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NASCAR Introduces New Rules Package
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Drivers competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Quaker State 400 on July 11 at Kentucky Speedway will do so using a new rules package.
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell announced the sanctioning body’s decision, which includes a reduced downforce package with a smaller spoiler and an extended splitter. The goal is to increase on-track lead changes and improve competition.
The first 15 races of the Sprint Cup season have averaged 20.1 lead changes per race, a steep decline from the 30.13 average 15 races into the 2014 season. There have been tweaks since then.
Horsepower reductions to the cars have resulted in higher corner speeds and an increase in the phenomena known as “aero push,” where the leading car on intermediate tracks has a significant horsepower and handling advantage over cars running in “dirty air” behind other cars.
The new rules package, O’Donnell hopes, can have a positive effect on that, which could lead to more passes for the lead. It will only be in effect for the Kentucky race weekend, which will have an extended practice session on July 8.
“We certainly want to see more lead changes on the race track,” O’Donnell said. “We’ll evaluate that and a number of other factors after Kentucky. This is a Kentucky-only package, but any options are available coming out of Kentucky. We wouldn’t implement this if we didn’t feel confident as an industry. Even in a test, there’s only so much you can learn. You validate it in a race, and that’s the direction we’re headed.
“I think it’s important to look back over the last 18 months and what we tested on track, one of which was this package for Kentucky. We feel like we’ve got a great deal of confidence in this package.”
NASCAR was expected to test a new rules package in the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, but the sanctioning body nixed the idea prior to the race weekend.
“We took a pause and thought, ‘What’s the best thing to do going forward?'” O’Donnell said. “As we got through those discussions, Kentucky really seemed to line up as an avenue for us to implement this in a race.”
O’Donnell stressed the wide-open nature of what could come following the Kentucky race.
“You want to look at any feedback you get from the industry, so we’ve built in time for that,” he said. “We’ve built in time if it does rain and we lose Wednesday. From there, when you get to the race, this is still a specific Kentucky race package. We’re not building our entire rules package based off of one race.”
It will, however, play a significant role in determining how many rules packages could be added for 2016.
“It’s something we’re looking at,” O’Donnell added. “Maybe more than the one or two (rules packages) we have. All options are on the table as we look ahead to see what we might be able to implement.
“This is not an abandonment of any rules package. There’s many positives from the current rules package that shouldn’t be dismissed. We’ll never see any rules package being final.”
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell announced the sanctioning body’s decision, which includes a reduced downforce package with a smaller spoiler and an extended splitter. The goal is to increase on-track lead changes and improve competition.
The first 15 races of the Sprint Cup season have averaged 20.1 lead changes per race, a steep decline from the 30.13 average 15 races into the 2014 season. There have been tweaks since then.
Horsepower reductions to the cars have resulted in higher corner speeds and an increase in the phenomena known as “aero push,” where the leading car on intermediate tracks has a significant horsepower and handling advantage over cars running in “dirty air” behind other cars.
The new rules package, O’Donnell hopes, can have a positive effect on that, which could lead to more passes for the lead. It will only be in effect for the Kentucky race weekend, which will have an extended practice session on July 8.
“We certainly want to see more lead changes on the race track,” O’Donnell said. “We’ll evaluate that and a number of other factors after Kentucky. This is a Kentucky-only package, but any options are available coming out of Kentucky. We wouldn’t implement this if we didn’t feel confident as an industry. Even in a test, there’s only so much you can learn. You validate it in a race, and that’s the direction we’re headed.
“I think it’s important to look back over the last 18 months and what we tested on track, one of which was this package for Kentucky. We feel like we’ve got a great deal of confidence in this package.”
NASCAR was expected to test a new rules package in the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, but the sanctioning body nixed the idea prior to the race weekend.
“We took a pause and thought, ‘What’s the best thing to do going forward?'” O’Donnell said. “As we got through those discussions, Kentucky really seemed to line up as an avenue for us to implement this in a race.”
O’Donnell stressed the wide-open nature of what could come following the Kentucky race.
“You want to look at any feedback you get from the industry, so we’ve built in time for that,” he said. “We’ve built in time if it does rain and we lose Wednesday. From there, when you get to the race, this is still a specific Kentucky race package. We’re not building our entire rules package based off of one race.”
It will, however, play a significant role in determining how many rules packages could be added for 2016.
“It’s something we’re looking at,” O’Donnell added. “Maybe more than the one or two (rules packages) we have. All options are on the table as we look ahead to see what we might be able to implement.
“This is not an abandonment of any rules package. There’s many positives from the current rules package that shouldn’t be dismissed. We’ll never see any rules package being final.”
