Welcome to the first installment of The Bozi Breakdown, the place we dig into NASCAR information — from tech and rulebook debates to the folks and improvements behind the game. On this debut episode, we’re overlaying the Jesse Love disqualification at Rockingham, pit crew shuffles forward of Talladega, the story behind a Navy SEAL rushing up pit stops, and why Bristol won’t deserve all of the hate.
TTAC Creator Bozidar “Bozi” Tatarević is a Bosnian-American racing mechanic, author, and technical guide born in Sarajevo in 1986. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1995, he realized English in elementary faculty and ultimately turned his ardour for automobiles—fostered by his father Slav—right into a full-time profession. Laid off from a tech job in 2008, Bozi started wrenching professionally, ultimately launching a store and automotive export enterprise along with his household. His technical message board posts led to a writing profession with retailers like TTAC, Motorsport.com, Street & Monitor and Racecar Engineering.
In 2018, he made his professional mechanic debut at Watkins Glen and now works as a tire service and mechanic for Vasser Sullivan Racing in IMSA, with 10 wins and a 2023 GTD Professional title. Bozi additionally consults by way of his company Podium Prime, with purchasers starting from race groups to media manufacturing corporations.
The TTAC Creators Collection tells tales and amplifies creators from all corners of the automotive world, together with tradition, dealerships, collections, modified builds and extra.
TRANSCRIPT SUMMARY
The Bozi Breakdown – Episode 1
0:00
Welcome to episode considered one of The Bozi Breakdown. Right now, we’re discussing how a former Navy SEAL is making pit stops quicker, digging into the Jesse Love disqualification at Rockingham, and taking a look at Bristol—why it won’t have been as dangerous as you imagined. We’ll additionally preview pit lane adjustments at Talladega with some crew shuffles underway.
0:20
That is the primary episode of a brand new undertaking the place I take a few of my social commentary and develop it into audio and video. You’ll discover it on my YouTube channel and podcast platforms.
0:30
Let’s speak Rockingham. The race delivered—packed stands, nice motion. However a couple of hours later, Jesse Love was disqualified resulting from a rear suspension problem. NASCAR desires the rear axle and truck arm carefully coupled, that means tight tolerances. Groups choose some looseness for flexibility. NASCAR checks how these components are stacked with shims in between. On the No. 2 automotive, the hole was too giant—exterior the foundations.
1:19
Shims are used to align the rear axle to the automotive and set the pinion angle. Groups found that leaving the part unfastened allowed flex, serving to automobiles flip higher and achieve aerodynamic advantages. If the rear can transfer, it may create aspect drive, which stabilizes the automotive and helps it rotate via corners with out shedding grip.
2:29
The No. 2 staff is interesting, and I get it. They may argue one thing shifted unexpectedly at a observe they haven’t been to shortly. I’d give them a 40% probability. Typically when the automotive is on jack stands post-race, gaps can seem resulting from components twisting. Not a slam-dunk enchantment, however not inconceivable.
3:33
One technique groups use is under-torquing the U-bolts that maintain all the things. Through the use of decrease torque than the beneficial 70-80 lb-ft, they create a spot that flexes underneath load however closes when stationary. This problem can be fascinating to observe.
4:16
At Rockingham, Harrison Burton within the No. 25 AM Racing automotive impressed. A few of that comes all the way down to his pit crew, leased from Pit Crew Improvement Group (PDG), a joint effort between 23XI and Legacy Motor Membership. These improvement crews prepare collectively and are deployed to varied groups for expertise. At Rockingham, Burton’s crew was persistently gaining positions on pit stops—as much as 5 spots at a time.
5:41
A key member of that crew is Jackman Damen Jackson, a former Navy SEAL and school soccer participant. Damen’s understanding of physique mechanics has been helpful to the staff. He launched the “jack behind the again” transfer, which began at 23XI and unfold to Joe Gibbs Racing.
6:52
The transfer entails a two-handed handoff behind the again that saves time. It unfold throughout the offseason and helped each groups carry out higher in pit stops. Joel Bouagnon has change into identified for mastering it.
7:57
This evolution builds on strikes from previous jackmen like Kellen Mills and Eric Ludwig. Every transfer saved tenths of a second—important in fashionable pit stops. The most recent iteration combines earlier strategies into an optimized transfer that’s quick and constant.
10:30
Austin Dickey from the No. 23 crew is out on medical go away. Hunter Massing from PDG is filling in at Talladega. Count on slight adjustments, much like what we noticed at Bristol.
11:03
One other huge change: Skip Flores moved from Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 automotive to Zane Smith’s No. 38. Keiston France replaces him on the No. 12. Whereas this may appear to be a step down for Flores, it may very well be an try and shake issues up. The No. 12 crew has had points, however a few of these could not have been the entrance tire changer’s fault.
13:14
At Bristol, the No. 12 crew truly had among the quickest stops. The timing of the change is puzzling. My guess: they needed to strive one thing new after Blaney misplaced spots on pit lane regardless of having a quick automotive.
14:19
Bristol wasn’t as dangerous as social media claimed. The dominant winner annoyed followers, however there was actual racing taking place. There have been 75 place adjustments within the Cup race’s prime 10 versus 45 within the Xfinity race. Notion performed a giant position.
15:46
Ross Chastain and William Byron made main positive factors all through the race, each on observe and within the pits. These tales didn’t get highlighted on TV, which affected how the race was obtained.
16:47
Folks need extra tire falloff and extra dramatic racing, however that’s not potential each weekend. NASCAR has restricted testing however continues to be exploring concepts.
17:20
One concept floated: a “run what you brung” race at North Wilkesboro for the All-Star Race. Groups weren’t resulting from price and complexity. NASCAR supplied to permit any suspension/aero combo with solely a security inspection, but it surely didn’t transfer ahead.
18:32
Cup groups had the weekend off, however many pit crew members didn’t. They labored Rockingham’s races, displaying how grueling their schedule will be.
19:38
Cody French and Jarius Morehead have been a part of the 48 Xfinity automotive crew at Rockingham. In addition they participated in Storage 56 at Le Mans and can seem within the American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans documentary premiering June 12 on Prime Video.
20:36
That wraps it up for this episode. I’ll be following Talladega and refining this undertaking as I am going. Count on weekly episodes, presumably extra throughout race weekends. Subscribe on YouTube, charge and evaluate on podcast platforms, and go away feedback with questions or solutions. Thanks for listening.
