The "wing" is a thing of the past on NASCAR Sprint Cup Cars. (Photo: Getty Images)
Ever since the so-called Sprint Cup car of tomorrow was introduced in 2007, NASCAR has taken a hard line stance of not changing its technical specs. That likely is about to become a thing of the past.
On Jan. 21 at the NASCAR Research & Development Center, officials from the sanctioning body 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.
And if the changes to the car take place, NASCAR officials said, some on-track testing would have to be reinstituted to allow teams to adjust to the new aero package.
NASCAR officials said Saturday at the Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by Sun Trust event that final decisions about the modifications have not been made, but will be announced Jan. 21.
The rules tweaks are a tacit acknowledgment on NASCAR’s part that something needs to be done to reignite fan interest after a season where television ratings and ticket sales declined. And the idea of a blade spoiler was welcomed with open arms by drivers.
“To change that [wing to a spoiler] is a huge step for NASCAR because they’ve been adamant about this car,” said Kyle Petty. “To move off that square is a huge plus for them from a credibility standpoint inside this sport.”
“It's cool that NASCAR is willing to make changes to try to do anything they can to make the racing as exciting as it can be for the fans,” said Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion. “I mean, that's what NASCAR is about, is having the most fair competition, stuff that people want to watch, can cheer for. So that's cool.”
“Right now we need to do something, you know,” said Clint Bowyer, who pilots the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Impala SS. “Our fans are not happy. You got to do something to cater to our fans. Without them we can't do what we do. They've made a lot of changes on this car over the years, but nobody has been able to see them. You take a wing off the back, put a spoiler on it, a fan watching on TV can see that change. He's going to stay tuned and follow how that reacts and how it changes the sport going on into the season.”
“I would be happy to see that as a driver,” said Richard Petty Motorsports driver Elliott Sadler. “It will give us more vision, especially on restrictor plate tracks and things like that. So I think it will help as far as the racing is concerned. As far as the look of the car, I think it will bring some identity back to the manufacturers, identity back to NASCAR racing. It looks more like a NASCAR (car) if it has a spoiler on it.”
