Issue Q4 2026 Bringing You the Latest Insights, Innovations, and Stories
Stop Spending the Test Budget on Surprises
What if you could find the problem before you paid to test for it? Simulation gives engineering teams a way to evaluate designs before hardware exists, helping reduce unnecessary test cycles and focus physical testing where it matters most. See how this approach played out in a real NASCAR program.
Package Holiday: How CFD Is Helping NASCAR Improve Superspeedway Racing
September 2026 Racecar Engineering article, “Package holiday,” examines NASCAR’s revised superspeedway aerodynamic package and how TotalSim US's CFD work was used to evaluate whether the new package would improve overtaking and reduce the likelihood of processional racing.
NASCAR’s superspeedways —most notably Daytona and Talladega—present a unique aerodynamic challenge. The cars run in tightly packed groups at very high speeds, where small changes in drag, downforce, and the interaction between leading and trailing vehicles can have a major effect on racing.
In the article, Eric Jacuzzi, Vice President of Vehicle Performance at NASCAR, describes the development of a revised superspeedway package intended to preserve the close racing that defines these events while giving drivers more opportunities to pass.
TotalSim USA Helps NASCAR Simulate the Art of the Pass
How do you know an aerodynamic package will actually improve passing on the racetrack? Working with NASCAR, TotalSim USA used Siemens STAR-CCM+ to recreate a real two-car passing maneuver and evaluate how different spoiler configurations affected performance. See how advanced CFD helped NASCAR assess the proposed package before it reached the track.
A few years ago, TotalSim’s Ben Cantrell headed to Oregon with a pretty cool assignment: help custom hot rod builder Kyle Kuhnhause bring a ’66 Corvette back to life. Using TotalSim’s 3D scanning technology, Ben captured detailed geometry from several parts and surfaces, creating accurate digital models that could be used to develop new and custom components.
That trip was a great example of how 3D scanning and reverse engineering can bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Today, we continue to use the same approach to help turn real-world parts, vehicles, and prototypes into accurate digital models that can be designed, optimized, and even taken directly into CFD workflows.
From custom cars to performance optimization, sometimes the best place to start a simulation is with something that already exists.
NAAMIF | October 15–17 | Springfield, OH
We’ll be at the National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum, part of NAAMCE Aviation Weekend, connecting with leaders across advanced air mobility and exploring the technologies shaping the future of flight. The event brings together industry panels, workshops, exhibitors, networking, and even electric aircraft racing.
Zero Gravity Summit | October 28–29 | Salt Lake City, UT
Next up, we’re heading to the Zero Gravity Summit,where builders, operators, and leaders across aerospace, defense, and dual-use technology come together to discuss the future of national security technology. We’re looking forward to the conversations around hard tech, innovation, and the engineering challenges ahead.
PRI Show | December 10–12 | Indianapolis, IN
And, of course, we couldn’t wrap up the year without a trip to PRI. As the world’s largest racing trade show, PRI brings together the performance racing industry for three days of new technology, technical education, networking, and plenty of horsepower. We’re excited to reconnect with the racing community and talk all things simulation, aerodynamics, and performance.
Simcenter X AI: Bringing Intelligence to Engineering Simulation
Smarter simulation. Faster decisions. More design exploration. AI is changing how engineers approach simulation, from AI-assisted knowledge discovery to predictive models that can reduce the number of costly physics-based simulations needed during optimization. Explore how Siemens is bringing AI, cloud computing, and advanced simulation together — and what it could mean for CFD.
CFD is getting faster. GPU acceleration, AI-assisted workflows, and increasingly automated simulation processes are changing how engineers approach design exploration. What once meant waiting days for a handful of simulations can increasingly mean exploring hundreds of possibilities in the same timeframe. It’s another reminder that sometimes the biggest changes in engineering aren't the things we're designing—they're the tools we're using to design them.
As we head into the final quarter of the year, I’ve been thinking about how quickly time moves. In engineering, we tend to think in terms of schedules, development cycles, project milestones, and deadlines. But there’s another kind of cycle that’s just as important—the cycle of learning, adapting, and looking ahead.
Every year brings its share of changes, and this one has been no different. We’ve seen new technologies move from interesting ideas into practical engineering tools, and we’ve had the opportunity to be part of some great conversations through industry events, customer projects, and our work with partners. It’s been a busy year, but more importantly, it’s been a year of learning and growing.
One thing that continues to stand out to me is how quickly the engineering landscape is changing. Simulation is no longer simply a tool used to validate a design at the end of a process. It is increasingly part of the conversation from the very beginning—helping engineers explore ideas, understand tradeoffs, and make better decisions along the way. That shift creates a lot of opportunity for companies like TotalSim, and it’s something we’re excited to continue building on.
Our partnership with Siemens has also been an important part of that growth. The continued expansion of the Siemens portfolio, gives us an even broader set of tools to bring to our customers. For us, it’s not just about having more software available—it’s about being able to help our customers find the right approach for the problem they’re trying to solve.
As we look back on the year, I’m grateful for the people who have made it a good one: our team, our customers, our partners, and everyone who continues to challenge us with interesting problems. Those relationships are what keep the work interesting and keep us moving forward.
There’s still plenty ahead before we close out the year, and plenty more to look forward to in the next one. For now, I hope you enjoy this quarter’s newsletter and take a few minutes to look back with us at some of the people, projects, events, and ideas that have shaped the year.
Robot, Co-Bot, or No-Bot.
TotalSim, 4960 Blazer Parkway, Dublin, Ohio 43017, United States, +1.614.255.7426
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=industry%20newsletter%20footer%20%20(2).png)
