Setup tips, racing know-how, and what's new across the apps.
RacerRX
RC Car Maintenance Schedule: What to Rebuild and How Often
An RC car maintenance schedule by packs, not weeks: real intervals for diffs, shocks, bearings, gears, and driveshafts, plus a between-heats checklist.
July 21, 2026
RaceNight
How to Scale a Race Car at Home and Get Numbers You Can Trust
Learn how to scale a race car at home step by step — leveling pads, driver and fuel state, disconnecting bars, and the four numbers to record.
July 15, 2026
Corner Weighting an RC Car: Balance, Battery Placement and Tweak
RC corner weight explained: check tweak without a $250 station, correct it at the shock collar, and move the battery to fix front-to-rear balance.
July 9, 2026
RaceTrips
Is Sponsorship Money Taxable? Sponsor, Contingency, and Points Fund Money
Is sponsorship money taxable? Yes — cash, decal deals and points fund checks all count, form or no form. Here's who reports what, and an invoice template.
July 6, 2026
RacePrep
Crack Checking Race Car Parts at Home: What to Inspect and How to Find It
Crack checking race car parts with a $20-to-$90 dye penetrant kit: which parts crack, dye pen vs magnetic particle, and the step-by-step test.
July 3, 2026
Grooving and Siping Dirt Tires: When It Helps and When It Costs You
Grooving and siping tires for dirt track: what pattern fits your track condition, how deep to cut, what it costs in tire life, and whether to cut at all.
June 30, 2026
RaceYear Calendar
Track Championship Points: How They Work and When You're Actually Out
How do track championship points work? Learn finish points, passing points, attendance rules and drop weeks — and the math for whether you're still in it.
June 24, 2026
RC ESC Settings: Drag Brake, Punch and Brake Strength Explained
RC ESC settings explained brand-neutral: what drag brake, punch and brake strength actually do to your car, with sane starting values and a test loop.
June 18, 2026
Race Car Insurance Explained: What's Covered and What Isn't
Race car insurance explained: the four things a racer is exposed on — car, tow rig, trailer, and you — and the questions to ask your agent.
June 15, 2026
Race Engine Oil Analysis: What a Used Oil Sample Tells You Before the Engine Lets Go
Race engine oil analysis explained: what a used oil sample costs, how to pull it clean, which wear metals matter, and why trend beats one report.
June 12, 2026
Test and Tune Day: How to Actually Get Faster
A test and tune is the only night you can change one thing and know what it did. Here's how to plan a test session, log it, and leave with answers.
June 9, 2026
When Does Dirt Track Racing Season Start? Schedule Release Dates and How to Catch Them
When does dirt track racing season start? See real 2026 opener dates by region and when schedules actually get posted, so you're not chasing one in March.
June 3, 2026
RC Gear Mesh and Backlash: Setting Spur and Pinion Right
Set RC gear mesh right: the paper-strip method, how much backlash, what too tight or too loose sounds like, and how tire truing shifts your gearing.
May 28, 2026
Racing IRS Audit Records: What Strong Documentation Actually Looks Like
What actually holds up in a racing IRS audit: contemporaneous logs, a separate account, a written plan, and proof you adjusted when you lost money.
May 25, 2026
Race Car Wheel Bearing and Hub Service: Packing, Preload, and When to Do It
Race car wheel bearing service done right: how much grease to pack, how to set preload without cooking a bearing, and a real laps-based interval.
May 22, 2026
Panhard Bar Adjustment and J-Bar Setup: How Height and Angle Change Your Car
Panhard bar adjustment for oval track cars: how J-bar height sets your rear roll center, what angle really does, and which end to move on a slick track.
May 19, 2026
How Far to Tow to a Race? Setting a Travel Radius for Your Season
How far to tow to a race — the real cost-per-mile math, the overnight threshold, and the fatigue line, turned into one travel radius rule.
May 13, 2026
RC Setup Apps in 2026: What Changed Since the Listicles Were Written
Which RC setup app is current in 2026? What the 2012 listicles miss, where to get free baseline setups, and who actually leads the category.
May 7, 2026
Racing Expense Tracker: Shoebox, Spreadsheet, QuickBooks, or a Racing App
A racing expense tracker only has to do three things. Compare the shoebox, a spreadsheet, QuickBooks and a racing app against what the IRS asks for.
May 4, 2026
Race Car Maintenance Tracking Software: Why Mileage Apps Never Fire
Race car maintenance tracking software that counts miles will never fire. Learn which unit to count per component: laps, races, heat cycles or dates.
