme drafting. 

Why is drafting allowed? 

• Strategic element: Drafting is a vital strategy at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, creating competitive packs and allowing for faster runs.
• Equalizing effect: Drafting keeps the race more equal, as it’s a technique all cars can use, not just the wealthiest teams.

Is bump drafting legal?

Bump drafting is legal in some forms of NASCAR racing, particularly the Cup Series, but is generally banned in many other motorsport series and forms of simulation racing due to safety concerns. While normal drafting is permitted, more aggressive “tandem drafting,” where cars maintain contact for longer periods, was banned by NASCAR after an incident in 2013 that injured spectators. The legality and acceptability of bump drafting can also depend on the specific race, the rules of the series, and the discretion of officials.
 
Where bump drafting is legal:

• NASCAR Cup Series: In NASCAR’s top series, bump drafting is permitted on superspeedways. 
• Spec Miata racing: Some community forums suggest that bump drafting is considered permissible and is a practical application of the rules that allows for cooperation. 

Where bump drafting is not legal:

• Other racing series: Opens in new tabBump drafting is banned from most forms of motorsport, with the technique often outlawed due to the risks of serious accidents. 
• Formula 1: Opens in new tabThe technique is not used and is generally considered dangerous in F1, partly due to the risk of losing control. 
• Some sim racing: Opens in new tabBump drafting is banned in certain sim racing leagues, particularly in European-based lobbies, and can also impact a player’s safety rating in some platforms. 

Risks and nuances of bump drafting:

• High speed and risk of accidents: It is a risky maneuver that can cause cars to lose traction and spin out, potentially leading to major wrecks. 
• Distinction from “tandem drafting”: Tandem drafting, which involves sustained contact, is different from a brief push and is more strictly prohibited. 
• Enforcement: In NASCAR, while bump drafting is allowed, officials may still police aggressive driving, and a poorly executed bump can lead to penalties. 

What does NASCAR drafting mean?

So close that all the air is going that’s going coming off his car is just not touching the front of your car. So basically. Um you know it’s just less wind on the front of your car slowing you.

Why was AJ Allmendinger suspended from NASCAR?

A.J. Allmendinger was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR in July 2012 for violating the sport’s substance abuse policy after a random drug test came back positive for amphetamines, specifically prescription Adderall, which he had taken in a pill given to him by a friend. The positive result was confirmed by his “B” sample test, and Allmendinger was subsequently reinstated in September 2012 after completing NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program.
 
The Incident

• Positive Test: Allmendinger tested positive for a stimulant after a random drug test in late June 2012. 
• B Sample Confirmation: His “B” urine sample also tested positive, leading to his indefinite suspension on July 24, 2012. 
• Substance Identified: The substance was identified as Adderall, a prescription stimulant for which Allmendinger did not have a prescription. 
• Accidental Ingestion: Allmendinger stated he was given the pill by a friend of a friend, who described it as a workout supplement, not a banned substance. 

Consequences

• Indefinite Suspension: NASCAR suspended him indefinitely, and Penske Racing subsequently released him from his contract due to their support of NASCAR’s policy. 
• Path to Reinstatement: Allmendinger completed NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program and was reinstated to competition later that year.