8:37 AM
JD
Prior to the Talladega race, NASCAR came out with changes to the allowed pressure on the cooling system and a small increase to the restrictor plate. Those changes produced... well... nothing different. The cars were still able to stay linked together into two car drafts and the increase in plate size did not produce any real increase in single-car speed. After their small changes did nothing to change the drafting dynamic at Talladega, NASCAR planned the aero test with a hand full of Cup Series teams.
NASCAR fielded the test with Cup drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola, David Ragan, Marcos Ambrose, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., and Joe Nemechek. The test included using various packages of larger restrictor plates and smaller rear spoilers in the attempt to make both a higher individual speed and a less rear downforce to make the two car drafting less needed and less comfortable for the driver.
The speeds during the test have reached well over 200 mph, which is nothing new for the two car draft, but these speeds were reached by individual cars. In the past, NASCAR has been adamant that cars would be kept below 200 mph in the interest of safety, so apparently they are considering relaxing that standard. A change would make more sense now since NASCAR has plenty of empirical evidence over the past 10 years that the changes to walls, head restraints, and car design have produced less injury to drivers in severe wrecks.
Some of the drivers in the test seemed more impressed that NASCAR has taken this step in improving the restrictor plate competition than the results that the test produced. NASCAR has made many changes to plate sizes, rear spoiler size, and other aspects of the car over the years, but rarely have they asked for driver imput, especially in trying out different packages to make sure that the end product is desireable.
Whether the two car tandems will be gone at the January test or just uncomfortable enough to last for a half lap, NASCAR has finally showed that they have no more desire to see the team racing of the past year's plate races. I am sure the "team orders" and laying back have helped them in their decision, but either way, I for one am glad to see NASCAR ushering the racing style off the track.
Posted in: Dale Earnhardt Jr,Dale Jr Crew Chief,Daytona,Joey Logano,Nascar,Nascar Blog,NASCAR Race Results,Sprint Cup
5 comments:
Hey JD!
I agree the two car drafting needs to be eliminated, but with 11 out of 36 Cup races (almost 1 out of 3) being held on 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks breeding one snooze fest after another, it seems to me NASCAR needs to figure out how to make those races more exciting and based on 4 Super Speedway races per season verses 11 cookie cutter races, I think that problem should take precedence over the two car draft problem. Admittedly, the cookie cutter problem is a tougher one to solve. Right now the most exciting races in NASCAR occur on the short tracks and the road courses... My answer? Eliminate 2 of the cutter races (1 at Kansas and 1 at Texas) and replace them with a race at Wisconsin's Road America and a Chase race at Sonoma...
They'll figure out how to stop the two car draft. Will they figure out how to get more exciting racing in Sprint Cup?
anything to put an earnhart back in winners circle right? Jr. was very vocal of this 2 car draft because he was at a disadvantage. Next will will see that as a wildcard for the chase, anyone with the number 88, driving a chevy, and has a relative that is privous champ would be elligable to race in the chase. NASCAR don't be so obvious.
A Jr hater remaining anonymous... how pathetic. Are you a Busch fan? Well, great choice.. and due to his lack of regard for others he is 12th, 5 spots behind Junior. Do you like Jeff Gordon? Denny Hamlin? Ryan Newman? Kurt Busch? All behind Junior in the points. Yes, simply because NASCAR gives him everything. Keep drinking the cool-aid.
Dwindy,
Sorry, but I had to deal with the ignorant before I dealt with the informed. I agree, NASCAR may be picking the low hanging fruit here, but at least they are picking fruit. I also agree that perhaps a 1.5 mile track date should be moved to another venue, but 4 road course races would be a poor choice. How many road course races do IndyCar or F1 have? I can't tell you. Neither could most NASCAR fans. The reason we cannot tell you is we do not watch F1 and IndyCar very much because they are non-passing, boring events for the large part.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to make one road course race a Chase race and add an event at Road America to the schedule, but I would make the second changed event move to another 1 mile or less venue, perhaps even rotate it between Rockingham and Milwaukee, or even GIVE US BACK THE LABOR DAY RACE AT DARLINGTON!!!
Overall NASCAR needs a bit of an overhaul racewise - not a major one; just tinkering.
Everyone except those in charge know what needs doing - a lot like life really!
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