Cushion

In dirt track racing, the cushion is a buildup of loose dirt that accumulates along the outer edge of the track, typically near the wall, which drivers use strategically to gain speed and control through corners.

When race cars slide and drift through turns on a dirt oval track, their tires kick up loose dirt and push it toward the outside of the racing surface. Over the course of a race, this dirt piles up and creates what looks like a small ridge or berm running along the upper portion of the track. This accumulated dirt is what racers call the cushion.

The cushion serves an important purpose in dirt racing. Skilled drivers will deliberately aim their cars high into the turns so their tires make contact with this mound of dirt. When done correctly, the cushion acts almost like a banked wall that the car can lean against, helping the driver maintain momentum and carry more speed through the corner.

Think of it like riding a bicycle on a curved path with a small hill on the outside edge. If you lean into that hill just right, it helps push you through the turn faster than if you were on a flat surface. The same principle applies when a race car uses the cushion on a dirt track.

However, using the cushion requires skill and precision. If a driver goes too high and digs too deeply into the loose dirt, the car can lose speed dramatically or even get stuck momentarily. Finding the right balance—getting enough contact with the cushion to gain speed without getting bogged down in the looser material—is one of the key skills in dirt track racing.

The size and condition of the cushion changes throughout a race. Early in an event, the cushion might be smaller or less defined. As more cars run laps and kick up more dirt, it grows larger and more prominent. Track conditions like moisture content also affect how the cushion forms and behaves, which is why drivers must constantly adjust their racing lines.

Different types of dirt tracks produce different cushions. Some tracks have a sandier composition that creates a deeper, softer cushion. Others have harder-packed clay that produces a firmer, more defined edge. Understanding the specific characteristics of each track's cushion is crucial for success in dirt racing.

The term can also refer more generally to any loose, sandy track surface condition, but its most common and specific use relates to the dirt buildup on the outside of oval tracks that becomes a key tactical element in racing strategy.