A custom mouth‑piece showed that every run through Phoenix’s signature dogleg can slam drivers with 10‑G impacts, putting the track’s most distinctive feature under the safety microscope.
Key points
- A mouth‑piece sensor recorded repeated 10‑G impacts for Connor Zilisch each time he traversed Phoenix’s dogleg.
- NASCAR is weighing alterations—such as turf, smoother transitions, or usage restrictions—to reduce those forces while keeping the dogleg’s racing appeal.
- Zilisch supports safety improvements but cautions against eliminating a feature that defines Phoenix’s racing dynamics.
During a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview, Trackhouse Racing’s Connor Zilisch disclosed data from a bespoke mouth‑piece, developed with Wake Forest University’s Biomedical Lab, that recorded linear and rotational forces each time he navigated Phoenix Raceway’s front‑stretch dogleg. The device logged “a 10G hit” repeatedly, a level Zilisch described as “not feeling great” but inherent to the circuit.
The dogleg—a flat apron that runs along the front stretch before re‑joining the main banking—has become a focal point for overtaking, especially on restarts. Its abrupt transition from banked surface to lower‑grade asphalt can cause cars to bottom out, transmitting harsh impacts through the chassis and into the cockpit, as noted by Heavy.
Mouth‑piece sensor captures repeated 10G forces
Those impacts have reignited discussions within NASCAR about driver safety. Officials are reportedly exploring options that could soften the transition without erasing the dogleg entirely, such as re‑introducing turf on parts of the apron, smoothing the height change, or adding double‑yellow lines to limit usage. The league aims to address the issue before the 2027 season, according to the source.
Zilisch, while acknowledging the physical toll, expressed reluctance to see the dogleg removed. He said, “I struggle to want to let them change it… but you’ve got to do what’s safest for the drivers,” and suggested that adding turf might mitigate forces while preserving the passing opportunities the feature creates.
Why the dogleg matters at Phoenix
The 2026 season marks Zilisch’s first full‑time Cup campaign after a successful Xfinity run that included ten wins and a Championship‑4 appearance. He remains with Trackhouse through 2027 before a planned move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2028, positioning him at the center of any forthcoming track‑design decisions.
Reader questions
What is the dogleg at Phoenix Raceway?
The dogleg is a flat apron on the front stretch that lets drivers move from the banked racing surface onto a lower‑grade asphalt before re‑joining the main track, creating extra passing lanes especially on restarts.
Why are 10‑G impacts a concern for drivers?
A 10‑G force means the body experiences ten times the force of gravity, which can strain the neck, spine, and overall fatigue levels, raising safety concerns over a full race distance.
Source: heavy.com