NASCAR Tech News

Updated: 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

25 cars test spoiler at Talladega with speeds topping 200 mph: NASCAR is testing spoilers at Talladega Superspeedeay. Twenty-five Sprint Cup teams are at Talladega on Tuesday to practice with a spoiler on cars in place of the rear wing. The all-day session started with single-car runs, then switched to a drafting practice. Speeds topped 200 miles an hour. (Canadian Press)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Helton: Airborne car NASCAR’s top concern: NASCAR president Mike Helton confirmed Tuesday that there was far more effort at NASCAR’s research center and competition hub in Concord, N.C., to understand why Brad Keselowski’s car took flight after the deployment of roof flaps designed to keep it on the ground. “I want to separate the issue of the 99 and 12 and the fact that the 12 went airborne,” Helton said in a conference call with the news media. “We’re going to study very closely and figure out things we can do to prevent it in the future. That was a very serious issue, and we’ll take a look at it quickly.” (Florida Today)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Engines taken for inspection: Following Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR announced that the engines of race winner Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers (random) and Michael McDowell (start-and-park) would be taken to the NASCAR R&D center and torn down for observation. Busch and seventh-place finisher Vickers' chassis will also be taken to the NASCAR R&D center for observation.(Racin' Today)

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The latest on rear spoiler: There are still many unknowns in the advent of the transition from wings to spoilers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but the pieces are coming together. Teams have received retro-fit pieces to adjust the template grids for the change from the wing to the spoiler which will measure four inches on intermediate and down force tracks and 4.5-inches at Talladega and Daytona. A two-inch "ear" will be at the ends of 64.5-inch spoiler for Talladega similar to the construction on the truck spoilers. All spoilers will mount on to the cars at exactly 70-degrees without adjustability, thereby preventing modification by individual teams. Although NASCAR is preparing for the roll out of the new spoilers at Martinsville Speedway on March 26, teams will be responsible for manufacturing their own spoilers for the test scheduled on March 16th at Talladega Speedway. NASCAR template guru Billy Berkheimer anticipates each team having at least two spoilers by the time NASCAR rolls into Charlotte Motor Speedway for the test following Bristol on March 22nd. Spoilers will be distributed to teams at the same time so one team does not gain an advantage over another. Following the initial distribution, teams will be able to place orders for additional spoilers. Despite initial wind tunnel reports of the spoiler providing more downforce than the wing on the new car, Berkheimer said, "If this works the way I expect it will, the downforce numbers will the same with the spoiler and the wing." Most of the top organizations have tested cars with spoilers at tracks such as Walt Disney World Speedway (1 mile), Rockingham Speedway (1.017 mile) and Little Rock (0.526 mile).(FOXSports)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

NASCAR would draw more interest if stock cars were changed to showroom models: There have been some indications that racing fans might respond to seeing more of these showroom models on the track. Last season, a Dodge-sponsored car with a front end modified to look like that of a stock Challenger ran in a handful of races. “It went viral,” says Ralph Gilles, the new president of the Dodge brand. “Fans love that they can recognize the car. They want to root for a Dodge.” Peter DeLorenzo of the Web site Autoextremist.com suggests that most of Nascar’s Car of Tomorrow safety features could fairly easily be placed in a vehicle with the manufacturer’s stock-dimension sheet metal. “It would make Nascar cool again and give enthusiasts a reason to get fired up,” he says. Ratings for Nascar’s Sprint Cup Series on ESPN have dropped to 2.8 in 2009 from 3.8 in 2007, according to Nielsen Co. In this same time span, Sprint Cup ratings have dropped from 4.7 to 4.3 on broadcast TV. Ratings for the Daytona 500 went up from 10.1 in 2007 to 10.2 in 2008, but dropped to 9.2 in 2009. This year’s race earned a 7.7. Nascar spokesman Ramsey Poston says the sport continues to draw 5 to 8 million viewers and 110,00 spectators each week. “These are numbers just about any sport would like to have,” he says. (Wall Street Journal)

Ryan Newman: Cars will perform better without spoiler: Not only will the cars look better, but more importantly, they will perform better. That’s what Ryan Newman said during Wednesday’s weekly NASCAR teleconference. He said the move will improve racing, especially on big tracks such as Michigan International Speedway. “The biggest thing that we’re going to see with this spoiler, this is speculation from my standpoint, is the way the spoiler is designed, there’s going to be a lot more surface area of that spoiler on the quarter panels,” Newman said. “The side drafting on the straightaway is going to be even bigger than it was with the old style car. I don’t think we have but 50 percent of that side drafting down the straightaway on the current car with the wing on it. “The fans will see more racing, even on the straightaways, if that makes sense. You’ll see more side by side, back and forth, nose to head with the competitor down the straightaways, which I think will make places like Michigan and California, some of the tracks that are bigger, notorious for being a little boring through the middle of the race, more exciting throughout the entire race.” (Grand Rapids Press)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Burton: rear spoilers going to make a difference: RCR Enterprises driver Jeff Burton is taking a cautiously optimistic view of the spoiler’s return to Sprint Cup racing. Time will tell how well it works with the COT in future NASCAR events. “You can’t gauge where you stand right now for what’s coming,” Burton said. “Anybody that tells you that spoilers aren’t going to make any difference, they don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s going to make a difference. I’m not telling you that I know what difference it’s going to make, but I know it’s going to make a difference. “All of us at RCR (Richard Childress Racing) understand there’s a big picture and we understand that it’s a long year. I would love to tell you how great we are and what we’re doing well. I know there’s a lot of things we aren’t going to do well throughout the year that we’re going to have to work on. I know the immediate challenge is the spoiler thing. We have to find a way to be good when the spoiler comes. Every team in the garage is fighting that.” (Lexington Dispatch)

