In NASCAR’s past, drivers relied on rewatching hours of video and highlight reels to study their rivals. From in-car cameras to race replays, it was a painstaking process of spotting where another driver lifted, braked, or adjusted their line. SMT or SportsMEDIA Technology changed the equation. Instead of guessing, a driver can now study exact throttle traces, brake pressure, and steering angles from the fastest cars in the field. And one driver made the most of it recently.

Before the race at Richmond, Shane van Gisbergen admitted he leaned on Denny Hamlin’s telemetry to learn how to attack ovals. The road course champion, still adjusting to the unique demands of NASCAR, openly credited Hamlin’s driving traces for helping him prepare. His lap times reflected the difference: SVG qualified

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