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Plate Track
Track Terminology
A Plate Track is an oval racetrack where cars must use restrictor plates or tapered spacers to limit engine power and reduce top speeds for safety reasons.
These devices restrict airflow to the engine, reducing horsepower and creating closer competition among vehicles. The result is distinctive "pack racing," where large groups of cars run in tight formation, making drafting (following closely behind another car for aerodynamic advantage) a crucial strategy.
Famous plate tracks in NASCAR include Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. These venues are known for exciting, unpredictable racing and occasionally massive multi-car crashes nicknamed "The Big One" that result from the tight packs of cars racing at high speeds.