Code Words in NASCAR: Clever or Cliché?
- Colin Ward
- May 5
- 3 min read
By Colin Ward
In NASCAR, every millisecond counts. A mistimed or slow pit stop can be the difference between a win and a wasted afternoon. That’s why most teams don’t just rely on straightforward radio chatter anymore — they speak in code.
Sometimes those codes are comical, sponsor or track related, or just straight up random. Other times, they’re a little too clever for their own good — just ask Denny Hamlin.
During Sunday’s Wurth 400 at Texas, Hamlin was running near the front when he heard the word “Cowboys” come over his radio. To him, that meant “stay out.” But to his crew, it meant “come in and pit.”
By the time the confusion cleared up, the damage was done — track position lost, strategy thrown off.
Hamlin ended up blowing a motor just moments after the miscommunication, so in the end it didn’t really matter. But had he finished the race, that one mistake could have derailed his entire day.
Hamlin later explained what happened to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass:
“Miscommunication — miscommunication between me and the team. They gave me a code, it was too close to another code and just got mixed up there.”
This serves as a reminder that in a world where code words are supposed to simplify things and keep rival teams in the dark, sometimes they just get in the way.
Why Use Codes at All?
The main reason teams use these secret phrases is to keep others guessing. Radios in NASCAR are public — if you’re listening, you can hear exactly what another team is planning to do. Every team’s radio is accessible to anyone with a MAX subscription. It is that simple.
If you're the leader of the race and a late caution comes out, why let your competitors know your next move, when you know they are going to just do the opposite strategy as you anyways? It’s a cryptic concept to outsiders, but meaningful to the driver — as long as everyone is on the same page.
And that’s the catch…
Not Everyone’s a Fan
Former Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, now broadcaster with FOX Sports, said during Sunday’s race that he never used code words when he was driving. “I just never saw the need,” he explained. “Teams are going to do what they’re going to do.”
To Harvick, overcomplicating communication can create more problems than it solves — especially when the plan is already hard enough to execute under pressure.
And, he has a point. Racing is already a mental juggling act: handling the car, tracking lap times, conserving fuel, adjusting to changing track conditions — all while talking with your crew at 200 mph. The last thing a driver needs is to play detective trying to decode a message like they’re in a cheap spy movie. It’s got me annoyed just thinking about it.
When It Works, It Works — Until It Doesn’t
On the other side of the argument, code words can be helpful when used clearly and consistently. I was listening to Kyle Busch and the No. 8 teams radio on Sunday, and the team called “Atlanta Braves.” This meant take two tires, while the majority of the field would take four. The call worked smoothly. No questions, no confusion, and the team gained track position.
But that’s the key. It only works if everyone — driver, crew chief, spotter — has the same definition. A single slip up, like what bit Denny Hamlin, can wreck a race.
So... Are They Worth It?
The answer isn’t black and white. For some teams, code words are a useful layer of strategy. For others, they’re an unnecessary risk.
The solution may lie somewhere in between. If you’re going to use code words, they’d better be clear, distinct, and practiced. No, you can’t use the same code words every week, that would be counterproductive. But if you’re going to use them weekly, you better polish them in team meetings — not something tossed together the morning of the race. Teams need to be ready to explain or clarify in the moment if something doesn’t feel right.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to be clever — it’s to win. And in NASCAR, good communication isn’t just convenient — it’s everything.
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