May 1, 2026
How to Choose a Race Car Setup App (and When a Spreadsheet Is Still Fine)
Choosing a race car setup app? Compare offline use, class fit, team sync, data export and real published pricing, plus when a spreadsheet wins.
April 28, 2026
Rained Out: What Dirt Track Rain Out Policy Does to Your Money, Your Points and Your Calendar
Rained out? A dirt track rain out policy decides your pit fee, your points and your makeup date. Here is what six real rulebooks actually say.
April 22, 2026
RC Tire Prep: Compound, Traction Additive and When a Tire Is Done
RC tire prep, straight: how to pick a compound for your track, how long to soak tires before your heat, and how to tell when a set is done.
April 16, 2026
Quarterly Estimated Taxes on Racing Income: How Much to Set Aside
Racing income is lumpy. How much to set aside for quarterly estimated taxes on racing profit, when 2026 payments are due, and what to do if you're late.
April 13, 2026
Race Car Crash Damage: How to Tell If Your Chassis Is Bent Before Next Week
Wrecked Saturday, racing Friday? Here's the level-floor, tape-measure triage that tells you if you have a bent race car chassis or just body damage.
April 10, 2026
Dirt Track Gear Ratio: What Gear Should I Run at a New Track?
What dirt track gear ratio should you run at a new quarter- or three-eighths-mile? Work backward from your rev limiter, your tire, and last week's tach.
April 8, 2026
Moving Up a Class in Dirt Track Racing: When to Go and When to Stay
Moving up a class in dirt track racing costs more in tires than in car. Get the readiness test, the real per-night numbers, and when staying put wins.
April 7, 2026
Do You Need a Dirt Track Racing License? Sanctioning Bodies, Explained
Do you need a dirt track racing license? Compare 2026 IMCA, DIRTcar and USRA membership costs, what each one buys, and which races your license counts for.
April 6, 2026
Racing Safety Gear Expiration Dates: What Expires, When, and How to Track It
Belts, nets, bottles, bladders: every one of the racing safety gear expiration dates in one chart, where the date is stamped, and when to reorder.
April 3, 2026
Four-Link Setup on a Dirt Track Car: What Every Bar Actually Does
What each bar in a four-link setup on a dirt track car actually does: bar angles, hole numbers, birdcage index and rear steer, in plain English.
April 2, 2026
Race Night Format Explained: Hot Laps to Feature, in Order
Race night format explained in order: pit gate, tech, hot laps, heats, the consi, redraw, invert and the feature — plus how to find your own track's rules.
April 1, 2026
RC Radio Setup: EPA, Dual Rate, Expo and Trim Explained
Your RC radio setup is free speed: what EPA, dual rate, expo, trim and subtrim each do to steering, and when a twitchy car is really the chassis.
March 26, 2026
Race Car Depreciation: Section 179, Bonus, and the Luxury Car Trap
Race car depreciation, plainly: Section 179 vs. 100% bonus vs. spreading it out, the listed-property trap, and why the 6,000-lb cap likely misses you.
March 23, 2026
Race Car Torque Specs: Which Fasteners Matter and How to Keep Them Tight
Race car torque specs by system: wheels, hubs, rod ends, brakes, cage tabs. Plus paint-pen torque marking that makes a nut and bolt check fast.
March 20, 2026
Race Car Shock Tuning: What the Valving Numbers Mean and Which Shock to Change
Race car shock tuning, decoded: what the stamped valving numbers mean, what compression and rebound do, and which corner's shock to change first.
March 17, 2026
How to Read an RC Setup Sheet (and Actually Use a Factory Setup)
Decode every box on an RC setup sheet, learn which factory team numbers transfer to your club track, and which ones you should ignore completely.
March 5, 2026
Do You Need an LLC for Your Race Team? What an LLC Actually Changes
An LLC for a race team is a liability filing, not a tax key. What it protects, what it costs by state, and what really unlocks racing write-offs.
March 2, 2026
RaceNight Update (FEB26): Template & Baseline Version Control & Auto Updates
Feature updates for February 2026 release (1.5)
February 22, 2026
RC Differential Tuning: How Diff Oil Changes the Way Your Car Drives
RC differential tuning explained: what thicker and thinner diff oil does to steering and drive, front vs center vs rear, plus how to fill a gear diff.
February 19, 2026
How to Get a Racing Sponsor Without Begging for It
How to get a racing sponsor without begging: it's an ad buy, not charity. Price it with real numbers, pitch one page, and report back so they renew.
