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Lincoln Speedway

Learn about Lincoln Speedway

1. Track Overview

Real‑world background

Lincoln Speedway sits in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, and is a staple of Central PA “Posse” Sprint Car racing. Known for close-quarters action and a fast, top-heavy cushion, Lincoln rewards drivers who can hustle a car with precision and patience. iRacing’s laser‑scanned version captures its character—moderate banking, a tight wall on corner exit, and a line that migrates quickly as the surface evolves.

Size, layout, banking, characteristics

  • Length: 3/8‑mile dirt oval (approximate).
  • Banking: Moderate, with enough angle to carry speed but not so steep that you can be lazy on the pedals.
  • Straights vs corners: Straights are relatively short compared to larger tracks, so entry timing matters. The exit wall arrives quickly in Turns 2 and 4.
  • Inside hazards: There’s an inside berm/low cushion that can upset the car if you drop the left sides onto it aggressively.
  • Outside wall: Close all the way around; it punishes over-rotation and late corner exits.

Typical racing lines (and how they change)

  • Early (moist): Bottom and lower-middle are strong. You can roll in, keep the car straight, and drive off with good forward bite. A light slider line (enter mid/high, cut down on exit) is also viable.
  • Mid-session: The bottom polishes first on exit. The fast lane moves up a full groove. Entries widen; exits favor momentum.
  • Late (slick): The cushion becomes king. A diamond line—enter high, cut to the bottom mid-corner, then exit up to the mid/top—can beat a top runner if you nail your timing. In traffic, a patient, low cut-off 2 can still work if there’s moisture left.

Surface evolution in iRacing

  • Cushion: Builds quickly against the wall in 1/2 and 3/4. It can become a tall, grabby ridge—great grip if you hit it right, a launch pad if you stuff the right-rear too deep.
  • Slick zones: Low off of 2 and 4 goes first; mid‑entry of 1 usually polishes next as sliders increase. If a field runs the top, mid-exit slicks up and the shelf near the wall grows.
  • Moist swathes: After session resets or track work, expect thin moisture on the bottom for a few laps; it disappears fast in heats and early feature traffic.

2. Key Things to Know About This Track

1) Exit wall danger

  • Turn 2 and Turn 4 walls arrive quickly. Over-rotating on entry or chasing throttle too early sends you right into it. Keep the car straighter than you think at apex and pick up throttle progressively.

2) Bottom disappears first—especially off 2

  • The low lane off Turn 2 becomes glassy. If you insist on bottom exit when it’s polished, you’ll wheelspin and get freight-trained down the backstretch.

3) Cushion is fast but unforgiving

  • The top can be a tenth quicker late in stints, but you must place the right-rear on the edge without jumping it. Small mistakes compound—especially in sprints.

4) Entry tempo matters more than brake pressure

  • Lincoln rewards a crisp lift or brush of brake to set the nose, then throttle to rotate. Over-braking causes push and kills exit speed.

5) Slider windows are shorter than you think

  • This is not a huge half-mile. If you send a slider from too far back, the other car will cross you over easily. Set up with a strong exit the lap before.

6) Setup tends toward “free on entry, planted on exit”

  • A car that rotates on entry without a big stab of brake is ideal, but you still need right-rear drive off the corner—especially when the surface polishes.

7) Gearing: prioritize drive off, not revving the limiter

  • Gear for strong pull off slick exits without smacking the limiter halfway down the straight. Being 100–200 RPM shy of the chip at the stripe is usually fine.

8) Watch the infield berm

  • Clipping the dirt curb with too much angle pops the left-rear and breaks the car loose. Straddle it, don’t hop it.

9) Restarts demand lane choice discipline

  • The leader can dictate moisture usage. If the bottom still has bite on entry, defend low. If it’s gone, protect the slider line into Turn 1.

10) Don’t over-chase the cushion in traffic

  • If the top is stacked, the middle diamond or a patient bottom entry can net passes while others bounce the lip.