Helton: Spoilers likely to return by Martinsville: NASCAR president Mike Helton says the series is on track to remove the wings from the cars very soon. While Helton didn't provide a specific date, he said Monday that NASCAR is hoping "within the next two or three races" it will be time to put more traditional spoilers back on the cars. That timeline coincides with the March 28 race at Martinsville that most teams have expected to be the spoiler debut. Speaking at Texas Motor Speedway's media day Monday, Helton said he expects NASCAR to have "a race or two" already with the spoiler by time the series is at the 1½-mile Texas track April 18. There are two races before the series goes to Martinsville, then Texas is the second race after that.(Associated Press)

Monday, March 1, 2010

NASCAR inspecting lowest finishing, non-wrecked car: NASCAR has instituted a new postrace inspection policy for Sprint Cup races in which the first car out of the race that is not involved in an accident will be held for teardown, much like the cars that currently finish in the top five. That meant that Aric Almirola's No. 09 Phoenix Racing's Chevy was thoroughly inspected after the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race. His engine was taken to be torn down later this week at the NASCAR R&D center in Concord, NC. The policy is expected to impact the start-and-park teams  teams that typically bring a car but don't have funding to run the entire event. These teams often are not in the top 35 in owner points, so they are required to qualify on speed. The new policy means it is likely that one of the cars that qualify on speed for every race will end up getting torn down. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Sunday the move was not to discourage start-and-park teams. "We're just expanding our inspection process and making sure that everybody feels like everybody is on the same playing field, that's all," Pemberton said. "It's all about making sure that the guys who get beat that don't make the race understand that the guys who get in the race, for the most part, are doing everything right." The move could cost these teams money, as they will have to pay for an engine rebuild that they might not have needed if they didn't run many laps. Pemberton said the engine might not be torn down weekly but acknowledged it could cost teams $30,000 for a rebuild. That could lead to those teams racing more instead of risking the cost of a rebuild. Or it could lead to those teams not showing up if they can't afford to have the motor rebuilt.(SceneDaily)

Monday, February 22, 2010

NASCAR confiscates No. 66 car after Sunday's race: When Dave Blaney headed to the garage in his No. 66 Prism Motorsports Toyota after 43 laps, NASCAR officials were waiting. Three laps earlier, Michael McDowell drove the other Prism Motorsports car to the garage. The final race report concluded that both cars had engine failures. So why did the sanctioning body confiscate the No. 66 car? "Because they can," said Bill Henderson, crew chief of the No. 66 team and general manager for Prism Motorsports. Henderson, who has just two cars for the team, was told the car will not be returned until next Saturday  long after qualifying is over. However, the primary car has the basics of racing  swaybar, shocks and springs  that the team simply can't afford to duplicate on the backup car. Without those necessities, Henderson will not be able to race. Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said he hopes to perform the inspection at Las Vegas in order to return the car to the team in a timely fashion, but that's hardly a guarantee. Which begs the question: Is NASCAR attempting to send the message to "start and park" teams  those that enter a race primarily to collect a check and don't always try to finish  not to stink up their show? Prism Motorsports wasn't the only team that ended their day prematurely Sunday at Fontana. Joe Nemechek initially parked his car on Lap 27 then mysteriously returned to the track a short time later and ran an additional 27 laps before a "rear gear" failed. Boris Said also went into the garage early, came back out, and then disappeared. Even Aric Almirola, who was driving the No. 09 Phoenix Racing entry that won at Talladega last year, ended up in the garage after 34 laps with an engine failure. "It's one thing to try to race each week," said the manager of a team that generally finishes among the 40-somethings who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "But I think doing two (teams) to get a check isn't going to sit very well with NASCAR." Prism Motorsports pocketed $160,070 for Sunday's combined effort of 83 laps. Matt Kenseth, who finished seventh, ran the full 500 miles and earned a $161,696 pay day. Darby said choosing the No. 66 Toyota as "the random" car was part of "the normal inspection procedure. That particular car stood out given that Blaney qualified fifth and led three laps. "The 'randomness' of inspection covers everyone in the field," Darby said. "The 66 was a car that was very competitive. Yes, he was outside of the top 35, but he was the fastest of the group. He was fifth overall qualifying and he led the race today. We've got to make sure that as we fulfill our responsibility to our competitors to make sure that everyone is playing with the same rulebook and adhering to the same rules  and that means everybody. That car deserves a look at to make sure it's up to start." Darby said the sanctioning body cannot try to "outguess the teams" to determine who the start-and-park cars are every weekend.(FOXSports.com)

