“It’s critical”: NASCAR influencer reacts to Steve O'Donnell's recent comments on AI-driven playoff system

NASCAR's Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell recently told Sports Business Journal that NASCAR could use Artificial Intelligence for its future racing formats. Taylor Kitchen, a famous YouTuber and NASCAR enthusiast, shared her thoughts on the same.

As per Newsweek, teams have used AI in the past to handle real-time data and improve strategy on race days. Information like GPS data, acceleration, and vehicle handling has been analyzed by AI-powered tools before, However, leveraging AI to enhance the operational aspects of the sport would be something new in the sport.

Renowned journalist Adam Stern reported the news through a recent post on X (formerly known as Twitter), to which Kitchen responded by saying,

“AI is an incredibly tool when used responsibly and ethically - something I trust NASCAR is committed to doing. However, I hope O'Donnell / NASCAR notice the concern from the comment and clear up how they plan to approach the creation of a new playoff system, emphasizing the importance of communication with their competitors and the fans.”

“It’s critical that NASCAR acknowledges how important the playoff system is to their viewership and competitors and demonstrates that they are taking feedback seriously,” she added.

There’s a lot to be excited about. The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season will feature three new tracks in the playoffs: Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Furthermore, for the first time in the history of NASCAR, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City will host a points-paying, regular-season race on June 15.

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NASCAR team uses AI to reduce refuel time on pit road

Richard Childress Racing, a team that operates in the NASCAR Cup Series, has been using AI to execute more efficient pit halts for some time now. As of now, the Chevy team uses in-car transponders, and a camera mounted on the pit box to precisely determine the car's entry into the box.

This way, it gets easier for the team to calculate how much fuel the car should be getting during a pit stop. Lenovo AI data scientist Sachin Wan explained the procedure by saying (via The Express),

“An AI engine looks at each frame and classifies whether the fuel can is plugged or unplugged. We’re working at 30 frames per second, so the information is accurate to within about 0.03 seconds.”

According to Eric Kominek, technical director at Richard Childress Racing, AI provides the team with confidence when it comes to numbers.

“The telemetry data, in conjunction with the exact fuel adds, allows the teams to calculate fuel mileage to within 100 feet,” said Kominek. “Whether the teams are trying to make sure they don’t have to wait on fuel during the next stop or optimize their best finishing position for a stage or race end, the AI fuel flow numbers are very helpful.”

Earlier, the fuel man used to plug in the fuel can for about seven seconds, and that usually came down to mental calculations. But following the involvement of AI, the fuel man knows exactly when to unplug, ensuring a seamless pit stop.