NASCAR is returning to a low-downforce rules package for its short track and road course races in its Cup Series in 2020. The changes are aimed at bringing downforce numbers like those from the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
“Our first and foremost core goal is to deliver great racing, and I think that we constantly evaluate the things that we do on the race track, however and wherever we need to, to improve that situation for them,” NASCAR Senior Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development John Probst said. “And as part of our normal ongoing critique of ourselves and how we’re doing, we just felt like this was a good opportunity for us to improve the on-track product at the short tracks and road courses.”
The changes include a spoiler-height decrease from eight inches to 2.75 inchesand a smaller spoiler with an overhang decrease from two inches to 0.25 inches and smaller two-inch wings. Also the vertical fencing will be removed from the radiator pan.
“Certainly from our standpoint, we feel like this is a step in the right direction to create more side-by-side, exciting moments during the race,” Probst said. “Obviously, the proof will be in the pudding, but this is, certainly, something that we have run before that’s had good results.”
The changes will be utilized for Cup Series races at tracks including Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International.