Friday, January 29, 2010

NASCAR announces pit road changes: NASCAR had some media folks over at its R&D Center to go over the pit road rules for this season. A few things that were interesting&
# A change this season is that NASCAR is going to enforce speeding on pit road more. Remember when a wrecked car would come to pit road, the crew would furiously make repairs and the car would fire down pit road faster than the speed limit to stay on the lead lap? Speeding penalty was no big deal because it only put the driver at the rear of the field. He still got to stay on the lead lap. New this year is that speeding is speeding. NASCAR will not allow such action again. What that means is that crews will have to complete their work sooner knowing they can't speed on pit road to stay on the lead lap.
# As in the past, teams are allowed a 4.99 mph allowance before being penalized for speeding on pit road.
# Another change this year is if a car is entering pit road or just entered pit road when the caution comes out (thus closing pit road), the driver can go down pit road (without stopping in his stall) while maintaining pit road speed and NASCAR will put the driver back in his spot when he entered pit road. There have been times guys entered pit road just as it closed because of a caution and never had a chance to react and all but had their day (or a good part of it) ruined with losing a lap. 
# You know how there are times when a NASCAR official in the pits will kick a tire back toward the pit wall and other times they don't? Here is what NASCAR tells its officials on those situations: If you (the official) don't have to move out of the way to knock the tire back, that is fine. If an official has to move out of position to do so, then let it go. The reasoning to allow officials to even knock the tire back is a safety issue. If an official can do so without getting out of position, then it prevents the tire from getting hit by a car and knocked back into that official or others on pit road. 
# NASCAR penalizes drivers for running over air hoses, yet there are cases when a driver won't be penalized for doing so. Think of it this way: On a four-tire pit stop where the front tire changer comes over to the left side, the air hose might not flip over completley away from the car. If the car runs over a small portion (small the key) then NASCAR more than likely will let it go.(Hampton Roads)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Drivers test spoiler at Texas Motor Speedway: Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Brian Vickers became the first drivers to conduct an on-track test with a new aluminum spoiler package that could be implemented for the 2010 season during Tuesday's Goodyear Tire test at Texas Motor Speedway. Stewart was the first of the group to test the spoiler in the morning session, which was delayed nearly two hours from its 9:00am/ct start time due to moisture on the 1.5-mile, high-banked oval from heavy morning dew. The session kicked off at approximately 10:53am/ct with temperatures in the 60s as Stewart rolled out with the wing and less than 40 minutes later was utilizing the spoiler. Vickers also got an opportunity to run the spoiler in the abbreviated morning session. "It (the spoiler) was on a bunch. It didn't seem to be a big balance change which was good," Stewart said. "That means you won't have to invent the wheel necessarily. It was a balance shift, but it wasn't a big balance shift. You've got two kinds of grip  you've got aero grip and you've got mechanical grip. The spoiler is the aero grip and the tires are mechanical. The mechanical grip is real important because it doesn't know if you are running first in line or 10th in line. I'm more of a mechanical guy." "I thought it (spoiler) was good," Vickers said. "I thought it added a little bit of front downforce, which is a good thing. I think it's going to be more accepted to the fans. It looks cooler  a little more retro back to the older car. We haven't been in a lot of traffic yet, so the big question is how it's going to handle in traffic. Theoretically, from what I've been told, the difference between the two is that the spoiler is better in traffic. The spoiler is going to be more efficient in dirty air and a wing will be more efficient in clean air. Once you get in a lot of turbulence, the spoiler's not going to lose a lot of efficiency while a wing really will." NASCAR has not determined the specific dimensions as yet for the spoiler, but the one that was being used as a baseline at Tuesday's session was 64.5 inches wide and four inches in height with no contour in the design. Also, the rear quarter panels were extended four inches toward the ground. NASCAR phased out the traditional spoiler on the rear deck lid of the Sprint Cup Series cars and went to a rear wing when the "Car of Tomorrow" project was unveiled in 2007. The return to the traditional look provides fans with the ability to differentiate between the four manufacturers more easily and hopefully enhance the passing ability of the cars and overall race action. Tuesday's tire test was the first opportunity for drivers to test the package and provide feedback on its effects on the car. Biffle and Busch had to wait until the afternoon session to test out the spoiler, with Busch not getting an opportunity until nearly the culmination of the session. Stewart, Busch, Biffle and Vickers will conclude the Goodyear test Wednesday, where they are scheduled to test the spoiler package once again. NASCAR will conduct another test with the spoiler March 23-24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway  another 1.5- mile oval and sister track to TMS  that will be open to all Sprint Cup teams. If NASCAR is pleased with the progress and performance of the spoiler, the new package could be implemented for the Samsung Mobile 500 scheduled for April 15-18 at Texas Motor Speedway. Following Tuesday's test session, Stewart, Busch, Biffle and Vickers graciously volunteered their time to participate in the "Gear Up For The Green Flag" fan event in the Grand Ballroom of The Speedway Club. A full house of more than 500 season ticket holders and special guests were on hand for a dinner, giveaways and a question-andanswer session with the drivers to officially kick off the upcoming racing season. "This was truly a special treat for our fans and the thanks goes to Tony, Kurt, Greg and Brian for making the time to be part of this event," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. "We had a ton of laughs and shared some entertaining stories to make for a great evening." Tickets for the Samsung Mobile 500/O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 NASCAR doubleheader weekend are available by calling (817) 215-8500 or by visiting the speedway's website at www.texasmotorspeedway.com.(TMS)

Monday, January 18, 2010

NASCAR announces spoiler specs: Specifications for the new spoiler and quarterpanels on Sprint Cup cars were sent in a memo Monday to teams by series director John Darby. According to the memo the spoiler that will replace the current wing will sit 4 inches atop the deck lid when measured from the centerline. The spoiler will be level across the top with a ground clearance of 43.52 inches from the top of the spoiler to the ground with the chassis on 6- and 8-inch blocks. The spoiler will be 64½-inches wide and one piece from right to left. It will be fabricated from 3/16-inch thick aluminum and fixed at 70 degrees. The fuel filler hole must be relocated forward of the left lower tip of the spoiler. Also, right and left quarterpanel extensions will be added to all cars. The extensions will be 4 inches long toward the ground at the rear wheel opening. The modifications, according to the memo, are not to be used in competition until all wind tunnel and on-track tests are completed. An open test [at Charlotte] is scheduled for all teams in March. The changes are being made in hopes of improving downforce and improving the quality of racing. They are not expected to be used for the Daytona 500 that kicks off the season on Feb. 14. The Bristol race in March is a more likely target.(ESPN.com)

