Trackhouse Racing is leveraging AI to aid the team in making informed decisions during races. 

There are many different ways to approach NASCAR, a sport whose accessibility has been questioned in recent times. However, the rise of artificial intelligence has made the technology increasingly prevalent on the NASCAR grid – and opened the door to a new way of thinking and strategizing.

Two years ago, Richard Childress Racing began utilizing AI to enhance the efficiency of its pit stops. The team used AI to gain real-time insights into refueling, with Lenovo employing in-car transponders and a camera mounted above RCR’s pit box to help Richard Childress Racing determine when a car has entered the box and initiate a real-time video feed. Meanwhile, a former Cup Series driver has announced he is returning to a full-time seat in 2026.

AI is playing an increasingly crucial role in how race teams operate throughout NASCAR. Teams are using AI to make more efficient decisions, unlock new strategic insights, and reshape how they prepare for races.

Teams that don’t use AI risk being left behind as the spot evolves and adapts in line with modernity. Trackhouse is following suit, collaborating with individuals in Silicon Valley on a new AI system that helps the team make informed decisions by transforming data into actionable suggestions.

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Silicon Valley is the epicenter of the AI revolution, with major companies like Google, Apple, and Meta heavily invested in the technology’s development and infrastructure. According to Trackhouse’s Justin Marks, the AI will be able to “do the work of a huge workforce without having to have a huge workforce”, as per the Sports Business Journal. 

AI can now detect tone and make effective decisions. For example, driver and crew radio calls can be fed into an AI model that identifies which calls were successful and which were not, and also deciphers the urgency of each call in real-time.

Trackhouse is following the lead of Hendrick Motorsports, which is at the cutting edge of the AI revolution. The technology assists everything from strategy calls to post-race feedback.

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Earlier this year, Hendrick Motorsports’ technical director, Tom Gray, outlined how AI is critical to the team’s operations. He said: “Information is speed in this game nowadays. He who can distill the information quicker and get to the decision quicker, ultimately, is going to have the race win.”

Trackhouse is getting in on the party, utilizing AI to inform decision-making by transforming data into actionable suggestions and advice that can be fed to drivers on the track. Fans will see if this is effective when the 2026 Cup Series begins in February.