February 18, 2026
Off-Season Race Car Prep: The Winter Work That Wins You Races in May
Off season race car prep, start to finish: the end-of-season debrief, teardown order, what to replace vs. reuse, and the winter jobs that pay off in May.
February 17, 2026
Cross Weight (Wedge) Explained: What It Does and How to Set It
Cross weight is right-front plus left-rear over total weight. Learn the formula, how to scale a car level, and which corner to turn when it won't handle.
February 16, 2026
The Real Cost to Start Dirt Track Racing (and How to Price Your Own)
The honest cost to start dirt track racing: real 2026 license fees, pit pass prices, safety gear costs, and a method for pricing your own first night.
February 13, 2026
RC Motor Timing and LiPo Care: Where the Speed Actually Comes From
RC motor timing explained: endbell vs ESC boost timing, LiPo charge and storage voltage, blinky class rules, and the temps that cap how far you can push.
February 12, 2026
Racing Mileage Deduction: What You Can Actually Write Off on the Tow Rig and Trailer
Racing mileage deduction rules for 2026: the IRS rate, which miles count, the log that survives an audit, and how the trailer gets written off.
February 11, 2026
The Race Day Checklist That Keeps You Off the Hook
A race day checklist that runs your whole night in order: load-out, pit gate, pre-hot-lap checks, between sessions, and the walkaround before you load.
February 10, 2026
What Is Stagger in Racing? How Tire Circumference Turns Your Car
Stagger in racing is the circumference gap between your right and left tires. How to measure it, why your rear end changes it, and how much to run.
February 9, 2026
What a Season of Racing Really Costs (and How to Budget for It)
The honest cost of a racing season — entry fees, tires, fuel, engine wear, travel — plus a ranged budget by class and how to track it all year.
February 6, 2026
Dirt Oval, Off-Road or Carpet: Adjusting Your RC Setup for the Surface
RC dirt oval setup, carpet, and off-road tuning by surface: how grip level drives your tire, insert, camber, gearing, and diff calls, plus a cheat sheet.
February 5, 2026
How to Run Racing Like a Business (Even If You Only Race Saturdays)
Learn how to run racing like a business — separate money, real books, cost-per-night, and season numbers that make you a faster, sharper decision-maker.
February 4, 2026
Race Car Tech Inspection Checklist: How to Reduce Avoidable Failures
Run this race car tech inspection checklist before you load the trailer and catch expired belts, weight, and tire problems before an inspector does.
February 3, 2026
Dirt Track Slick Setup: How to Chase a Track That's Going Away
Your dirt track slick setup guide: read tacky-to-slick transitions and adjust tires, air pressure, weight, and line to stay fast as grip leaves.
February 2, 2026
RaceNight Update (JAN26): Full Sheet Views, Pro Templates, and Gear Tools
Feature updates for January 2026 release (1.4)
How to Promote Yourself as a Racer (and Get Fans to Actually Show Up)
How to promote yourself as a racer: share a followable schedule, post where you're racing next every week, and give fans an easy way to show up.
January 30, 2026
Shock Oil, Springs & Ride Height: Tuning RC Suspension for Grip
RC shock oil tuning made simple: how oil weight, spring rate, and ride height change grip, plus a one-change-at-a-time method and what to log per surface.
January 29, 2026
Schedule C for Racers: How to Report Your Racing Income and Expenses
Schedule C for racers: which expense lines your racing costs map to, how income and deductions net out, and the clean season report your tax pro wants.
January 28, 2026
Preventive Maintenance for Race Cars: Track Parts by Laps, Not Guesswork
Race car preventive maintenance done right: set intervals per part, track hours on race parts by laps, and catch failures before they DNF your night.
January 27, 2026
Reading Race Tire Temperatures: What Your Pyrometer Is Telling You
Learn to read race tire temperatures across inside, middle, and outside to fix camber and air pressure. A pit-side pyrometer guide for short-track racers.
January 26, 2026
Chasing Points vs. Purse: How to Choose Your Races
Points vs. purse — weigh a track championship against a bigger purse elsewhere, factor travel, tires and risk, and pick your races on numbers, not FOMO.
January 23, 2026
RC Gear Ratio & Rollout: Dialing In Punch and Top Speed
Learn RC rollout gear ratio the easy way. Calculate final drive ratio and rollout, gear for your track, and watch motor temps so you don't cook parts.
January 22, 2026
Do You Owe Taxes on Race Winnings? What Every Racer Should Know
Do you owe taxes on race winnings? Yes — purse and prize money are taxable with or without a 1099. Here's how hobby and business racers report it.