Friday, January 15, 2010

NASCAR to switch back to rear spoiler following March test: NASCAR has informed teams it will hold an open test at Charlotte Motor Speedway in March as part of a transition from a wing to a rear spoiler. NASCAR had been speaking to teams on an individual basis about the potential of putting a spoiler back onto the cars, but nothing had been formally announced before the Friday memo that was sent to crew chiefs from Sprint Cup Series John Darby. The memo says the test will be March 23 and 24, and NASCAR will hold an informational meeting that month to explain the modification. (AP)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

NASCAR considering larger plate at Daytona? Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that NASCAR could mandate a larger restrictor plate for this year's running of the Daytona 500. Sprint Cup Series racers were required to run a 31/32" plate at Daytona and Talladega last season, but multiple sources who attended a meeting with NASCAR today say the sanctioning body may allow a bigger plate this season in an effort to boost horsepower, torque and throttle response. That move would reportedly come as part of a package of changes that could include aerodynamic modifications to the rear window area and a switch from rear wings to old-style rear spoilers. A number of procedural changes are also bring discussed, including the abolition of no bumping zones and the so-called "yellow line rule" at both Daytona and Talladega. A spokesman for NASCAR declined to comment when asked about the restrictor plate change earlier today, saying that meetings are ongoing with drivers and teams, and that no final decisions have been made.(Sirius Speedway)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

NASCAR plans to announce changes to COT: On Jan. 21 at the NASCAR Research & Development Center, officials from NASCAR are expected to announce a series of rules revisions, some drastic, others less so. It is expected that the controversial rear wing, one of the COT's most defining characteristics, will be scrapped in favor of a more traditional blade spoiler like the NASCAR Nationwide Series cars use. Also being looked it is the front splitter, which runs parallel to the racing surface and replaced the conventional front air dam. NASCAR officials also are talking about eliminating the no-passing zones at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, as well as other as-year unspecified changes, all aimed at helping re-energize interest in the sport. NASCAR officials said Saturday at the Sprint Sound & Speed event that final decisions about the modifications have not been made, but will be announced Jan. 21.(SPEEDTV.com)

Friday, January 8, 2010

NASCAR denies plan to remove wing: Elliott Sadler told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Thursday that NASCAR is investigating new ways of keeping Spring Cup Series racers from taking flight during events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Sadler was one of many drivers and team owners who attended a closed-door meeting with the sanctioning body at NASCAR's Technical Center earlier Thursday, and said there are changes being discussed. "They've come up with some different ideas on the roof flaps and rear windows to help keep these cars on the ground," said Sadler. However, he denied published reports that a discussion was held about doing away with the car's rear wing in favor of old-style rear spoilers. "There was nothing said about losing the wing, but NASCAR is definitely interested in doing whatever they can to make this deal safer," he said. "Brian France is going to sit across the table from every single driver and team owner to ask for their input. They read e-mails today that they've gotten from fans asking about different things, and it's pretty clear that they're listening to what people have to say. They're obviously trying to create the best possible experience for teams and fans."(Sirius Speedway)

NASCAR considering plan to remove wing for spoiler? NASCAR officials are seriously considering a plan that would replace the rear wing with a spoiler on Sprint Cup cars, spokesman Ramsey Poston said on Thursday. "We are currently meeting with drivers and owners to discuss a number of options," Poston said. "Going back to the spoiler is one of them under serious consideration. We'll make an announcement in the coming weeks." Before the governing body makes a final decision, the spoiler and how it reacts with the new heavier car will be tested in the wind tunnel and on the track. If there are signs the spoiler will improve competition then the switch is likely to occur. Poston would not say when the change might occur, but it is unlikely it will happen in time for the February opener at Daytona International Speedway. The decision to look at the spoiler came after intense meetings, including one Thursday at NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., with select drivers and owners. There has been universal concern since the car was introduced in 2007 that the lack of down force has been a hindrance to good racing. The previous car used a spoiler.(ESPN.com)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Michael Waltrip: NASCAR needs to cut horsepower: Michael Waltrip said NASCAR needs to cut the engine’s horsepower from 900 to 600. That would close the competition and provide for more side-by-side racing. What’s not clear, though, is whether that would make it easier for cars to pass and the lead to change more often. Waltrip also notes that his opinion is just one of many. He said that NASCAR’s town hall meeting in late May with competitors, car owners and others provided little unanimous consent but rather “people saying 10 different things.” (Virginian-Pilot)

Friday, December 11, 2009

NASCAR to use ethanol by 2011? A NASCAR official said that the series could use a corn-based ethanol blend by 2011. Steve Phelps, NASCAR's chief marketing officer, made the comment during a panel discussion at the North America Motor Sports Business Forum this week. "I'm not definitively going to say that for 2011 we're going to have ethanol," Phelps said after the panel meeting. "It's something that we're looking at now." After the session, Phelps detailed what has been done in regard to ethanol. "Our guys are testing it at this particular point and trying to determine whether that's right for our series," he said. "They're on the engines now. What does it do to different parts? How does the engine run? Does it run cooler, does it run hotter - those types of things. We would certainly not institute a rule change or a fuel change that would affect the racing at all." Such a timetable could work well. There are indications that NASCAR could switch from carburetors to fuel injection in 2011, and that could be a good time to make the switch.(Hampton Roads)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Cars clear post race inspection; No. 48, No. 5, No. 16: All of the cars that NASCAR took back from Lowe's Motor Speedway following Saturday night's NASCAR Banking 500 Sprint Cup race have cleared inspection and there are no issues. The cars of race-winner Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle were inspected Monday, and all were cleared, according to a NASCAR spokesman. Officials typically take two cars (the winner and at least one other) back to the sanctioning body's research and development center in Concord, N.C., for a closer look, and the two it took back after Dover  Johnson and Martin  were legal but pushed the limits of certain tolerances, NASCAR officials said. In the three weeks since that race, NASCAR has taken the Johnson and Martin cars, as well as others, back to the center.(SceneDaily)

