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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.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' New Car Moves From Wing To Spoiler and other changes: NASCAR has announced that it will relax some on-track rules, putting racing back in drivers' hands in 2010. The changes, which begin with next month's season-opening events at Daytona International Speedway, will allow drivers to be even more competitive. Race rule changes were one of several announcements during Thursday's annual media-tour presentation at NASCAR's Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said the loosening of on-track reins is another step in enhancing competition and back-to-basics racing. "Over the past 10 years we've dramatically increased safety and that mission continues. However, it's time for us to allow the drivers to drive. We don't want the rules and regulations to get in the way of great racing and fantastic finishes," said France. "NASCAR is a contact sport our history is based on banging fenders."Among the changes: Bump-drafting rules will be eliminated at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway. Teams also will use a bigger restrictor plate at Daytona. Eliminating bump-drafting rules puts responsibility for on-track moves squarely back in drivers' hands. Larger restrictor plates give drivers more horsepower.NASCAR also announced a significant change to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' new car, including replacing the wing currently mounted on the rear of the car with a spoiler. A full-field test is scheduled for March 23-24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Following that, a decision on when to implement the spoiler will be made based on teams' input. The switch from wing to spoiler will return to a more traditional stock-car look. "Over the last couple of years, there have been dozens of changes to this car, with this being the most visible change," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.Also significant: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby has been promoted to Managing Director of Competition, with oversight of all three national series' directors, officials, inspection processes and race officiating. He will continue in his series director's role until his successor is found. "Probably no one is more qualified for this new job than John," Pemberton said. "He knows and understands the officiating and inspection processes better than anyone and is the perfect fit."
NASCAR is cutting by about 10 percent the race winnings it will award teams in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series this season, officials confirmed on Friday. The reduction is part of cost-cutting measures that will alleviate some of the financial burdens on tracks that have suffered during a tough economic environment that has forced them to cut ticket prices with declining attendance. "Last year we launched an industry-wide effort to help the sport manage budgets in this economy," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Friday. "NASCAR did the right thing to work with the tracks to reduce their costs in order to manage the economic realities. In return, the tracks have done a great job reducing ticket prices and enhancing the fan experience. Likewise, we worked with the teams to contain costs such as elimination of testing and other steps. This is consistent with how virtually every sport and business has adjusted to the economy over the past year." Bruton Smith, the chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns nine tracks that host Cup, Nationwide and Truck events, applauded NASCAR for making the cut. He doesn't believe drivers will particularly like it, "but they understand."(ESPN.com)(1-29-2010)
Pole Day: This “locks in” the first two positions – the front row – for the Daytona 500. It also establishes the starting orders for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona, which are two 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500.The fastest car earns the pole for the Daytona 500 AND the pole for the first Gatorade Duel race.The second-fastest car earns the outside pole for the Daytona 500 AND the pole for the second Gatorade Duel race.The Gatorade Duel at Daytona: These two 150-mile qualifying races set positions 3-39 for the Daytona 500.A combined total of 66 cars will be allowed into the two Gatorade Duel races.Cars must compete in one of the Gatorade Duel races, in order to race in the Daytona 500.Odd-number finishers in the final car owner point standings from last season (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) are in the first Gatorade Duel race.Even-number finishers in the final car owner point standings from last season (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) are in the second Gatorade Duel race.Additional qualified cars that weren’t in the final top 35 in last season's owners points are alternated between the two Gatorade Duel fields using an odd-even format.Setting the Daytona 500 field:Cars that finished in the top 35 in last seasons final owner point standings automatically make the Daytona 500 field.The top two starting positions are determined by Pole Day qualifying speeds.Positions 3-39 are determined by finishing orders in the Gatorade Duel races.The final four spots in the 43-car field will be based on Pole Day qualifying speeds of cars that have not already earned a starting position. However, if there is an eligible Sprint Cup Series past champion entered who has not already qualified, that past champion will receive the 43rd and final position. If there is more than one past champion eligible for this berth, it goes to the most recent champion.another way to look at it:The following cars will be assigned to the first of the two qualifying races:The odd-number positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35 finishers in the final previous NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner points standings.The pole winner from Pole Day Qualifying. Should the pole winner be among the highest-ranked 35 in the the previous season owner points, the pole winner will start in the first race regardless of his odd or even position in those standings. The following cars will be assigned to the second of the two qualifying races:The even-number positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35 finishers in the final previous season NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner points standings.The second-fastest qualifier from qualifying. Should this car be among the highest-ranked 35 in the previous season owner points, it will start in the second race regardless of its odd or even position in those standings. Additional cars that were not among the highest-ranked 35 in the final previous season car owner points will be alternated between the first and second 150-mile qualifying events using an odd-even format. The odd-number positions will be assigned to the first qualifier while the even-number positions will be assigned to the second qualifier.The odd-even positions are not determined by where the car qualified in the overall field, but their specific qualifying order among those cars not part of the highest-ranked 35 group. For example, a car qualifies eighth overall in qualifying, but ranks third-fastest among those cars not part of the highest-ranked 35. That car would be an odd-number position and start in the first race as a result of its qualifying standing of those cars not in the highest-ranked 35.The lineup for each qualifying race will be set based upon the qualifying speeds in the time trials for all cars, including those who are among the highest-ranked 35 in the finalprevious season car owner point standings. The highest-ranked 35 designation does not determine the car’s starting position, only the assignment of its 150-mile qualifying event.A maximum of 66 cars will be permitted to compete between the two qualifying races, and all cars must compete in one of these events to be eligible for the Daytona 500.Starting positions for the Daytona 500 will be designated for the highest-ranked 35 positions from the final previous season car owner point standings from each qualifier, the two-highest finishing cars in each qualifier not among that highest-ranked 35 group and the two front-row qualifiers.The balance of the 43-car field will be filled by the fastest remaining qualifiers who have not earned a starting position, with the exception of the 43rd position which will be assigned to an eligible former or current Sprint Cup Series champion. Should there not be an eligible champion, the position will be assigned to the next fastest qualifier not in the field.The simple version: how the Daytona 500 lineup is set:Pos 1 and 2: Pole sitter and outside pole sitter from qualifying[no need to be top 35 in prevoius season car Owners Points]Pos 3 thru 39: top 35 in prevoius season car owners points and two highest finishing teams in each Gatorade Duel races race NOT in the top 35 set by their finishing postion in the Gatorade Duel races.Pos 40-42: fastest qualifiers not in by abovePos 43: past champion provisional - at this point only. Otherwise the spot goes to the next fastest qualifier.The Gatorade Duel races:The Daytona 500 pole-sitter will start on the pole of the first Gatorade Duel at Daytona. The outside pole winner will start on the pole of the second qualifying race.Cars that finished in odd positions (first, third, fifth, etc.) in owner's points last season will fill the first qualifying race, and those with even-number finishes will compete in the second race. The lineup for each qualifying race will be set based on the qualifying speeds. Owner's points do not determine the car's starting position, only which of the two Duel races in which it will race.Cars that were not among the highest-ranked 35 in the previous season will be alternately entered into the two 150-mile qualifying events based on qualifying speeds. The non-top 35 car with the fastest qualifying time is entered into the first (odd) Duel race, the next-fastest in the second (even) race and so on.
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