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Radio chatter a vital race-day, practice component

NASCAR Know-How CLICK THE IMAGE TO LAUNCH CLIP The use of radios Start (2.3M .mov) Archives • Click here for past editions of Rusty Wallace's NASCAR Know-How

They say you never miss something until it's gone. That's never been more true than with radio communication in NASCAR. Teams today rely on -- and sometimes take for granted -- the ability to talk to each other on a two-way radio.

Every day during practice the teams and drivers communicate to determine the best set-up for the race car. Radios during practice are nice... but during the race they're crucial.

The radio enables the driver and crew chief to discuss race strategy, and how to make the car better. But it also enables the team's spotters to tell the driver when there is a wreck on the track, and when the caution or green flag is out.

Usually two radios are installed so a driver can switch in case one fails. But when both fail, it's back to the old-fashion hand signals. Tap on the roof if you're tight, and tap on the door if you're loose.

Those basic signals have worked for years, but things have certainly changed. Not only do the teams now have radio communications, but most have two or three channels that you can even electronically scramble.