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Cars pass NASCAR post race inspection: The cars of championship leaders Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson have passed a second NASCAR inspection. NASCAR inspected both the Hendrick Motorsports-owned cars after Sunday's race in Kansas for a thorough inspection after the Chevys squeaked through a week earlier. The teams were warned they had nearly failed and were to not bring the cars to the track again. NASCAR also examined the car of race winner Tony Stewart, as is standard procedure. In addition, Kurt Busch's car was randomly selected for inspection.(Associated Press)

Monday, October 5, 2009

Cars taken back to NASCAR R&D center: As per NASCAR protocol, Tony Stewart's race winning No. 14 Chevy along with a random car, this week it is Kurt Busch's No. 2 Dodge ride, were selected for postrace inspection and further analysis back at the Research and Development Center in Concord, NC. But as an added wrinkle, officials also requested that Mark Martin's No. 5 and Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy be added to the inspection list. "When you've won and run well, and Jimmie and Chad are always going to know they are under the microscope - that's (going to be) part of it," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "We actually don't mind that. NASCAR is fair and if they want to check us every week, that's OK. I understand. I really do." No problems were found on the cars during the at-track inspection.(FOXSports.com)

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009

NASCAR: No major rule changes expected in 2010: NASCAR officials told Sprint Cup crew chiefs Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that the moratorium on testing at sanctioned tracks is expected to extend through the 2010 season. In an attempt to cut costs, NASCAR announced last November that instead of having official NASCAR scheduled tests throughout the year, there would be a one-year moratorium on series-wide testing and teams also would be prohibited from testing at any track that sanctioned a race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck and East and West series. Previously, teams could not test on their own at tracks of the series they competed in. In a meeting with crew chiefs Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NASCAR officials said teams should not expect any major rule changes for 2010, including no change to the current testing moratorium, sources familiar with the meeting said.(SceneDaily.com)

Monday, Aug. 17, 2009

Fuel Injected racing engines coming to NASCAR? When NASCAR Sprint Cup director John Darby, a few weeks ago, raised the issue of 'fuel injected' racing engines in NASCAR, it raised eyebrows. NASCAR Cup engines are some of the most technically advanced engines in racing, except for the antique carburetors. Every other major form of racing, even ASA, uses fuel injected engines. NASCAR has long shied away from things electronically complicated like electronic fuel injection, for fear  with goodly reason  that the mechanical wizards on these racing teams might figure out a way to put some tricks in that electronic box. However NASCAR officials are raising the issue to team owners of fuel injected engines  possibly in the Truck series as soon as next season, according to one scenario  and asking how owners think NASCAR ought to police it. "We think fuel injection is just the right way to go in NASCAR," Pat Suhy, Chevrolet's NASCAR field director, says. "And it wouldn't be that difficult. Every other top racing series uses fuel injection. We could put something together in about a week  depending on how simple or complex you wanted to do it  and then test it for two months or so, and be ready to go."(MikeMulhern.net)

Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

Dale Jr.: NASCAR not willing to produce better race car: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday that NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" needs a tune-up. Earnhardt, who was in Atlanta to promote the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, said the car, which is now the exclusive vehicle on the Sprint Cup circuit, is safer than the previous car, but it's not providing the close, competitive racing that fans have come to expect. But he said the problem can be fixed. "I feel like we can take this race car and make it provide [exciting] races," he said. "If I can be honest, I feel like NASCAR has seemingly been reluctant to let this car evolve more freely." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Friday, May 22, 2009

A greener NASCAR, maybe? With President Obama making the strong case this week for more fuel-efficient cars out of Detroit, and with the heads of all the car makers there at the White House, what's the take in the NASCAR garage on what this sport should be doing to be more green? NASCAR's John Darby, head of the Sprint Cup series, says it's nice to look at racing more fuel-efficient engines, or using more fuel-efficient fuels, and all that, but he says NASCAR's main point right now is this: "We have been, for the last five years, looking at green – at alternative fuels, at new engine designs. "But we feel we can have a huge effect on being environmentally friendly by attacking the biggest group we deal with – our fan base and our competitors in the garage. E-85? That's a highly touted mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent farm-based ethanol. "This is my personal opinion, that that's not the best plan," Darby says. "You don't want to make changes just to make changes. "There are better fuels, more practical fuels. "You can argue that the (corn-based) alcohol (fuel) program is at the expense of making fuel for cars over the food we eat. Now I don't necessarily support that. But there are better many opportunities for better fuels." (More at mikemulhern.net)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Changes to COT coming? NASCAR apparently is willing to make some changes to the Car of Tomorrow. Some teams were told changes might be coming in the next couple weeks to make passing easier - without the benefit of special 10-lap, winner-take-all rules. (Florida Times-Union)