3. Best Strategies for Fast Laps

Optimal entry points

  • Turn 1: Early run—aim just above the bottom seam; breathe the throttle, let the car set, and roll. Slick run—enter a lane higher; let the car rotate down or stay committed to the lip.
  • Turn 3: You can drive in slightly deeper than 1. If you’re committing to top, set the RR onto the shelf early so the car loads before apex.

Brake and throttle control

  • Use a quick lift or a brush of brake to plant the LF and start rotation; reapply throttle smoothly and early to keep the car straight on exit.
  • If you’re free on entry, avoid big brake hits—use throttle modulation to stabilize yaw.

Reading grip levels

  • Look for a darker, tacky sheen (grip) vs a light gray, polished look (slick).
  • Watch dust plumes off the cushion; a fluffy, building lip = big grip, but also more chance to bicycle if you drive in too hard.

Adjusting your line as it slicks

  • Early: Bottom or low-middle, straight exits.
  • Mid: Widen entry by half a lane, float to middle, diamond the exit if the bottom is gone off 2/4.
  • Late: Top cushion is primary. If you’re stuck behind traffic on top, try an up-in, down-out line to square up earlier exit.

Mid-corner rotation tips

  • Use the initial lift and a small brake brush to get the nose pointed, then feed throttle to maintain attitude.
  • If the car won’t rotate: add a touch more lift, move entry up the track, or aim to catch the cushion with the RR earlier.
  • If it over-rotates: straighten your steering earlier and roll back to throttle a beat sooner; avoid flicking the car in.

Exit strategies for speed

  • Prioritize straightening the car before full throttle; a shorter slip phase equals more speed.
  • Off Turn 2: Plan your line the previous corner—if you come in too low, you’ll have to pinch exit and spin the tires.
  • Off Turn 4: Respect the wall. Let the car release to the mid if bottom is polished; don’t chase the outside fence with wheel still cranked.

4. Race Strategy & Situational Tips

Racing other cars at Lincoln

  • Clean air on the cushion is powerful. If you’re stuck, undercut with a diamond: lift early, turn down late apex, drive off low-to-mid and slide in behind them on exit.
  • Anticipate crossovers: If you slide someone, be ready to protect the bottom on corner exit and into the next turn.

Passing zones

  • Turn 1 slider: Best when you exit 4 with big momentum. Commit early so you clear and climb before apex.
  • Turn 3 diamond: Enter a lane high, cut down late, and shoot off the bottom if it’s not fully sealed slick.
  • Low entry/High exit off 2: Great if the leader taps the wall or gets bound up on the cushion.

Overtaking risks

  • Dirty air near the cushion can unsettle sprint wings and make you push. Give yourself space to breathe the RR.
  • Sending from too far is a guaranteed crossover loss. Be within a half-car length at the entry cone.

Defensive lines

  • If you’re top dominant: Guard the wall by entering a half-lane down, then float up. Don’t leave a slider lane with a big door open.
  • If you’re bottom/middle: Take away the slider by late-apexing and blocking the cutback. Square your exits to deny overlap.

Heat vs feature differences

  • Heats: Often have usable bottom moisture; short run speed matters. Quali-style laps with tighter lines pay off.
  • Feature: Expect top and middle to come in; stretches of green flag run favor cushion rhythm and tire/temperature management even on dirt.

Adapting to track evolution in long races

  • First third: Probe multiple lanes; map where the slick is forming.
  • Middle third: Commit to the fast lane but keep an alternate in your pocket for traffic.
  • Final third: Lines are established—execute and minimize mistakes. Small wall taps and cushion jumps can cost multiple spots late.

5. Car-Specific Tips

360/410 Sprint Cars

  • Entry: Minimal brake. Winged sprints prefer a lift/settle—let aero and side bite do the work.
  • Wing angle: Flatten when tacky to reduce drag; add angle as it slicks for stability and drive.
  • Line: In clean air late in runs, the cushion is typically quickest. If you can’t run it clean, use an up-in/down-out line to avoid bouncing the lip.
  • Hands: Smooth and small. Big sawing motions make the car snap-tight or snap-loose on exit.

