Tandem Drafting

Tandem Drafting is a motorsport technique where two cars align closely with the trailing car making contact with the lead car's rear bumper to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase speed for both vehicles.

This strategy creates a powerful aerodynamic advantage as the two-car formation cuts through air resistance more efficiently than either car could individually. The lead car benefits from being pushed, while the trailing car encounters significantly less drag. Popularized by Kyle Busch after a 2007 NASCAR test session, tandem drafting became particularly common at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega.

Due to safety concerns regarding the vehicle-to-vehicle contact involved, tandem drafting has faced restrictions or outright bans in several racing series. NASCAR prohibited the practice in its Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series in 2014, though traditional non-contact drafting remains legal in most motorsports.