Thursday, April 2, 2009

NASCAR to revise post-race tear-down procedure: In a move that should be more cost-saving to the industry and help enhance the inspection process, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will begin conducting its post-race engine tear-down at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. “Along with cost savings, this will provide our officials and teams with the means to analyze the engines in a more controlled setting,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “We have been moving towards doing this in the past, and as the stakes continue to rise in our sport, we believe it’s the most effective way of doing things.” As part of its post-race inspection, NASCAR typically tears down the engines of the event’s top-two finishers, in addition to a random car. The height and weight measurements, in addition to the shock and gear inspections, will still take place at the track following the race. Post-race inspection of the engines at the R&D Center will remain open for observation as it did at the race track. Should any violations be discovered during the tear-down process, forthcoming penalties will be handled just as they have before through the NASCAR competition department.(NASCAR PR)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Penske thinks NASCAR will follow IRL on engines: Roger Penske said Monday the use of smaller race engines might not be just for the IndyCar Series, which expects to announce its powerplant plans later this month. "I think you'll see that migrate even into NASCAR because that's where we are today," Penske said in a Bloomberg radio interview from the Detroit Auto Show. Both racing divisions currently use eight-cylinder engines, but economic and environmental concerns are at the root of possible changes, particularly in the passenger car industry. (Indy Star)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

NASCAR Research and Development wins award: The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Motorsports Engineering Conference Award was presented to the NASCAR Research and Development Center on Tuesday for its efforts towards “designing safer and more competitive vehicles.” NASCAR’s new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car, a seven-year project undertaken at the R&D Center, made its debut on the track in 2007 and was fully implemented into the series at the beginning of the 2008 season. The new car was designed with three primary goals in mind: improving driver safety, improving competition, and helping teams be more cost efficient. Peter Wright, FIA Technical Consultant and the conference’s keynote address speaker, presented the award to Mike Fisher, NASCAR’s Managing Director of the R&D Center. “The NASCAR R&D Center is honored to receive this award and our thanks and appreciation go out to all of the people in our industry who have been involved with the development of the new car, including the race teams, owners, manufacturers, and the staff here at the R&D Center,” said Fisher. “Safety is our #1 priority and is certainly an initiative that we work on every single day.”(NASCAR PR)

June 23, 2007

Teams add weight to COT cars: NASCAR teams will be adding extra weight to the cars of tomorrow this weekend at Infineon Raceway. NASCAR has increased the weight of the car by 50 pounds to allow teams to distribute the weight more easily and to improve the integrity of the car since teams will not be trying to lighten up the car in other places, a NASCAR spokesman said. (Scene Daily)

July 17, 2006

Toyota near approval, Dodge to Wind tunnel: John Darby, Nextel Cup series director, says officials are in the final stage of approving the Toyota Camry for next season. Also, Dodge submitted a car for next season with a new hood and rear. Darby said the car is scheduled to be taken to a wind tunnel Tuesday. (Roanoke.com)

June 25, 2006

COT in production phase? Owner Richard Childress said recent test sessions and developments have brought a final design configuration for the so-called NASCAR “Car of Tomorrow” much closer to reality. The new design is to be used in 16 of the 36 Cup races next year. Based on his discussions with NASCAR officials, Childress said, “I think they’re just about ready to push the button” on the design. He said the length of the car and chassis configuration have been finalized and that, based on that information, he and other owners could now begin the production process. (Gaston Gazette)

June 20, 2006:

NASCAR goes Unleaded: NASCAR announced today a timeline to phase unleaded fuel into its three national series beginning next month. The unleaded fuel will first be used for the NASCAR Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway on July 29. The plan is to evaluate the use of unleaded fuel over several NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events this season before making a decision on when it will be mandated for all three national series. Unleaded fuel will be used for four weeks before undergoing an evaluation period. After the race weekend at Gateway, the fuel will be used at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Aug. 4 and 5 for the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; at Watkins Glen for the NASCAR Busch Series and Nashville Superspeedway for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Aug. 12; and at Michigan International Speedway for the NASCAR Busch Series on Aug. 19. Following those events, competitors will return to their regular fuel for four weeks while NASCAR, Sunoco and team engine builders evaluate the effects of the new fuel. On Sept. 23 the NASCAR Busch Series (Dover International Speedway) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) will resume using unleaded fuel for the remainder of the season. In addition, NASCAR, Sunoco and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series engine builders plan to work with the ARCA Re/Max Series at Talladega Superspeedway to study the use of unleaded fuel in engines with restrictor plates. Following the season, a decision will be made on the future of unleaded fuel. NASCAR had previously announced a switch to unleaded fuel by 2008. The current goal is to have all three national series using unleaded fuel fulltime by Speedweeks of 2007. (NASCAR PR)

June 19, 2006:

Unleaded fuel for 2007: Nextel Cup cars will be mandated to run unleaded fuel beginning with next season's Daytona 500. NASCAR's Busch Series cars will switch to unleaded fuel on a temporary basis starting with the July 29 race at Gateway International Raceway, before running the brand full-time in 2007 along with the Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. "The plans are for Sunoco to evaluate what they learned for three or four races in the Busch Series beginning at Gateway, then come back later and finish out the [2006] season in the Busch and Truck Series running unleaded fuel," NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

June 9, 2006:

COT design not final yet: NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow” is still not finished, according to multiple sources in the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage. Within the next two weeks, General Motors will be wind-tunnel testing a new version of the COT, with different sides and new tail section. Some manufacturers had complained that the radical design does not look enough like existing production cars, which may be responsible for the change. Sources said the COT’S chassis specs will not be changed, just the body. But that likely will mean substantial additional testing is needed prior to the design being finalized. The ongoing development work on the car means that NASCAR will push back its submission date for the car, sources told SPEEDTV.com. Typically, the final design date for any new car is July 1, so teams ordinarily would have to submit their 2007 Nextel Cup cars by July 1, 2006.  (Speedtv.com)

May 25, 2006:

New head and neck restraint device awaiting approval: NASCAR has not approved a hybrid of the Hutchens device – a form of head and neck restraint – submitted by Safety Solutions this week for competition in NASCAR. Currently the only head and neck restraint approved for NASCAR’s top three series is the HANS device. In a news release, the company said testing of the new Hutchens Hybrid was witnessed by Dr. John Melvin, a member of the NASCAR Head and Neck Restraint Committee. (ThatsRacin.com)

