| Lap | Avg Pace | RF Wear | Grip Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lap 1 | 30.42s | 98.5% | 0.0% |
| Lap 5 | 30.78s | 92.1% | -2.8% |
| Lap 10 | 31.25s | 83.7% | -6.4% |
| Lap 15 | 31.82s | 74.2% | -10.9% |
Kansas Speedway’s progressive banking ranges from 17° near the apron to 20° at the wall. While the high line covers roughly 0.05 more miles per lap than the bottom, the steeper 20° banking allows the car to sustain 175+ MPH minimum apex speed with less steering angle. This reduces right-front scrub and maximizes momentum down the 1,400-foot straights.
On banked curves, gravity and the banking normal vector combine: $F_{\text{lateral}} = m \frac{v^2}{R} \cos\theta - m g \sin\theta$. At 20° banking, the normal load presses the tires harder into the racing surface, raising the available adhesion limit ($\mu F_N$) and counteracting lateral slide without over-stressing tire sidewalls.
In dirty air (traffic wake), stock cars lose up to 28% of front splitter downforce, causing severe corner-entry push. Drivers like Larson move up to the wall to find clean air for the right-side spoiler and diffuser, generating aerodynamic downforce that competitors trapped on the lower grooves cannot match.