Pro/Super Late Models

  • Weight transfer: Use the brake to set the nose and hike the LR; maintain a slight throttle to keep the car free in.
  • Line: Middle-to-top is strong once the bottom seals. Diamonding 3/4 can help maintain drive off 4.
  • Throttle: Gentle roll to prevent spinning the rears off 2 and 4; they punish impatience more than sprints.

Street Stocks

  • Momentum cars: The bottom holds value longer. Keep the car straight, avoid the berm hop, and prioritize exits over throws.
  • Passing: Set up with consistent pressure; force mistakes. Sliders are possible but require earlier commitment.
  • Setup feel: Aim for stable entry and predictable forward bite; a “free” car is hard to catch once loose.

Dirt Modifieds

  • Entry rotation: They like a brush of brake to set; then throttle to carry the RR through the middle.
  • Line: Middle lanes often come alive mid-race; cushion runs are doable but risk upsetting the front if you hit the lip wrong.
  • Gearing: Don’t over-gear; smooth exits win.

6. Setup Suggestions (General)

Note: Keep within iRacing’s rules; consider these as directional adjustments rather than exact numbers.

Stagger

  • Tacky/early: More rear stagger helps the car turn and stay free on entry.
  • Slick/late: Reduce stagger slightly to keep the car from over-rotating and to improve forward drive off 2/4.

Wing angle (sprint cars)

  • Early: Flatter wing for speed and less push down the straights.
  • Slick: Increase angle for rear stability and forward bite; move the wing back slightly if the car is tight on entry but loose off.

Shocks and springs (general tendencies)

  • Cushion running: Slightly more RR compression can help lean into the lip without bouncing; don’t overdo or you’ll bind the car.
  • Slick middle: Softer RR rebound and/or slightly more LR drive can help plant the car on throttle.
  • Tight entry: Consider a touch more LF rebound or reduce cross weight to help it cut.
  • Loose exit: Add a hint of rear compression or increase cross to stabilize drive off.

Gear selection

  • Aim to pull strong off the corners without hitting the limiter early on the straights.
  • If you’re bouncing the chip mid-straight, gear taller. If you’re bogging off corner, gear shorter by a small step.

Balance targets

  • Tacky heat setup: Free-er on entry, stable mid, aggressive drive off. You can tolerate a bit of mid-corner push because moisture masks it.
  • Slick feature setup: Calm entry, predictable rotation, strong forward bite. Err toward stability and let your line selection create rotation.

Tire management and pressures

  • Respect iRacing’s limits. Generally, don’t run pressures so low that the sidewalls fold and the car chatters. A touch more pressure on RR can help cushion precision; slightly lower LR can aid drive in slick—but stay in safe ranges.

7. Final Thoughts

Lincoln Speedway is a driver’s dirt track: fast enough to reward bravery, technical enough to punish sloppy inputs. The defining features are its migrating line, a demanding cushion, and exits that will bite you if you rush the throttle or chase the wall.

To improve:

  • Build a library of lines. Practice bottom, mid, and top in the same session so you can switch without thinking.
  • Drill entries. Run 10-lap sets focusing only on lift points and car attitude at turn-in—no timing screen, just feel.
  • Practice the diamond. Enter a lane high, late-apex, straighten early, and leave with minimal wheel. Do this until it’s automatic in traffic.
  • Learn the cushion gradually. Start a half-car off, then inch up to the shelf. Aim the RR to kiss the edge, not jump it.
  • Adapt to track evolution. Watch where the surface darkens and where the polish forms. Let the track tell you where to go.

Master the tempo into Turn 1, respect the exit of Turn 4, and treat the cushion like a precision tool rather than a shortcut. Do those things, and Lincoln will repay you with laps that feel fast, safe, and consistently competitive—exactly what you need to climb the order in iRacing’s dirt ranks.

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