May 4, 2006:

COT tested in Wind Tunnel Tuesday: Representatives of Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota joined NASCAR officials for a wind-tunnel session Tuesday in Marietta, Ga., in which each manufacturer's proposed nose for the "car of tomorrow" was tested. One person present for the test said the results left the manufacturers encouraged they could get more room to give each nose more features that distinguish between models without creating competitive disparity. (ThatsRacin.com)

April 22, 2006:

New Inspection tool: NASCAR has a new inspection contraption to inspect engine intake manifolds, in response to a manifold confiscated at Texas. (Salem-Journal)

March 27, 2006:

COT testing today: The clock is officially ticking on NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" that is scheduled to make its racing debut one year from now at Bristol Motor Speedway. Four teams will send drivers - Jeff Burton, Reed Sorenson, Carl Edwards and Penske Racing South development driver Billy Wease - to the open test today. It's the fourth test of the car, which will be used in 16 races next season as NASCAR slowly phases it in. "We're just trying to get track time, get teams acquainted with the vehicles and give them a chance to get drivers in them," said NASCAR's Brett Bodine, who is overseeing the test. "This will give them an opportunity to see the differences of what in what they used in today's car against the Car of Tomorrow on back-to-back days. It's nothing more than a learning day." (Macon Telegram)

March 25, 2006:

COT rule book coming next week: The first rulebook for the Car of Tomorrow is expected to be in teams' hands next week, said NASCAR's director of cost research Brett Bodine, who's been NASCAR's lead test driver for the project.  "We're real close to the final version of the car -- we're down to aerodynamic tuning," Bodine said. "All of the other chassis dimensions are set and the rulebook will be out the first part of next week." The Car of Tomorrow is scheduled to be phased into full use in the Nextel Cup Series over the next three seasons. (NASCAR.com)

March 21, 2006:

Dodge tells teams only Charger after Texas: Don Miller, the president of Penske Racing South, said that corporate headquarters informed his organization that the Intrepid can't be used after the April 9 Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway.  At least one of Penske Racing's two drivers -- Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch -- has used the Intrepid since the Daytona 500. There were plans to use the car on most 1.5- mile and 2-mile tracks the remainder of the season. "Texas will be the last time we race them,'' Miller said of the Intrepid. "They said this is what we're advertising, so this is what we're running. That's OK. We're learning something all along the way.'' (NASCAR.com)

March 13, 2006:

Dodge to lobby NASCAR for rules change: Dodge plans to lobby NASCAR officials for help with its cars by the Texas race in April, said John Fernandez, director of Dodge Motorsports Operations. The Dodge Charger has struggled since its 2005 debut. Teams and drivers complain that it doesn't handle well in traffic and prevents them from getting to the front. NASCAR rejected Dodge's request for a rule change last season to help the Charger. Dodge won three races last year with only one victory at a track larger than a mile and that came on a fuel-mileage gamble. Unsatisfied with the new cars, Penske Racing South put Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch in 2004 Intrepids at California last month and Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fernandez said Sunday morning before the race that Las Vegas was a critical test for his teams. He says that he and other Dodge officials are trying to figure which front end is better, the Charger or the Intrepid. The key area is between where the headlights would be. "Inherently, the [Charger] is what we thought it was,'' Fernandez said. "The question is we've got a little aerodynamic imbalance ... in traffic in the Cup conditions. We've come a long way. If we got a little bit of help from NASCAR, I think we'd get over the hump on that.'' Fernandez said that he could lobby NASCAR for a rule change to help the Dodge before the Texas race if officials know what they want to request. (Roanoke Times)

Feb. 17, 2006:

New bumper for 'Dega? NASCAR is working on a new front bumper for its race cars it hopes will be ready by the April race at Talladega. The bumper would be softer and deprive the drivers of the ability to bump or slam draft without harming the bumper and the car's aerodynamics. (Florida Today)

Feb. 11, 2006:

Dodge looking for better nose:  Dodge teams are expected to test later this month or early next month at Kentucky Speedway to find a more effective nose configuration after bad weather canceled a planned test session. The nose of the Dodge Charger hurts the car’s aerodynamics, and teams are searching for a solution NASCAR will approve. Ryan Newman said Penske Racing South has decided to run the 2004 Intrepid at California and Las Vegas — the next two races after the Daytona 500. Other Dodge teams plan to use the Charger. So, why can’t these teams work together? “You have a bunch of guys there that think they know exactly what the cars need,” Newman said of dueling Dodge teams. “That’s a tough situation because you mix in opinions and knowledge or lack of knowledge and you end up spinning your wheels.’’ John Fernandez, director of Dodge Motorsports operations, said Dodge has allowed its teams to try different solutions so that everyone is not doing the same thing. (Virginian Pilot)

Jan. 24, 2006:

Car of Tomorrow to roll out in 2007:

NASCAR announced today the Car of Tomorrow will begin competition in 2007. Teams will use the newly-designed race car for 16 events next season, beginning with the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway – currently the fifth event on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule.

A five-year project overseen by NASCAR Vice President for Research and Development Gary Nelson, the Car of Tomorrow offers important safety and performance upgrades. It also addresses cost reduction, providing teams with a more efficient car to produce and tune.

“The Car of Tomorrow represents one of the sport’s most significant innovations, and we feel everyone involved in NASCAR will experience the benefits,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton. “No subject is more important than safety, and while the Car of Tomorrow was built around safety considerations, the competition and cost improvements will prove vital as well.”