January 21, 2026
When to Replace Rod Bolts and Valve Springs: The Parts That Fail Without Warning
Rod bolts and valve springs fail with no warning light. Learn when to replace rod bolts, check valve spring pressure, and log cycles to dodge a blowup.
January 20, 2026
Loose vs. Tight: How to Diagnose a Race Car That Won't Handle
Loose vs tight race car, decoded. Learn what oversteer and understeer feel like by corner phase, the first adjustments to try, and how to log what works.
January 19, 2026
How to Find Races Near You: A Racer's Guide to Track Schedules
Hunting for races near me? Here's how to find every dirt track schedule nearby — by series, class, and tow distance — without digging through Facebook.
January 16, 2026
Camber, Caster & Toe Explained for RC Racers
RC camber caster toe made simple: what each alignment angle does to steering and grip, typical starting ranges, and how to feel every change you make.
January 15, 2026
Racing Tax Deductions: What You Can (and Can't) Write Off
Racing tax deductions explained: what a racing business can write off — entry fees, parts, tires, fuel, travel, mileage and hauler — and what it can't.
January 14, 2026
How Long Do Race Car Parts Last? A Component Life Guide
How long do race car parts last? Real service windows for engines, valve springs, rod bolts, shocks, bearings and tires — and when to replace each.
January 13, 2026
How to Build a Race Car Setup Sheet That Actually Finds Speed
A race car setup sheet is only useful if you can find speed in it later. Here's what to record, how to log track conditions, and a free template.
January 12, 2026
How to Plan Your Racing Season Without Double-Booking Yourself
Learn how to plan your racing season in the off-season — map points races, big specials, prep, and travel, and spot conflicts before you commit.
January 9, 2026
RC Car Setup Guide for Beginners: The Settings That Actually Matter
An RC car setup guide for beginners: the settings that actually change how your car drives — camber, toe, ride height, springs, shock oil, and gearing.
January 8, 2026
Is Your Racing a Business or a Hobby? The IRS Rules Racers Need to Know
Is racing a business or a hobby? The IRS rules that decide whether you can deduct your racing costs — the nine-factor test and the 3-of-5 profit rule.
January 7, 2026
The Weekly Race Car Maintenance Checklist That Reduces Preventable DNFs
The weekly race car maintenance checklist that catches loose bolts, tired bearings and dying fluids before they cost you a finish on Saturday night.
January 6, 2026
Smash Numbers Explained: The Setup Metric Most Racers Ignore
Smash numbers explained: what load numbers are, how a spring smasher measures them, and why logging them lets you swap springs without losing speed.
January 5, 2026
NEW! Introducing RaceNight — The Ultimate Setup App for Racers 🏎️💨📝
Announcing RaceNight - The ultimate racing setup app
December 2, 2025
RacePrep Update (MAR25): Find what you need, faster with Dashboard Search
We know that managing your race car's components can get complex. With countless parts, maintenance schedules, and lap counts to track, finding that one specific component you need to find in a long list can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s why we’re introducing a new feature that will streamline your workflow and save you valuable time: Dashboard Search.
March 3, 2025
Why we built RacePrep
Stop relying on memory & messy notes. RacePrep provides detailed tracking, alerts, and checklists for optimal race car maintenance.
Every lap counts: The smart way to maintain your race car.
Tracking the number of laps on your engine, rear end, and other critical components is crucial for proper maintenance. While most racers know this, many are inconsistent when it comes to their lap count diligence. In this blog post, we’ll cover the importance of tracking laps on your race car components and some of the best practices to make sure you’re on top of it.
March 1, 2025
RacePrep How To: Get 25% more resale value for your used race car parts.
Want to get top dollar when selling your used race car parts? Keeping a detailed log of laps and maintenance history can increase their resale value by up to 25%. RacePrep makes it easy to track laps and create a verifiable history that builds buyer confidence and justifies higher prices.
February 20, 2025
NEW! Introducing RacePrep — Your smart maintenance assistant. 🏎️🔧👍
RacePrep is your digital crew chief that tells you everything you need to do to prevent maintenance mishaps from ruining your race day. It’s built for any race car, any class.
February 3, 2025
NEW! Introducing RaceTrips — The app to help racers save money on taxes💰🇺🇸🧾
Introducing RaceTrips – The app to help racers save money on taxes. It’s made specifically for racers, even the ones who hate numbers. We made it so easy to use that ANYONE can track where their money is coming and going.
From setup notes to tax season — the RaceYear apps keep your whole race year in one place.
