Drifting Not Drafting

Drifting occurs when vehicle momentum or horsepower exceeds tire traction, causing the car to slide sideways. Through driver skill and certain car modifications like suspension and LSD, drifting is utilized to maintain higher rates of speed through corners.

Drafting on the other hand is a racing technique that gains aerodynamic advantage by following closely behind a lead vehicle. Common to NASCAR, drafting reduces the average energy required to maintain a certain speed since the lead car is blocking wind, creating a slipstream that decreases drag for the chase car or cars.

During a Tsuiso Battle (tandem drift battle) the chase car wants to stay as close to the lead drift car as possible and even pass if the option is available. So during a tandem drift battle, drafting is encouraged.

In drifting, making contact with another car can result in disqualification and is usually frowned upon by drifters and drift teams. In NASCAR however, contact is permitted and is known as bump drafting.

Bump drafting is similar to normal drafting but when the chase car pulls up behind the lead car, it bumps into the rear and pushes it forward to maintain the momentum it has built up. When done in side by side traffic on a straightaway, bump drafting can help the lead car pass and allows the chase car to follow through as well.

Done roughly or executed at a particular angle, bump drafting is more like a law enforcement PIT maneuver. It can destabilize the lead car and sometimes cause a crash. Bump drafting in this manner is known as slam drafting. To protect drivers against slam drafting, NASCAR has attempted to limit the bracing on bumpers and introduced “no bump zones” on certain portions of racetracks where bump drafting is common.