The Job of Spotting

A few weeks ago I saw a short TV segment about spotters. I guess I have a different view on what a spotter's responsibilities are or should be. From this TV segment I gathered that the Nextel Cup drivers have different thoughts on what they expect from their spotters.

I might have a different opinion because I spot for my dad on Sunday's but I try to treat every driver I spot for the same. Of course there are adjustments that are made according to each driver's suggestions and comments. Sometimes you have to adjust based on the performance of the car as well. Every driver is a little different than the next but the results should be the same at the end of the day.

There are many different styles of drivers so that means there are many different styles of spotters. Some drivers like to hear more talking, others want hardly any talking. Some may take a different lingo than what I use and some may not. There are a select few drivers that could race 500 miles by just using their mirrors and communications with the crew chief but those guys are thinning out as they come in with less experience in the heavier cars. It is harder to see out of the cars now because of the full containment seats.

I have a little bit of driving experience so I think I know most of the wording that the drivers like and dislike. Unfortunately, I didn't do any spotting before I started racing. It is now my belief that all drivers should at least go to the roof and take a look at what their spotter can see. And, if a driver is just getting started he/she should think about doing some spotting. At the very least young drivers need to grab a radio and head for the spotter's stand. This will allow them to see and hear exactly what is going on. There are so many things you can see from the roof. You can get a look at where cars are gaining or losing time. You can learn how the madness on pit road works and you can get a better understanding of putting yourself in good or bad situations on the track.

I am a little baffled at why the crew chiefs do not come to the roof to call the races. Maybe there is a rule in place saying the crew chief has to call the race from the pit box. In my opinion, they could call a better race from the roof. I would compare this to an offensive coordinator in football. Most, if not all, offensive coordinators are in a suite where they can see everything that is happening on the field. They can still call down to the other coaches and players if they need to and their view of the game helps them call the next set of plays. Crew chiefs should consider making a move to the roof in the future.

The spotters should be up there to do just that, spot. I feel that my job is to keep the driver safe, to keep the driver informed, comfortable, and safe. We assist in getting drivers on and off pit road but the crew chief usually handles getting the driver into their stall and out of the stall safely.
Sometimes there are situations where spotters get mad at each other. I am sure there are times when the driver and crew question the spotter. This comes from all of us being competitors. We all like to win! But, at the end of the day, I feel like I would put my in more danger if I started trying to force the issue. So, I will tell the driver what I see and let him make the final decision on what to do with the steering wheel and gas pedal.

Spotters are an important part of putting a good race together but sometimes we lose site of the fact that we are ultimately just a safety tool.

One thing that I have learned since I started spotting is that if I ever drive a race car again I will not yell at my spotter anymore.

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For questions and comments email me at jason@jasonjarrett.com