Changes for NASCAR

[LMITOUT]

The purpose of the changes, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said, is “To get the car to drive as good as it can.”

NASCAR, France said, is a “contact sport” and leadership intends to let drivers, “mix it up”.

“We’re going to open it up. We want what you want,” France said to fans.

Those changes, revealed at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. by series vice president of competition Robin Pemberton, included:

* Elimination of bump drafting rules. “Boys,” Pemberton said, “have at it, that’s all I can say.”

* Larger restrictor plates will be in place at Daytona. The size of the holes in the plates will be 63/64ths of an inch, which makes them the largest since the 1980 Daytona 500 and gives the drivers more horsepower and better throttle response to go with some announced aerodynamic changes.

* Rear wings will disappear this coming season and blade spoilers will reappear. It is hoped that will be accomplished in time for the race at Texas Motor Speedway on April 18.

* Beginning with the Feb. 13 season opener at Daytona, NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will be limited to 15 crew members, including the driver, crew chief, spotter and seven over-the-wall pit-crew members. Teams also won’t be required to provide a scorer. Last year teams had no limit on at-track crew members.

* NASCAR Nationwide Series teams may run no more than two races in 2010 without using an engine sealed by series officials. Last year they could run three races before using a sealed engine.

* NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams will use double-file restarts “shootout style” in 2010, making restart rules uniform across all three national series. Teams also will return to traditional pit stops, eliminating last year’s procedure of refueling and changing tires on separate stops. Teams also may use a new, vented fuel dump can, eliminating the need for a catch can.

The announced changes stem from a desire by NASCAR to start “Putting things back into the hands of the drivers. We intend to loosen up,” France said. “We want to make very good racing, better.”

As for the change from wings to spoilers, he said, “They want to go back to a more traditional handling car, and that’s what we’re doing.’’

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Wreckers or checkers, baby!! Let the rough side drag. NASCAR is finally waking up to the fact that the fans are tired of the product they've been putting on the track the past few years.

[gregg52]

Well least their trying

Its hard to please all the people all the time

[harvey lee]

I am glad to see a few changes that may increase the quality of the races and hopefully break up the packs of cars.

[1900_LE]

I say take the plates off for at least one race. Talladega/Daytona doesn't matter. Let's see how well those boys can drive at a constant 200+ mph. No more bunchin the cars up.

[LMITOUT]

They can give them more power at Daytona because it's more of a handling track than 'Dega. Having more power doesn't mean they will be able to keep it on the track, but it should mean better passing ability on the straightaways. It should also let the cream rise to the top, with the better cars and better drivers that can handle the faster cars in the turns making their way to the front.

[gregg52]

ya it will be cool because they were slow for so long

will be interesting to see who will strap on pair !!!!!

[Double D]

I have to say I am glad to see one the wings going away and the spoilers back for 1 reason: they look WAY cooler!!

I posted on here a couple years ago that the COT did not have that sleek race car look anymore.

These changes seem to look like a good thing. I think they increased the safety of the cars so much that they feel higher speeds and a little rubbing now and then are a good thing, and I agree.

DD

[Johnsonator]

It sounds like the spoiler should make racing better. On "The Hub" the other day they said that the wing performs best in clean air which was why the lead cars always left the pack behind and the cars in the pack had such a hard time getting to the front. The spoiler isn't as sensitive to dirty air and performs well pretty much all of the time. It sure got old watching the car who wins the race off pit road stay up front last year. Hope the spoiler makes this year is a little different.

[minnbowhunter]

I say take the plates off for at least one race. Talladega/Daytona doesn't matter. Let's see how well those boys can drive at a constant 200+ mph. No more bunchin the cars up.

In 2004 Rusty Wallace tested a car without a plate at 'Dega. He hit just under 230 in the backstrech. Average lap speed was 220+, he reported that the car was out of control. I doubt we will ever see it in a race.

[lawdog]

Originally Posted By: 1900_LE

I say take the plates off for at least one race. Talladega/Daytona doesn't matter. Let's see how well those boys can drive at a constant 200+ mph. No more bunchin the cars up.

In 2004 Rusty Wallace tested a car without a plate at 'Dega. He hit just under 230 in the backstrech. Average lap speed was 220+, he reported that the car was out of control. I doubt we will ever see it in a race.

You absolutely won't see it. No possible way they could let them go that fast, especially with 43 cars on the track. Rusty was alone and said it was nuts. It would be a sure death warrant for a drivers and probably fans too. Never going to happen.

[LMITOUT]

Narrow-up the tires and reduce the down force of the cars....then take the plates off. We'll see who's got the guts to take it into the corner then...

[gregg52]

you just want them air born going foward to !!!!!!!

what do you think will hold them to the track at 200+mph??

remember a planes takes off at 150-160mph

[LMITOUT]

nah, they're taking the rear wing off.

[harvey lee]

Narrow-up the tires and reduce the down force of the cars....then take the plates off. We'll see who's got the guts to take it into the corner then...

Nothing to do with guts, that just plan dumb.

Maybe Lmitout would like to drive the car set up that way.

[gregg52]

ya i really think he might have been the 12th man !!!! lol

[LMITOUT]

Originally Posted By: LMITOUT

Narrow-up the tires and reduce the down force of the cars....then take the plates off. We'll see who's got the guts to take it into the corner then...

Nothing to do with guts, that just plan dumb.

Nothing dumb about it at all. The point is to take the comfortability out of the car so that drivers can't just hold the pedal to the floor and go. If you're dumb enough to sail it into the corner and your car can't handle it, then you lose. Pretty simple.

[harvey lee]

NASCAR would never make those change. never.

I do agree that NASCAR needs to do something but higher speeds on the fast tracks just don't seem to be the safest option for the drivers.

[gregg52]

how you going to take away the down force ???

narrow tires...whats your thinkin there...at todays speeds

i dont think narrow tires are the answer...unless you are thinkin

no plates and the narrow tire is going to slow them down

and i guess guts doesnt make for good racing..edwards kinda proved that it was exciting when he did it but 43 cars doing that for 500 laps would make for a wreck fest I dont really care to watch that

[LMITOUT]

how you going to take away the down force ???

narrow tires...whats your thinkin there...at todays speeds

You're missing the point....the speeds would decrease because the handling would decrease. In other words, the driver's right foot would have to make it go through the corner.

Rusty Wallace didn't go 230 mph just because of the power, it's because the cars have become so stable and aerodynamically efficient.

[harvey lee]

I do not see NASCAR allowing 43 cars at 230mph on a superspeedway.

Recipe for diaster.

[gregg52]

i'm not missing your point at all

that exactly what i said narrow tires are going to take away

all the grip

right i think its the aero that makes them so fast

its kinda like the guys(martin) were saying after dega

they got themselves there with technogly

i guess to truely make racing good you have to go backwards

stand the windshield up..2 barrel carbs..etc etc I 'm not sure

if i was that smart I'd be in daytona right now telling them how to fix it rather than sittin in my livin room on fishing forum

its like being a boss or supervisor for a company you are the dumbest one there but everybody is working for you ....go figure

get my POINT