Aside from Bristol events, teams will use the Car of Tomorrow in 2007 events at Phoenix International Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Dover International Speedway and New Hampshire International Speedway.

It also will see action at Darlington Raceway, the fall event at Talladega Superspeedway and road-course events at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International.

With the exception of the 2.66-mile Talladega track and the two road courses, all tracks where the Car of Tomorrow will debut in 2007 are short tracks.

The 2008 Car of Tomorrow implementation schedule includes 26 events – adding both races at Daytona International Speedway, California Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, the spring event at Talladega and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Teams will run the entire 2009 schedule with the Car of Tomorrow, adding both events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, plus events at Chicagoland Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The rollout schedule could be sooner.

“All of our engineering staff and each of the teams and manufacturers that contributed will now be able see the product of their hard work in competition,” Nelson said. “Many of the obvious safety and competition benefits have been a topic since the beginning of this project. We think one of the major benefits is yet to be realized as the car owners begin to build a more cost-efficient race car.”

The next round of Car of Tomorrow on-track testing will be scheduled following Speedweeks in Daytona, with officials from the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., refining car components and performance baselines.

The Car of Tomorrow is a collaborative effort, with Nelson’s team leading the way. Manufacturers, teams and industry suppliers all contributed during the design phase, with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams and drivers offering important feedback during the latest round of on-track testing.

NASCAR’s prototype car, built by the Research and Development staff, is driven by Director of Cost Research Brett Bodine, a former NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competitor and team owner.

The Car of Tomorrow began as a design five years ago, progressing through simulation, laboratory and wind tunnel tests. Of primary significance are the safety innovations: the Car of Tomorrow is four inches wider and two inches taller than current NASCAR race cars. The driver compartment, or “roll cage,” has been shifted three inches to the rear. The driver’s seat has been shifted four inches to the right, allowing more protection from a driver’s side impact. More “crush-ability” is built into the car on both sides, ensuring even more protection.

The Car of Tomorrow exhaust system is another safety innovation. It runs through the body, diverting heat away from the driver and exiting on the right side.

Another important Car of Tomorrow feature is performance – how the car handles in traffic and reacts to downforce. The project represents the latest move by NASCAR to reduce current cars’ aerodynamic dependence, and several innovations have addressed it:

• The windshield is more upright, designed to increase the amount of drag, thereby slowing the cars.
• The more box-like front bumper, which is three inches higher and thicker, catches air rather than deflecting it, another way to slow the car.
• The air intake is below the front bumper, which eliminates the problem of overheating. Wind-blown trash can cover current car grilles, blocking air flow.

  Several components – both those built into the Car of Tomorrow and those being tested – will make the car easier to drive in traffic. Some of those components also are bolt-on, bolt-off pieces that teams can use to tune their cars, making them cost-efficient as well. Those include:

• The “splitter,” a flat shelf below the front bumper that can be adjusted.
• A wing, like those commonly used in sports car series, also is a possibility. It fits on the car’s rear deck lid, in the same spot where the spoiler is bolted.
• The spoiler, a NASCAR staple, is a straight line on the Car of Tomorrow, rather than curved, as on current cars. A straight spoiler yields more stability in traffic.

  “We designed this car to run for a long time, at road courses, short tracks, intermediate-sized tracks all the way to Daytona,” Nelson said. “You would be able to run the same foundation car, the frame, the cage, the body, all of the components that today are being swapped around as the cars are purpose-built for certain types of tracks. We're eliminating that with this car.”  (NASCAR PR)

Jan. 13, 2006:

Car of Tomorrow tested at Daytona: NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" turned its first laps at Daytona on Thursday. NASCAR vice president for research and development Gary Nelson and his group began the latest round of on-track data acquisition for the car using the prototype produced by the research center and driven by Brett Bodine, director of cost research. Previous on-track sessions at Talladega Superspeedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway set performance baselines. Now, the quest to fine-tune those baselines begins at Daytona. The car, which is 2 inches taller and 4 inches wider than current NASCAR cars, represents a major step in safety and competition enhancements, as well as cost reductions. NASCAR is in the final stages of the five-year project. "The last part of the Car of Tomorrow is, 'How does it run in traffic,' " Nelson said. "The only way you can do that is in traffic." Teams that have built the new prototypes are scheduled to test Jan. 19 with NASCAR at Daytona. (USA Today)

Jan. 12, 2006:

The future of Car of Tomorrow? NASCAR's proposed "car of the future" appears to be dead in the water for the moment. Detroit car makers are putting on hold their own operations for the time being, saying that NASCAR executives aren't offering any clear directions on body configurations or timetables. NASCAR has planned an exhibition here today of its own in-house built version of the car, which was originally set to debut this fall at Talladega. But it appears no other stock-car teams will be participating. (Salem-Journal)

Jan. 11, 2006:

Don't expect new Charger nose: While Dodge teams are lobbying for concessions to make the one-year-old Dodge Charger more competitive, Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said Jan. 10 that it is unlikely they will get them. "We'll continue to watch the Dodge, but there are no changes on the table," Darby said. Dodge teams, which won only two races in 2005, still have the option of using the 2004 Intrepid, which two teams used at Homestead-Miami Speedway last season. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

Dec. 20, 2005:

Impound rules at cut-back:  The impound rule is not dead yet, but the number of races where it will be used will be drastically reduced for 2006. NASCAR will impound the Nextel Cup cars at five races in 2006: Both Talladega events, both Richmond events, and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, according to a memo sent to teams last week. NASCAR used the impound rule at 21 of the 36 races in 2005. (NASCAR.com

NASCAR Tech Page 1 - 2